University of Minnesota Athletics
MEN'S GYMNASTICS FINISHES IN SEVENTH AT BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
3/23/2001 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
The Maroon and Gold gymnasts were led in the team competition behind impressive performances by freshman Eric Steele on all six events. Steele, a native of Knoxville, Tenn., was Minnesota's highest finisher in each event and placed 15th in the all-around with a score of 51.500. He placed first on the floor exercise (9.450), first on the vault (9.250), third on the pommel horse (9.450), 18th on the horizontal bar (8.800), 20th on the parallel bars (8.450) and 21st on the still rings (8.800).
Sophomore Clay Strother, the nation's top all-arounder, competed in the team competition, but is battling an ankle injury sustained in the final dual meet of the season versus Nebraska. Strother, clearly competing at less then 100 percent, finished 25th on the pommel horse (8.700) and parallel bars (8.350), 30th on the still rings (8.600), and 37th on the high bar (8.050). He did not compete in the all-around competition.
The Golden Gophers found their most success on the night on the vault as Steele, Bob Goss and Tim Koehler each finished in the top 10. In addition to Steele's second-place 9.250, Goss provided a 9.200 for sixth place and Koehler scored a 9.150 in seventh.
Ohio State's Jamie Natalie captured the all-around title with a score of 55.350. Todd Guilbeau finished 21st in the all-around with a 49.200 and Bill Callahan took 22nd place with a score of 48.800.
The individual event finals of the Big Ten Championships are Saturday, March 24, in State College, Pa.
Team Scores: 1. Ohio State 217.275 2. Michigan 216.000 3. Penn State 214.275 4. Illinois 214.175 5. Michigan State 211.950 6. Iowa 210.850 7. Minnesota 208.800 Floor Exercise: 1. Eric Steele, Minnesota, 9.450; 2. Brad Golden, Michigan State, 9.400; 3. Raj Bhavsar, Ohio State, 9.325. Other Minnesota finishers: 25. Bob Goss, 8.850; 29. Bill Callahan, 8.750; 33. Josh Nitzberg, 8.700; 40. Tim Koehler, 8.250; 41. Todd Guilbeau, 8.200. Pommel Horse: 1. Don Jackson, Iowa, 9.700; 2. Jonathan Plante, Michigan State, 9.550; 3. Eric Steele, Minnesota, 9.450. Other Minnesota finishers: 22. Bob Goss, 8.750; 24. Mitch Griffin, 8.700; 24. Clay Strother, 8.700; 28. Allen Sopko, 8.600; 34. Todd Guilbeau, 8.150; 45. Bill Callahan, 7.000 Still Rings: 1. Chris Lakeman, Penn State, 9.700; 2. Kevin Tan, Penn State, 9.600; 3. Scott Vetere, Michigan, 9.550. Minnesota finishers: 21. Eric Steele, 8.800; 22. Tim Koehler, 8.750; 26. Gabe Suarez, 8.650; 30. Clay Strother, 8.600; 40. Allen Sopko, 8.200; 43. Todd Guilbeau, 8.100. Vault: 1. Cameron Schick, Iowa, 9.250; 1. Eric Steele, Minnesota, 9.250; 3. Brad Kenna, Michigan, 9.200. Other Minnesota finishers: 6. Bob Goss, 9.200; 7. Tim Koehler, 9.150; 18. Bill Callahan, 8.950; 39. Todd Guilbeau, 8.600. Parallel Bars: 1. Raj Bhavsar, Ohio State, 9.250; 2. Scott Vetere, Michigan, 9.150; 2. Jamie Natalie, Ohio State, 9.150. Minnesota finishers: 20. Eric Steele, 8.450; 25. Clay Strother, 8.350; 31. Mitch Griffin, 8.150; 34. Bob Goss, 7.900; 36. Justin Conner, 7.850; 40. Todd Guilbeau, 7.600. Horizontal Bar: 1. Jamie Natalie, Ohio State, 9.500; 2. Dominic Brindle, Penn State, 9.450; 2. Daniel Diaz-Luong, Michigan, 9.450. Minnesota finishers: 18. Eric Steele, 8.800; 21. Bill Callahan, 8.750; 28. Josh Nitzberg, 8.600; 30. Todd Guilbeau, 8.550; 37. Clay Strother, 8.050; 40. Tim Koehler, 7.850. All-Around: 1. Jamie Natalie, Ohio State, 55.350; 2. Raj Bhavsar, Ohio State, 54.925; 3. Daniel Diaz-Luong, Michigan, 54.600. Minnesota finishers: 15. Eric Steele, 51.500; 21. Todd Guilbeau, 49.200; 22. Bill Callahan, 48.800.
