Buckeyes Picked Third in Big Ten Preseason Poll – Ohio State Buckeyes

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Big Ten Conference released its preseason men’s gymnastics poll and gymnasts to watch list on Wednesday. Ohio State was selected to finish third in the conference this season, as decided on by the league’s coaches. Senior captain Donovan Hewitt and junior Kameron Nelson were also selected as gymnasts to watch.

Last season, Ohio State won the Big Ten regular season championship for the first time since the conference began awarding a regular-season champion in 2019. The Buckeyes went 4-2 in dual meets, including conference wins against No. 4 Michigan, No. 4 Nebraska and No. 7 Penn State. OSU finished third as a team at the Big Ten Championships and went on to finish fifth at the NCAA Championships, advancing to the finals for the first time since the 2017 season.

Following the 2021-22 season, Hewitt was named an Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar, a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Athlete, an OSU Scholar Athlete and Academic All-Big Ten. Hewitt earned a spot on the All-Big Ten Second Team by finishing in a tie for third on rings (14.050) at the Big Ten Championships during individual competition. Last season, Hewitt ranked third nationally on rings (14.213 average) and posted the highest rings score on the team with a career-high 14.450 during the Big Ten Championships team competition to lead all competitors. He had six wins on rings throughout the season and 11 other top-three finishes.

Nelson is the reigning Big Ten Vault Champion after earning a 14.800 to place himself on the All-Big Ten First Team. Following the conclusion of the 2021-22 season, Nelson was named Academic All-Big Ten and an OSU Scholar Athlete. He ranked ninth nationally on floor with a 13.963 average. In addition to his vault title, Nelson also finished seventh on rings (13.450) at the Big Ten Championships. Last season, he earned three wins on floor and had nine other top-three finishes, including five on vault, three on rings and one on floor. Nelson also competed at the USA Gymnastics Championships this past summer.

2022-23 Big Ten Men’s Gymnastics Preseason Poll

1. MICHIGAN (unanimous)
2. Nebraska
3. Ohio State
4. Penn State
5. Illinois

2022-23 Big Ten Men’s Gymnastics – Gymnasts to Watch

Connor McCool, Sr., Illinois

Ian Skirkey, Grad., Illinois

Paul Juda, Sr., Michigan

Fred Richard, Fr., Michigan

Taylor Christopulos, Jr., Nebraska

Donte McKinney, Sr., Nebraska

Donovan Hewitt, Sr., Ohio State

Kameron Nelson, Jr., Ohio State

Michael Artlip, Jr., Penn State

Matt Cormier, Jr., Penn State

The Buckeyes welcome back alumni on Saturday, Jan. 7 at 2 p.m. for the alumni meet in Steelwood. Ohio State opens the regular season at the Windy City Invite on Jan. 14 in Chicago, while the Buckeyes’ first home meet is against Illinois on Feb. 11. Admission and parking are free to all home men’s gymnastics meets.

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