University of Minnesota Athletics
Men's Gymnastics Hosts 2002 Big Ten Championships This Weekend
3/4/2002 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
The race for the Big Ten team and individual titles is wide open as each squad possesses the necessary ingredients to capture top honors. The conference championship will basically come down to having an entire team perform consistently well throughout the meet. But, as is commonly heard in sports, on any given day, any team can win.
Below is a look at each of the teams in the Big Ten, in order of national ranking.
Penn State - The Nittany Lions are currently ranked No. 1 in the nation as a team. Fifth-place finishers at the 2001 NCAA Championships, Penn State returns a core of veterans with extensive experience who lead a large freshman class that have stepped in and contributed to its success. Head Coach Randy Jepson looks to repeat PSU's national championship season of 2000. His team is led by the nation's third-ranked all-arounder, junior Kevin Donohue, a native of Saddle River, N.J. An accomplished veteran, Donohue placed 16th in the all-around at the 2001 USA Championships and is a strong performer on several events. He currently ranks second on the floor, third on the parallel bars and fourth on the high bar.
In addition to Donohue, the Nittany Lions boast a lineup that is strong from top to bottom. Junior Matt Abboud enters Big Tens ranked ninth in the all-around as another member of PSU's stellar veteran corps. Sophomore Kevin Tan has dominated the rings competition on the season, claiming nine individual titles on the apparatus. He comes into the conference meet ranked No. 2 in the nation with an average of 9.725. He finished fourth in the nation on the rings in 2001. Tan also ranks fourth on the parallel bars.
As a team, Penn State looks to improve upon its third-place showing from last year's Big Ten meet. The Nittany Lions are currently ranked No. 2 on the floor (36.475), No. 8 on the pommel horse (35.500), No. 2 on the rings (36.500), No. 8 on the vault (36.450), No. 1 on the parallel bars (35.100) and No. 1 on the horizontal bar (36.550).
Ohio State - After a 2001 season that saw the Buckeyes take the NCAA and Big Ten crowns, the program now is the biggest target in collegiate gymnastics. Ohio State enters the 2002 Big Ten Championships as the nation's second-ranked team with an average score of 215.537. The Buckeyes are led by junior Raj Bhavsar (left), who has posted the nation's highest all-around score of the season with his 56.200. Bhavsar, placed second in the all-around at the 2001 NCAA Championships and won the parallel bars competition. In addition, he was a member of the U.S. team that placed second at the World Championships, the highest ever finish for the team.
"Clearly, Raj is one of the best gymnasts in the country," Avery said. "He was already ahead of most gymnasts last year and the rule changes just made him that much better. Other athletes will close the gap this year, but he should still be one of the top guys in the collegiate ranks."
The Buckeyes also boast one of the top one of the top freshmen in the nation in Randy Monahan. The Elizabethtown, Pa., native has consistently performed throughout the season and currently ranks 17th in the all-around with an average of 51.375. He won a battle of potential Big Ten Freshman of the Year candidates earlier this month, posting a 52.850 to Golden Gopher Guillermo Alvarez's 50.900.
The remainder of OSU's lineup is stacked with potential All-American talent, including juniors Michael Evans, Dick Huntwork and Ryan Schwartzkopf. Both gymnasts qualified to compete at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships this past summer for spots on the U.S. National Team. Huntwork, ranked fourth on the floor exercise, just missed All-America honors last season, finishing seventh on parallel bars. Schwartzkopf is currently ranked 15th in the nation on the pommel horse.
As a team, the Buckeyes are third in the floor exercise (36.950), fourth on the pommel horse (36.025), fourth on still rings (36.225), second on the vault (36.725), eighth on the parallel bars (34.200) and fourth on the high bar (36.212).
Illinois - The Fighting Illini, last season's fourth-place finishers at Big Tens, come into the conference meet ranked No. 4 in the nation with an average score of 214.212. Illinois has performed superbly on the season, compiling an 18-2 record with its lone losses coming at the Windy City Invite and in a dual meet loss to No. 1 Penn State.
One look at the national rankings shows that the Fighting Illini have a roster full of talent from top to bottom. Illinois is led in the all-around by sophomore Scott Wetterling, a native of Pennington, N.J. Wetterling is currently ranked sixth in the all-around, sixth on the vault and second on the high bar. Fellow sophomore Bob Rogers is ranked as the nation's top horizontal bar athlete, in addition to his No. 12 ranking on the floor.
