Greg Oden might be the most famous athlete to come to campus next fall, but he will not be the only one.
Throughout the past few weeks, numerous Ohio State athletic teams have announced recruits that will join the 7-foot center from Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis, who was recruited to the men's basketball team.
The men's hockey team added two highly sought after recruits from the U.S. National Team Development Program, which brings together the best players in the country under the age of 18 and competes against Division I college teams in exhibition games.
Goaltender Joe Palmer of Yorkville, N.Y., and defenseman Kevin Montgomery of Rochester, N.Y., will join the Buckeyes for the 2006-07 season. Palmer is rated 24th and Montgomery 31st in a ranking of eligible players for the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by an independent scouting service.
"We think (they) have the capability to have an impact in their first season at Ohio State," coach John Markell said in a statement.
Two of OSU's best programs added top recruits that will help continue their successes. The men's tennis team inked a top recruit in the No. 1 junior player in the country, Justin Kronauge of Centerville, Ohio. Kronauge has been No. 1 in the country since January. The men's diving team signed Madison, Wis., native Ryan Jefferson, a silver medallist at the Junior Pan Am Games and a two-time junior national champion.
The wrestling team also added one of the top recruits in the country in Lance Palmer of wrestling dynasty St. Edward's High School in Cleveland. A projected 141-pounder, Palmer is a three-time state champion.
"His intensity and success at every competition level makes him one of the top wrestlers in the nation," coach Russ Hellickson said in a statement.
The softball team added five recruits, including three from talent-rich California. Pitcher Megan Miller of Woodland Hills, Calif., and catcher Sam Marder of Calabasas, Calif., have played club softball together, and shortstop Whitney Cooper of Barstow, Calif., could play as a freshman. Coach Linda Kalafatis also dipped into Florida to ink utility player Victoria Hadded of Fort Walton Beach. The lone Ohioan of the class is outfielder Leah Ledford, a senior at Lakota West High School.
Coach Jim Stone signed four athletes to the women's volleyball team for next season. Ashley Hughes, a 5-foot-10 setter, and Meghan Simons, a 6-3 middle blocker, both attend Bloom Carroll High School in Carroll, Ohio. Stone also went out of state to add 6-0 outside hitter Heather Royal of Plano, Texas, and 6-2 outside hitter Kristen Dozier of Washington, D.C.
"The Ohio State University is impressive in every area," Hughes said in a statement. "I know I'll never stop learning from the coaching staff."
The women's tennis team also added two top recruits in Ally Mueller and Christina Keesey. Mueller, a native of Roswell, Ga., has been ranked as high as No. 56 nationally, and Keesey, a Northfield, Minn., native, has placed in the top three in the state the past two seasons.
Both Buckeye golf teams have added players as well. Oakwood, Ohio, native Emma Jandel will join the women's team after medaling at the 2005 Ohio High School Championships. The men have added Patrick Simard of Marbella, Spain, who is one of the top junior players in his native country.
Men's gymnastics coach Miles Avery added one of the top junior gymnasts in the world in Tai Lee of Sorrento, Fla., who finished second in the all-around competition and first in rings at the 2005 Visa Championships. Women's coach Carey Fagan added Beth Ann Ballard of Kingwood, Texas., Hillary Dow of Yorktown, Va., and Kristin Perchatsch of Naperville, Ill.
Finally, the women's swimming team added two Columbus-area athletes in Whitney McLellan of New Albany High School and Megan Alexander of Worthington Kilbourne High School. Jill Lockhart of Muncie, Ind., will join the duo, as well as Colleen Schweitzer of Highlands Park, Colo.
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