Weekly Release #9
3/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics
Upcoming Schedule
Sunday, March 13 -- at Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), 1 p.m.
Fri-Sat., March 25-26 -- host Big Ten Championships (Crisler Arena)
March 25 -- Team/All-Around Finals, 7 p.m.
March 26 -- Individual Event Finals, 7 p.m.
Looking Ahead to Ohio State
The No. 4-ranked University of Michigan men's gymnastics team (6-5, 3-4 Big Ten) travels to Columbus, Ohio this Sunday, March 13th to take on Big Ten rival and No. 1-ranked Ohio State University. The competition will be held at St. John Arena at 1 p.m.
Scouting the Buckeyes
The Ohio State Buckeyes are currently the nation's top-ranked team with a three-score average of 223.750. They are led by senior Randy Monahan who was the 2004 Big Ten Gymnast of the Year and currently leads the nation on rings with an average score of 9.833. Last weekend (March 6) the Buckeyes lost to Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma by a score of 222.825-222.675. Ohio State on the Web: www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com.
Spring Break in France
The Wolverines spent this year's week-long Spring Break in France training, competing and sight-seeing. Immediately after their home victory over Stanford University (Feb. 26) the team boarded a plane bound for Paris. Upon their arrival, they traveled to the small town of Montceau les Mines, about four hours south of Paris, where the French National Training Center is located.
During the week their days consisted of two practice sessions a day with a break for rest and lunch in between. They enjoyed excellent French cuisine and accommodations near the National Training Center.
On Thursday (March 3) the team took a sightseeing trip to the nearby town of Dijon. They took in the city's architecture, cathedrals and ofcourse sampled the great food.
On Friday (March 4) Michigan competed against the French National team. Both teams competed well, but the French edged the Wolverines by a score of 206.800-206.000. The Michigan team and coaches noted that French spectators in attendance were exceptional fans of the sport and were very supportive of both teams. Afterwards, the teams exchanged t-shirts and attended a dinner to honor the occasion.
Saturday (March 5) the team traveled to Paris for a final day of relaxation and sightseeing before heading back home. They toured the many of the city's famed landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower, the Arc of Triumph, the Egyptian Obelesque at Concorde Place, the Louvre, and Notre Dame Cathedral.
Recapping the Competition Against the French National Team
The Michigan men's gymnastics team made its 2005 international debut Friday (March 4) in a dual meet against the French National Team at the French National Training Center in Montceau les Mines, France. The French won the competition with a score of 206.800-206.000.
Junior Luke Bottke (Saginaw, Mich./Heritage HS) got Michigan off to a solid start with a 8.80 on the floor. Fellow junior Justin Laury (Marietta, Ga./McEachern HS) and freshman Paul Woodward (Tallahassee, Fla./Lawton Chiles HS) continued the team's momentum scoring a pair of 9.0's on pommel horse.
Senior Eddie Umphrey (Albuquerque, N.M./La Cueva HS) notched the team's highest score on any event by scoring a 9.40 on the rings, which won him first place in the event. Junior Andrew DiGiore (Buffalo, N.Y./City Honors School) then matched Umphrey's mark by posting a 9.40 of his own on the vault. Bottke recorded a 9.05 on the vault and senior co-captain Geoff Corrigan (Colorado Springs, Colo./Palmer HS) scored a 9.0.
Corrigan led the team on parallel bars with a 9.0 followed by Umphrey and junior Gerry Signorelli (Colorado Springs, Colo./Mitchell HS) who scored an 8.55 and 8.35, respectively. Sophomore Andre Hernandez (Round Rock, Texas/Round Rock HS) paced Michigan on high bar with a solid 9.10, followed by senior Dave Flannery (Niwot, Colo./Niwot HS) who scored an 8.65.
The scores are lower than those Michigan has usually posts due to the more stringent judging rules that the International Gymnastics Federation has recently implemented.
Big Ten Championships Just Around the Corner
The 2005 Big Ten Men's Gymnastics Championships will be in Ann Arbor in less than three weeks. The competition will be held at Michigan's Crisler Arena on March 25-26. Michigan last hosted the Big Ten's in 1998. Be sure to mark the date on your calendar and come out and support Michigan and Big Ten Gymnastics
Big Ten Championships On TV
The 2005 Big Ten Men's Gymnastics Championships will be televised on College Sports Television (CSTV), the home of Big Ten Championships. The taped broadcast of the championships is scheduled to air on Wednesday, March 30th, at 9 p.m. (ET).
NCAA Championships Only a Month Away
The 2005 NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championships are just a month away. The competition will take place April 7-9 at the Holleder Center on the campus of the U.S Military Academy in West Point, New York. This year marks the 63rd annual National Collegiate Men's Gymnastics Championship. NCAA Championship on the Web: www.ncaasports.com.
Wolverines Ranked Nationally
The Wolverines are currently ranked fourth in the nation with a three-score average of 221.017. On the individual events, Michigan ranks second on both the vault (37.442) and high bar (37.917).
Individually, Geoff Corrigan is ranked fourth on parallel bars (9.533) and sixth on the high bar (9.617). Justin Laury is ranked 13th on high bar (9.467).
GymInfo National Rankings (3/7/05)
(by three-score average)
1. Ohio State 223.750 2. Illinois 223.042 3. Oklahoma 222.350 4. MICHIGAN 221.017 5. Penn State 220.567 6. California 218.183 7. Iowa 217.883 8. Nebraska 216.708 9. Minnesota 216.192 10. Army 215.642
Contact: Justin Toman (734) 936-8256
Players Mentioned