Michigan State transfer Jonathan Plante, a senior, bolstered the UI lineup, and has performed up to expectations during the 2002 season. The Easton, Pa., native and defending Big Ten pommel horse champion is currently ranked sixth in the nation on the pommel horse (9.425). In addition to Wetterling, Rogers and Plante, the Fighting Illini offer up a strong lineup of experience and young talent, including seniors Sean-Paul Crawford and J.G. Ketchen - both nationally-ranked in several events - junior Bob Spelic, and freshmen John Cano, Ed Seward, Peter Shostchuk and Ben Newman.
As a team, Illinois is ninth in the floor exercise (35.400), first on the pommel horse (36.500), third on still rings (36.450), third on the vault (36.712), ninth on the parallel bars (34.125) and second on the high bar (36.350).
Minnesota - The host Golden Gophers enter the conference meet ranked fifth in the nation with their sights set on improving upon their recent history at Big Tens and earning Head Coach Fred Roethlisberger his 12th conference title, its first since 1995. Minnesota is led by three-time All-American Clay Strother, a junior from Jasper, Texas. Strother won the pommel horse and floor exercise NCAA titles and finished fifth in the nation in the all-around last season at NCAAs. He comes into the Big Ten meet with expectations of leading the Maroon and Gold back to the top of the conference. Ranked No. 2 in the country in the all-around, Stother has captured the all-around in four of the six meets in which he competed. He will certainly be a favorite at Big Tens in the floor exercise (No. 5 in the nation - 9.350 average), pommel horse (No. 1 - 9.600), vault (No. 3 - 9.412) and parallel bars (No. 5 - 9.000).
"When you watch him do his pommel horse routine, the only word you can use is 'virtuosity,'" Roethlisberger said. "In the sense you could say a musician is a virtuoso, that's what Clay is in gymnastics."
In addition to Strother, the Golden Gophers boast a solid underclassmen-laden roster of athletes who look to take the next step at the Big Ten Championships. Leading the young lineup is sophomore Eric Steele and freshman Guillermo Alvarez. Steele, the 2001 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, won the conference vault crown last season and looks to repeat that performance as he is currently ranked seventh in the event. Alvarez, a native of Denver, Colo. Alvarez has performed impressively in his first season at Minnesota and currently ranks fifth in the nation in the all-around. Minnesota's conference lineup is a healthy mix of veteran leadership and young talent with gymnasts including senior Bob Goss, junior Tim Koehler, sophomores Bill Callahan, Mitch Griffin and Gabe Suarez, and freshmen Joe Alberts and Clinton Mays.
As a team, the Golden Gophers are first in the floor exercise (37.000), seventh on the pommel horse (35.525), 10th on still rings (35.200), first on the vault (37.100), sixth on the parallel bars (34.275) and 11th on the high bar (34.075).
Iowa - The Hawkeyes, currently ranked sixth in the nation with an average score of 213.162, began the season in impressive style, winning the prestigious Windy City Invitational. Since then, Iowa has posted wins over Air Force, Minnesota, Nebraska, Michigan and Illinois. The Hawkeyes are looking to improve upon their sixth-place Big Ten finish in 2001 and they seem to have the talent to do just that.
Iowa is led by a core of athletes who garnered a great deal of experience during a rebuilding 2001 campaign. Seniors Shane de Freitas, Andy Thornton and Don Jackson head the list of upperclassmen. All-American de Freitas is Iowa's top all-arounder, ranking No. 8 in the nation at the present time. A native of Barbados, de Freitas represented his home country in the 2001 World Championships in Ghent, Belgium. Thornton, performed at the 2001 U.S. Championships and in the all-around at the 2001 NCAA Championships. He looks to translate that experience into a return to the national tournament this season. Jackson, a native of Littleton, Colo., is Iowa's top gymnast on the pommel horse. A former NCAA and Big Ten champion, Jackson is currently ranked second in the nation on the apparatus with an average score of 9.525.
Junior Cameron Schick and sophomores Eric Block, Antonio Cesar and Justin Leavitt represent a portion of the remaining strength of the Hawkeye squad. Schick ranks No. 11 on the floor and No. 12 in the all-around, Block is sixth on the parallel bars, Cesar ranks No. 17 on the pommel horse, and Leavitt is No. 5 on the high bar.
As a team, the Hawkeyes are fifth in the floor exercise (35.750), third on the pommel horse (36.050), seventh on still rings (35.800), ninth on the vault (36.437), fifth on the parallel bars (34.550) and seventh on the high bar (35.225).
Michigan - Rounding out the Big Ten schools is Michigan, ranked No. 8 in the nation and by no means a team to be taken lightly at the conference meet. A perennial conference and national title contender, the Wolverines will try to recapture the Big Ten Title that they won in 1999 and 2000. To do that, Michigan will look to the leadership of veterans Daniel Diaz-Luong, Brad Kenna, Jamie Hertza and Kris Zimmerman.
