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Centerville’s Michael Bennett won the boys discus with a regional record throw of 196-3. That is the third best toss in the state this year and No. 9 nationally according to dyestat.com.
“I could tell when I let the throw go it was a good one, but I thought it might be 189 or 190,” Bennett said. “When the official announced 196-3 I was really surprised. I wasn’t really worried about breaking any record. I just wanted to get back to state.”
The previous regional record was 192-4 by Chandler Burden of Cincinnati La Salle in 2008.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
CENTERVILLE STAR, OSU COMMIT IS A BULLY OUT ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD
By Lee Hudnell
CENTERVILLE ? Centerville (OH) High School and Ohio State class of 2011 commit, Michael Bennett, is one intense player when you watch him on film.
The 6-foot-3, 280 pound defensive tackle from the Dayton area, dominates the interior line like no other, using his unbelievable motor and athleticism to embarrass opposing offensive linemen.
Yes, I am well aware that what I'm about to write is saying an awful lot, but Bennett's game to me resembles that of the late NFL hall of famer, Reggie White. Bennett just bullies the opposition with his strength, explosiveness and unrivaled intensity, much like White did during his playing days.
Bennett, who plays at the same high school as former OSU star A.J. Hawk, said he doesn't pattern his game after any one player, though. He just plays ball the only way he knows how ? all out.
"I don't know of anyone in particular I try to play like," Bennett told The Buckeye Times on Tuesday. "I just kind of try to do whatever works."
Elks? Bennett a star on and off the football field
Highly prized lineman hopes to study medicine after football career.
By Marc F. Pendleton, Staff Writer
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Ron Alvey Michael Bennett, a senior at Centerville High School, practices defensive line stunts during football practice. Bennett plays on the offensive and defensive line. He will attend Ohio State next year on a football scholarship.
Staff photo by Ron Alvey
CENTERVILLE ? No wonder Michael Bennett is referred to as tough stuff. He didn?t have a choice.
Bennett isn?t just another fiery lineman at Centerville High School. Coach Ron Ullery labels him the most nationally recruited football player ever to suit up for the Elks.
That kind of talk doesn?t come lightly considering the many great players who have worn the black and yellow. Besides Bennett?s many awesome physical talents, it?s his off-the-field qualities that are equally impressive and make him stand out among his peers.
The 6-foot-3, 260-pounder brings an old-school charm and politeness to a high-impact and otherwise violent sport. That figures, because both his parents are West Point grads.
So, who?s the toughest, mom or dad?
?My mom hears me out more than my dad, but my dad lets some other things slide,? Bennett said. ?They?re both very strict in their own way.
?For a lot of parents, the kids will talk back to them or something like that. That?s never allowed with my parents. Even now, we?re allowed to argue our point, but we have to do it respectfully or else they just shut us down and it?s over. They?re both like that and they always have been.?
?Honestly, it didn?t,? he said. ?When you?re at Centerville and Ohio State is an option, it?s really hard to turn it down because they?re close to home and they are one of the tops in the nation all the time.?
His parents liked what they saw before Michael confided that he was headed to OSU. He previously had considered Northwestern and its high-end academics.
?It wasn?t the whole emotional thing like he always wanted to be a Buckeye,? his mother said.
?It was much more business-like. He did a business assessment of what fit him best.?
Posted: Wednesday September 1, 2010
Bennett a lineman with medicine on his mind
CINCINNATI (AP) - Michael Bennett added defensive lineman to his resume only last season and he liked it so much that it became a key to his college decision.
When Ohio State promised to keep the Centerville (Ohio) High School senior on that side of the ball, he decided to play for the Buckeyes.
But when the 6-foot-3, 275-pound Bennett committed to Ohio State in May, and though the Buckeyes are No. 2 in the Top 25 preseason poll, football wasn't his only reason. He also wants to be a doctor and is impressed with OSU's medical school.
"I'm not sure what kind of medicine I want to practice,'' said Bennett, the son of West Point graduates Michael Bennett III and Connie. "I want to find an area that's interesting and something I can do for a while.''
Bennett, a taekwando black belt, is on The Associated Press East Region 25 list of top recruits. He zoomed into most rating services' rankings of top 10 defensive players during his junior year, the product of a passion he couldn't indulge on offense.
"Offense is more controlled,'' he said. "You have to move your man a certain way. Defense is more just moving your guy out of the way and getting to the ball.''
Bennett knows that one year of experience has left him with a lot to learn about getting that done.
"I never went to a camp, and I need to use my hands more,'' said Bennett, who's committed to playing in the Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 8. "Last year, I played defense like an offensive lineman - just driving people back. I'm practicing throwing guys. I'm going to have a lot more moves under my belt.''
Long-time Centerville coach Ron Ullery is familiar with standout defensive players. Ohio State All-America and current Green Bay Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk is a former Elk, but not even Hawk was as sought-after as Bennett.
"He's the most highly recruited,'' said Ullery, who also sent quarterback Kirk Herbstreit and kicker Mike Nugent to Columbus. "We've never had a player this highly recruited coast to coast - every big-name school, not just recruiting him, but offering - but he's going to have to be really good to be better than A.J. Hawk.''
"He talked about how important this game was," said Michael Bennett, the massive Centerville offensive and defensive lineman committed to Ohio State, while the team celebrated with piles of pizza inside the Centerville locker room.
"I think we took it to heart."