DJ Bucher earned his first spot on the U.S. Senior Men's Gymnastics Team by placing ninth at the national championships two weeks ago in Cleveland. But the Mason native needs to improve his routines if he hopes to cash that success in for a higher prize: one of six spots on the U.S. men's team that will go to the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

DJ Bucher (Tony Jones photo) | ZOOM |

        “I've got a lot of work to do,” Bucher said as he took a break from his summer job as a camp counselor.

        Bucher's coach, Keith Pettit, said Bucher must perform more difficult floor and high-bar routines.

        Pettit used American gymnasts Paul Hamm and Blaine Wilson as examples. They placed first and second, respectively, at nationals. Hamm's high-bar routine had up to six release moves, compared to Bucher's one release move. Wilson's routine also had one release move, but he earned more points than Bucher because of the difficulty level.

        As a member of the U.S.Senior team, Bucher will compete in at least one international event this year, but he hasn't been given his assignment yet. Bucher will also compete in the 2003 Winter Cup and the 2003 Winterfest, a local exhibition.

        At 18 years old, Bucher is one of the U.S.team's youngest members.

        “DJ has been very impressive the last couple of years,” said Ron Galimore, senior director of the men's program at USA Gymnastics. “Usually, it takes guys a little older to be able to master a lot of the skills that he's already doing.”

        The 4-foot-10 Bucher, who had been a U.S.Junior National Team member since 1997, had missed joining the senior team two previous times, finishing one spot short.

        Bucher will be a senior this fall at Mason High School, but plans to postpone college until after his Olympics quest. He said he didn't want to switch coaches and practice routines so close to the Olympics.

        College gymnastics coaches from Michigan, Illinois, Penn State, Minnesota and Oklahoma have contacted Bucher.

        “It's kind of hard to tell them I'm going to put (college) off for a year because they seem disappointed,” Bucher said. “But that's what I want to do.”

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