Diaz-Luong, a native of Harrisburg, Pa., is ranked 11th on the pommel horse, and has been a consistent performer in his senior season for the Wolverines. Kenna, a senior from Barberton, Ohio, is listed as the ninth-ranked gymnast on the parallel bars. Hertza, a junior from West Bloomfield, Mich., adds to UM's upperclassmen-laden roster with his No. 10 ranking on the pommel horse. Zimmerman, a native of Winnetka, Ill., has posted strong routines throughout his junior season to the tune of a No. 8 ranking on the paralle bars. Throw into the mix junior Conan Parzuchowski's No. 8 ranking on the still rings, and the Wolverines have a formidable group of underclassmen who have the ability to compete with any team.
Michigan enters Big Tens with a 7-5 overall record with wins over Ohio State, Minnesota (twice), Nebraska, Illinois-Chicago (twice) and California. As a team, the Wolverines are ninth in the floor exercise (35.400), ninth on the pommel horse (34.825), fourth on still rings (36.225), sixth on the vault (36.525), second on the parallel bars (34.775) and 12th on the high bar (34.000).
KEY INFORMATION - The University of Minnesota men's gymnastics team will host the 2002 Big Ten Championships at the Sports Pavilion. The two-day event will take place this Friday and Saturday, March 22-23, and will begin at 7 p.m. on both nights. Tickets are available by calling the Golden Gopher ticket office or by logging onto www.gophersports.com. This marks the first time the conference championships will be held at Minnesota since the 1997 season.
The team and individual all-around competitions will be contested on Friday night with the individual event finals held on Saturday evening.
All-session ticket prices are $8 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. Single session tickets are available at the door and are $6 for adults and $4 for students. Tickets for the event can be purchased by contacting the Golden Gopher ticket office at (612) 624-8080 or 1-800-UGOPHER (1-800- 846-7437) or by visiting www.gophersports.com.
There really is no question that the Big Ten is, far and away, the toughest conference in the nation in men's gymnastics. When six of the country's top eight teams are from the Big Ten, it's clear where the balance of power lies. When six of the nation's top 10 all-around performers hail from the same conference, the case for the superiority of the Big Ten becomes all the more strong. That being said, the 2002 Big Ten Championships, held March 22-23 at the Sports Pavilion on the campus of the University of Minnesota, becomes an exhibition of the class of men's gymnastics in the United States. It is not absurd in the least to claim that this conference meet may be as competitive (or more competitive) than the NCAA Championships which will take place at Oklahoma on April 4-6.
The race for the Big Ten team and individual titles is wide open as each squad possesses the necessary ingredients to capture top honors. The conference championship will basically come down to having an entire team perform consistently well throughout the meet. But, as is commonly heard in sports, on any given day, any team can win.
Below is a look at each of the teams in the Big Ten, in order of national ranking.
Penn State - The Nittany Lions are currently ranked No. 1 in the nation as a team. Fifth-place finishers at the 2001 NCAA Championships, Penn State returns a core of veterans with extensive experience who lead a large freshman class that have stepped in and contributed to its success. Head Coach Randy Jepson looks to repeat PSU's national championship season of 2000. His team is led by the nation's third-ranked all-arounder, junior Kevin Donohue, a native of Saddle River, N.J. An accomplished veteran, Donohue placed 16th in the all-around at the 2001 USA Championships and is a strong performer on several events. He currently ranks second on the floor, third on the parallel bars and fourth on the high bar.
In addition to Donohue, the Nittany Lions boast a lineup that is strong from top to bottom. Junior Matt Abboud enters Big Tens ranked ninth in the all-around as another member of PSU's stellar veteran corps. Sophomore Kevin Tan has dominated the rings competition on the season, claiming nine individual titles on the apparatus. He comes into the conference meet ranked No. 2 in the nation with an average of 9.725. He finished fourth in the nation on the rings in 2001. Tan also ranks fourth on the parallel bars.
As a team, Penn State looks to improve upon its third-place showing from last year's Big Ten meet. The Nittany Lions are currently ranked No. 2 on the floor (36.475), No. 8 on the pommel horse (35.500), No. 2 on the rings (36.500), No. 8 on the vault (36.450), No. 1 on the parallel bars (35.100) and No. 1 on the horizontal bar (36.550).
