Michigan Crushes No. 7 Ohio State on Senior Night

Saturday, March 19

Ann Arbor, Mich.

7:00 PM

Michigan

353.350

336.900

Ohio State

3/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics

March 19, 2011

Complete Results

Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Cliff Keen Arena)
Score: #6 Michigan 353.350, #7 Ohio State 336.900
Records: U-M (8-4, 5-2 Big Ten), Ohio State (8-6, 2-5 Big Ten)
Attendance: 572
Next U-M Meet: Fri-Sat., April 1-2 -- at Big Ten Championships (Champaign Ill.), 7 p.m. CDT

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 6-ranked University of Michigan men's gymnastics team (353.350) crushed No. 7 Ohio State (336.900) by a 16-point margin on Senior Night (Saturday, March 19) inside Cliff Keen Arena. It is U-M's largest scoring margin over the Buckeyes since the new score rules were adopted in 2008. Tonight's competition will be shown on the Big Ten Network on March 26 at noon.

As part of Senior Night, prior to the competition eight seniors were honored for their four years of dedication and contribution to the men's gymnastics team: Ben Baldus-Strauss, Chris Cameron, Devan Cote, Steve Crabtree, Adam Hamers, Thomas Kelley, Ian Makowske and Andrew Vance.

Feeling the energy from the seniors and coming off a season-high team score last weekend, the Wolverines, starting in Olympic order on the floor exercise, came out strong. First up, freshman Kevin Fraser (Austin, Tex./ Cedar Park) began the rotation with his second-highest score of the season, 14.60, flawlessly sticking his Arabian double pike first pass. Third up, freshman Sam Mikulak (Corona del Mar, Calif./ Carona del Mar) followed with a season-high 15.30, showing the fans Michigan's most difficult floor routine with lots of flips and twists. With yet another season-high score, senior Ian Makowske (Redding, Conn./ Joel Barlow) followed, putting up a 14.95, as Michigan posted its highest FX event score of the season, a 59.10.

The Wolverines moved to the pommel horse, where freshman, A.J. Schottstaedt (Petaluma, Calif./ St. Vincent De Paul) posted yet another season-high score for the team, 14.10, with his trademarked full-ker skill swinging all the way around the pommel on one hand. Third up, senior Chris Cameron (Winter Haven, Fla./ Lake Region) displayed his remarkable flair circles, nailing his set to score a 14.95. After two rotations, the Wolverines led the Buckeyes by 6.15 points.

The third rotation on still rings saw the Maize and Blue continuing the trend, with sophomore Rohan Sebastian (Oklahoma City, Okla./ Bishop McGuinness Catholic) posting a career-high 14.75. Proving his national rank, last up, senior Thomas Kelley (Libertyville, Ill./ Libertyville) posted the top score for Michigan, 15.05.

The Wolverines started the fourth rotation on vault with a crowd-gathering "Go Blue" cheer. The team hit six-for-six vaults, with Mikulak, ranked eight nationally, posting the top score of 16.10, as Michigan widened the lead to 8.45 points.

With his last routine in Cliff Keen Arena, senior Steve Crabtree (Perrineville, N.J./ Notre Dame Prep) posted a career-high 14.40 on parallel bars, going out in style with a stuck double pike dismount. Next up, Mikulak tied his season high (14.90) that he set last weekend.

The final rotation for Michigan was high bar. After two solid leadoff competitors, third-up Makowske, with the highest Michigan start value on the event, posted a 14.95. The rotation finished off with Kelley hitting his routine to score a 14.85.

Michigan moves into the postseason after a bye weekend, going to the Big Ten Championships (Fri-Sat., April 1-2) hosted by Illinois in Champaign, Ill. Friday (team and all-around finals) and Saturday (event finals) competition begins at 7 p.m. CDT.

Team	FX	PH	SR	VT	PB	HB	Total
Michigan	59.100	57.400	58.700	62.750	58.300	57.100	353.350
Ohio State	55.550	54.800	57.600	61.550	52.050	55.350	336.900

Event-By-Event U-M Individual Scores

FLOOR EXERCISEKevin Fraser          14.60 (4)Ben Baldus-Strauss    14.25 (5)Rohan Sebastian       13.70Sam Mikulak           15.30 (1)Ian Makowske          14.95 (2)Thomas Kelley         14.00     POMMEL HORSEA.J. Schottstaedt     14.10 (5)Alex Bubnov           14.00Chris Cameron         14.95 (2)Michael Myler         12.70Adam Hamers           14.10Sam Mikulak           14.25 (4)Thomas Kelley *       13.30         STILL RINGS Alex Bubnov           14.00Chris Cameron         14.25Rohan Sebastian       14.75 (2)Andrew Vance          14.60 (4)Sam Mikulak           14.30Thomas Kelley         15.05 (1)         VAULTAlex Bubnov           14.20Thomas Kelley         14.90Steve Crabtree        15.65 (3)Rohan Sebastian       15.60 (4)Ben Baldus-Strauss    15.40Sam Mikulak           16.10 (1)         PARALLEL BARSJordan Gaarenstroom   13.40Steve Crabtree        14.40 (4)Rohan Sebastian       14.15Sam Mikulak           14.90 (1)Thomas Kelley         14.80 (2)Syque Caesar          14.20 (5)         HIGH BARMichael Myler         13.35Chris Cameron         13.80 (5)Ian Makowske          14.95 (2)Sam Mikulak           12.20Syque Caesar          13.50Thomas Kelley         14.85 (3)         ALL-AROUNDSam Mikulak           87.05 (1)Thomas Kelley         86.90 (2)