Wynn Finishes His Ohio State Career with Win on Rings
4.17.11
The Columbus Dispatch
Brandon Wynn knew everyone was aiming for him, as if he were a chalk-spattered gunfighter who must defend his honor by wielding still rings instead of a pistol.
In other words, the Ohio State senior gymnast was in his element on the final night of the three-day NCAA championship meet.
“He takes a lot of pride in that,” OSU co-head coach Blaine Wilson said. “He enjoys and thrives on knowing he can come in and get it done.”
Wynn did just that last night at St. John Arena and became the first Buckeye to win consecutive NCAA championships on the still rings since Wilson, a three-time Olympian, did so in 1996 and ’97.
The OSU senior’s methodical score of 16.000 wasn’t his career-high, but good enough for his 21st consecutive win in that event since September 2009.
“He was awesome, as always,” OSU co-coach Doug Stibel said. “He showed he’s clearly the best guy in the country on rings. He shows it week in and week out.”
Wynn, a member of the past two U.S. national teams, is aiming for the 2012 London Olympics, but all he wanted to do last night was relish the moment after the chalk settled on his final collegiate meet.
“There is nothing better than the feeling I have right now,” said Wynn, who last year won a U.S. championship on rings and was the top American finisher in that event when he placed 10th at the World Championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Besides winning another NCAA title on the rings, Wynn competed in two other events last night and earned All-America honors by finishing in the top eight. His score of 14.450 placed him eighth on the horizontal bar, and he tied for eighth on the parallel bars with a score of 14.250.
Wynn, a native of Voorhees, N.J., finished the NCAA meet with four All-America honors after he tied for fifth in the all-around competition on Friday. He finished his OSU career as a six-time All-American.
