Michigan
Ohio State
Michigan Knocked Off by No. 6 Buckeyes
2/4/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics
Feb. 4, 2017
» The Wolverines picked up new season bests for the team total and event team scores on pommel horse, still rings and parallel bars, besting its previous p-bar high score by more than five points.
» U-M energized by youth, including freshmen Mack Lasker, Mitchell Brown and Thomas Paul, while sophomore Corey Aurentz made his career debut, and Matthew Whitaker made his season debut.
» U-M finished with a stick percentage of 76.
Site: Columbus, Ohio (St. John Arena)
Score: #6 Ohio State 422.200, #10 Michigan 404.950
U-M Record: 3-4, 2-3 Big Ten
Next U-M Meet: Thu-Sat., Feb. 16-18 -- at Winter Cup (Las Vegas, Nev.), 1 p.m./7 p.m. PST
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The 10th-ranked University of Michigan men's gymnastics team (404.950) secured a season-high team total on the road but fell to the No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes (422.200) on Saturday (Feb. 4) at Ohio State's St. John Arena.
Beginning on pommel horse, sophomore Uche Eke and freshman Mack Lasker steadied the Wolverines with a pair of 13.75s, contributing to a new season-high team score of 66.000. U-M slightly trailed the Buckeyes' 68.100 performance on floor.
The Wolverines' slate on floor was highlighted by sophomore Corey Aurentz's first collegiate meet and junior Dmitri Belanovski's return back to competition on floor. Senior Anthony Stefanelli anchored the team with a 14.25, while sophomore Anthony McCallum earned a 14.20, landing them in the number two and three spots, respectively. The Buckeyes' were ranked third in the nation on pommel horse, their strongest team event, and this helped them increase their lead.
Moving to vault, Cole's signature 2.5 Yurchenko paced the Wolverines as he earned a 14.60 and the event title. Stefanelli stuck his vault for a 14.30, while freshman Mitchell Brown contributed a 14.00. Entering the week, Cole and Stefanelli were ranked nationally in the top seven for vault. OSU held steady on rings, but U-M's fortitude on vault narrowed the Buckeyes' lead.
In the fourth rotation on still rings, sophomore Matthew Whitaker made his season debut, while sophomore Ryan Dunning paced the young squad with a 14.05. Senior Jonathan Chin and freshman Thomas Paul stuck their dismounts to help bolster the Wolverine's team score, with Paul's 14.10 performance earning him second overall.
U-M continued on high bar as senior Adam Dean, Eke and Belanovski provided the team with consistency. Belanovski stuck his landing en route to earn a 14.00. OSU remained in control after competing on parallel bars.
Closing out the meet on parallel bars, Cole's season-best 14.20 was accompanied by Belanovski's 13.85 and Brown's 13.70. The Maize and Blue set new season bests for the team total and event team scores on pommel horse, still rings and parallel bars but could not surmount Ohio State's dependable trio in upperclassmen Sean Melton, Jake Martin, and Jake Dastrup.
Emyre Cole goes big and soars for a 14.60 on vault! He is listed at 6th in the nation for this event. #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/7pH0eenqs8
-- Michigan Gymnastics (@UMichGym) February 4, 2017
Following a bye week, Belanovski, Cole, McCallum and Brown will compete at the 2017 Winter Cup Challenge at the Westgate Resort & Casino Feb. 16-18 in Las Vegas.
Communications Contact: Scott Kemps
Players Mentioned
