Prospect’s Batcha picks Ohio State

Prospect senior Nick Batcha wanted to weigh his options on his college future before deciding where he would spend the next four years.

All it took was one visit to Columbus, Ohio and the decision soon became much easier. Batcha is taking his talents to Ohio — The Ohio State University that is.

“The campus was just awesome and it was a great fit for academics,” Batcha said. “I was looking for a good business school and somewhere I could feel at home, Ohio State was it.”

Batcha visited the Big Ten campus Tuesday, came home Wednesday and signed his letter of intent to become a Buckeye that night. He chose Ohio State over Illinois.

“The whole experience (from Tuesday) felt great,” Batcha said. “Coach (Robert) Gary was great and we talked a lot about where he thinks I can contribute next year.”

When he gets to Columbus and trades in his Prospect Navy and Columbia blue for his new Scarlet and gray, Batcha will become part of one of the most legendary programs in the Big Ten.

The Buckeyes have won a combined nine indoor and outdoor conference titles and finished second outdoors last season and fifth at the Big Ten indoor championships earlier this month.

Ohio State is also the home of legendary Jesse Owens. The stadium Batcha will run in bares his name.

“Coach (Gary) thinks he can use me on relays and in the 60 meter dash indoors,” Batcha said. “Outdoors, the open 100 and 200 and the long jump are all possibilities. They have some good sprinters there now.”

Batcha currently holds the school record in the long jump, 100 meter dash and 200 meter dash as well as the 400 and 800-meter relays at Prospect. Batcha earned three medals at last year’s state meet in the 100, long jump and 800-meter relay.

“I can go out and run and relax now and not have to think about this any longer,” Batcha said. “I can focus on running and school now that I have my college choice done.”