Ohio State - After a 2001 season that saw the Buckeyes take the NCAA and Big Ten crowns, the program now is the biggest target in collegiate gymnastics. Ohio State enters the 2002 Big Ten Championships as the nation's second-ranked team with an average score of 215.537. The Buckeyes are led by junior Raj Bhavsar (left), who has posted the nation's highest all-around score of the season with his 56.200. Bhavsar, placed second in the all-around at the 2001 NCAA Championships and won the parallel bars competition. In addition, he was a member of the U.S. team that placed second at the World Championships, the highest ever finish for the team.
"Clearly, Raj is one of the best gymnasts in the country," Avery said. "He was already ahead of most gymnasts last year and the rule changes just made him that much better. Other athletes will close the gap this year, but he should still be one of the top guys in the collegiate ranks."
The Buckeyes also boast one of the top one of the top freshmen in the nation in Randy Monahan. The Elizabethtown, Pa., native has consistently performed throughout the season and currently ranks 17th in the all-around with an average of 51.375. He won a battle of potential Big Ten Freshman of the Year candidates earlier this month, posting a 52.850 to Golden Gopher Guillermo Alvarez's 50.900.
The remainder of OSU's lineup is stacked with potential All-American talent, including juniors Michael Evans, Dick Huntwork and Ryan Schwartzkopf. Both gymnasts qualified to compete at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships this past summer for spots on the U.S. National Team. Huntwork, ranked fourth on the floor exercise, just missed All-America honors last season, finishing seventh on parallel bars. Schwartzkopf is currently ranked 15th in the nation on the pommel horse.
As a team, the Buckeyes are third in the floor exercise (36.950), fourth on the pommel horse (36.025), fourth on still rings (36.225), second on the vault (36.725), eighth on the parallel bars (34.200) and fourth on the high bar (36.212).
Illinois - The Fighting Illini, last season's fourth-place finishers at Big Tens, come into the conference meet ranked No. 4 in the nation with an average score of 214.212. Illinois has performed superbly on the season, compiling an 18-2 record with its lone losses coming at the Windy City Invite and in a dual meet loss to No. 1 Penn State.
One look at the national rankings shows that the Fighting Illini have a roster full of talent from top to bottom. Illinois is led in the all-around by sophomore Scott Wetterling, a native of Pennington, N.J. Wetterling is currently ranked sixth in the all-around, sixth on the vault and second on the high bar. Fellow sophomore Bob Rogers is ranked as the nation's top horizontal bar athlete, in addition to his No. 12 ranking on the floor.
Michigan State transfer Jonathan Plante, a senior, bolstered the UI lineup, and has performed up to expectations during the 2002 season. The Easton, Pa., native and defending Big Ten pommel horse champion is currently ranked sixth in the nation on the pommel horse (9.425). In addition to Wetterling, Rogers and Plante, the Fighting Illini offer up a strong lineup of experience and young talent, including seniors Sean-Paul Crawford and J.G. Ketchen - both nationally-ranked in several events - junior Bob Spelic, and freshmen John Cano, Ed Seward, Peter Shostchuk and Ben Newman.
As a team, Illinois is ninth in the floor exercise (35.400), first on the pommel horse (36.500), third on still rings (36.450), third on the vault (36.712), ninth on the parallel bars (34.125) and second on the high bar (36.350).
Minnesota - The host Golden Gophers enter the conference meet ranked fifth in the nation with their sights set on improving upon their recent history at Big Tens and earning Head Coach Fred Roethlisberger his 12th conference title, its first since 1995. Minnesota is led by three-time All-American Clay Strother, a junior from Jasper, Texas. Strother won the pommel horse and floor exercise NCAA titles and finished fifth in the nation in the all-around last season at NCAAs. He comes into the Big Ten meet with expectations of leading the Maroon and Gold back to the top of the conference. Ranked No. 2 in the country in the all-around, Stother has captured the all-around in four of the six meets in which he competed. He will certainly be a favorite at Big Tens in the floor exercise (No. 5 in the nation - 9.350 average), pommel horse (No. 1 - 9.600), vault (No. 3 - 9.412) and parallel bars (No. 5 - 9.000).
"When you watch him do his pommel horse routine, the only word you can use is 'virtuosity,'" Roethlisberger said. "In the sense you could say a musician is a virtuoso, that's what Clay is in gymnastics."
In addition to Strother, the Golden Gophers boast a solid underclassmen-laden roster of athletes who look to take the next step at the Big Ten Championships. Leading the young lineup is sophomore Eric Steele and freshman Guillermo Alvarez. Steele, the 2001 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, won the conference vault crown last season and looks to repeat that performance as he is currently ranked seventh in the event. Alvarez, a native of Denver, Colo. Alvarez has performed impressively in his first season at Minnesota and currently ranks fifth in the nation in the all-around. Minnesota's conference lineup is a healthy mix of veteran leadership and young talent with gymnasts including senior Bob Goss, junior Tim Koehler, sophomores Bill Callahan, Mitch Griffin and Gabe Suarez, and freshmen Joe Alberts and Clinton Mays.
