Buckeye athletes left their helmets, pads and sticks in the locker room and showcased a different set of skills in the annual Buckeyes Got Talent show Tuesday night at St. John Arena.

It wasn’t an NCAA Championship, but a first place trophy was enough for the men’s and women’s track and field teams.

The two teams combined to execute a rap battle straight out of the movies.

With a touch of country and a lot of steppin’, the track and field team was a crowd favorite.

“The best tonight,” said Michael Redd, a former Ohio State basketball player and current Milwaukee Bucks guard. “Incredible energy, it was hot.”

The trophy has a spot in the team locker room, Taylor Candella said.
Candella was busy, as he performed in both the track and field act and the men’s cross country performance.

In a close second was the smooth voice of offensive lineman Evan Blankenship.

Blankenship gave Luther Vandross a run for his money. His serenade of “If Only for One Night” silenced the crowd in amazement.

“Ladies love Evan,” said Alison Pegg of Easy Columbus.

Coming in third on electric guitar was men’s volleyball freshman Eric Dates who shook the rafters with his delivery of “Canon D.”

“Hot, Hot, Hot,” Redd said. “I enjoyed your swagger and charisma.”

Celebrity judge, SafeAuto’s Justin Case, suggested that if volleyball doesn’t work out, he’s got a backup.

There were plenty of bootylicious acts, including the men’s rifle team.

Eight members of the rifle team hid behind masks of influential celebrities, including President Obama and OSU President E. Gordon Gee. Their performance reminded fans of the 2009 winners, men’s cross country, with their dance to “Single Ladies” by Beyonce.

The cheerleading squad traded in its pom poms for jump ropes in an action-packed routine that featured double-dutch, back hand springs and Brutus Buckeye between the ropes.

“They used their strengths in cheerleading and had fun out there,” said WCMH Channel 4 anchor Mindy Drayer.

Men’s cross country showcased a “Nostalgic Medley” of Disney songs, bringing back memories from “The Lion King,” “Mulan” and “The Little Mermaid.”

Softball phenom Sam Marder finally got her chance to perform on stage and not on the diamond.

Since fastpitch softball was banned from the 2012 London Olympic Games, Marder wanted to prove that she could compete in an Olympic sport, she said.

Rhythmic gymnastics, otherwise known as ribbon dancing, gave her this opportunity.

In her gold leotard and shiny, blue spandex, a stone-faced Marder floated across the stage in a dance set to Miley Cyrus’s “The Climb.”
“I feel Olympic ready,” Marder said.

“I thought it was humorous … and I think they should have kept softball in the Olympics,” said Columbus Blue Jacket Mike Commodore.

The Big Ten Champion men’s soccer team’s fancy footwork on the field paid off on the dance floor. Wearing only neon, the team “blacked out” the stage and glowed in their performance.

The team called out all the “Singles Ladies” and all the “Soldier Boys” in the crowd. Their performance wouldn’t be complete without a little “stanky leg.”

The women’s soccer team “stepped” onto the stage with a stomp routine and showed off their soccer-girl swag with a rap shout-out to all the athletes.

Zach Stolarsky, Corey Morrison and Brian Kelly of the wrestling team performed their own version of Miley Cyrus’s No.1 hit, “Party in the OSU.”

The trio has a record deal on the way.

The “Dream Team” of the Boys and Girls Club performed their step routine and were the performance of the night.

SafeAuto sponsored the event with an $8,000 check, much of which went directly to the Boys and Girls Club of Columbus.

In the last three years combined, Buckeyes Got Talent raised a total of $5,340. In its fourth year, the show surpassed its donation and the Student Athlete Activity Board presented a $9,796 check to the Boys and Girls Club of Columbus.

Emcee Kelsey Webb of WNCI’s morning zoo hosted the evening.