As a team, the Golden Gophers are first in the floor exercise (37.000), seventh on the pommel horse (35.525), 10th on still rings (35.200), first on the vault (37.100), sixth on the parallel bars (34.275) and 11th on the high bar (34.075).
Iowa - The Hawkeyes, currently ranked sixth in the nation with an average score of 213.162, began the season in impressive style, winning the prestigious Windy City Invitational. Since then, Iowa has posted wins over Air Force, Minnesota, Nebraska, Michigan and Illinois. The Hawkeyes are looking to improve upon their sixth-place Big Ten finish in 2001 and they seem to have the talent to do just that.
Iowa is led by a core of athletes who garnered a great deal of experience during a rebuilding 2001 campaign. Seniors Shane de Freitas, Andy Thornton and Don Jackson head the list of upperclassmen. All-American de Freitas is Iowa's top all-arounder, ranking No. 8 in the nation at the present time. A native of Barbados, de Freitas represented his home country in the 2001 World Championships in Ghent, Belgium. Thornton, performed at the 2001 U.S. Championships and in the all-around at the 2001 NCAA Championships. He looks to translate that experience into a return to the national tournament this season. Jackson, a native of Littleton, Colo., is Iowa's top gymnast on the pommel horse. A former NCAA and Big Ten champion, Jackson is currently ranked second in the nation on the apparatus with an average score of 9.525.
Junior Cameron Schick and sophomores Eric Block, Antonio Cesar and Justin Leavitt represent a portion of the remaining strength of the Hawkeye squad. Schick ranks No. 11 on the floor and No. 12 in the all-around, Block is sixth on the parallel bars, Cesar ranks No. 17 on the pommel horse, and Leavitt is No. 5 on the high bar.
As a team, the Hawkeyes are fifth in the floor exercise (35.750), third on the pommel horse (36.050), seventh on still rings (35.800), ninth on the vault (36.437), fifth on the parallel bars (34.550) and seventh on the high bar (35.225).
Michigan - Rounding out the Big Ten schools is Michigan, ranked No. 8 in the nation and by no means a team to be taken lightly at the conference meet. A perennial conference and national title contender, the Wolverines will try to recapture the Big Ten Title that they won in 1999 and 2000. To do that, Michigan will look to the leadership of veterans Daniel Diaz-Luong, Brad Kenna, Jamie Hertza and Kris Zimmerman.
Diaz-Luong, a native of Harrisburg, Pa., is ranked 11th on the pommel horse, and has been a consistent performer in his senior season for the Wolverines. Kenna, a senior from Barberton, Ohio, is listed as the ninth-ranked gymnast on the parallel bars. Hertza, a junior from West Bloomfield, Mich., adds to UM's upperclassmen-laden roster with his No. 10 ranking on the pommel horse. Zimmerman, a native of Winnetka, Ill., has posted strong routines throughout his junior season to the tune of a No. 8 ranking on the paralle bars. Throw into the mix junior Conan Parzuchowski's No. 8 ranking on the still rings, and the Wolverines have a formidable group of underclassmen who have the ability to compete with any team.
Michigan enters Big Tens with a 7-5 overall record with wins over Ohio State, Minnesota (twice), Nebraska, Illinois-Chicago (twice) and California. As a team, the Wolverines are ninth in the floor exercise (35.400), ninth on the pommel horse (34.825), fourth on still rings (36.225), sixth on the vault (36.525), second on the parallel bars (34.775) and 12th on the high bar (34.000).
KEY INFORMATION - The University of Minnesota men's gymnastics team will host the 2002 Big Ten Championships at the Sports Pavilion. The two-day event will take place this Friday and Saturday, March 22-23, and will begin at 7 p.m. on both nights. Tickets are available by calling the Golden Gopher ticket office or by logging onto www.gophersports.com. This marks the first time the conference championships will be held at Minnesota since the 1997 season.
The team and individual all-around competitions will be contested on Friday night with the individual event finals held on Saturday evening.
All-session ticket prices are $8 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. Single session tickets are available at the door and are $6 for adults and $4 for students. Tickets for the event can be purchased by contacting the Golden Gopher ticket office at (612) 624-8080 or 1-800-UGOPHER (1-800- 846-7437) or by visiting www.gophersports.com.
