Release no. 8 march 8, 2008

Brian Dude | Media Relations Graduate Assistant University of Oklahoma | Men’s Contact oklahomamen’sgymnastics Office: 405.325.8413 | Fax: 405.325.7623 1977 | 1978 | 1991 | 2002 | 2003 | 2005 | 2006 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS [email protected] | www.SoonerSports.com

2008 Oklahoma men’s gymnastics Schedule/Results impact Performer bobby shortle8

Date Opponent Time/Results A walk-on who has become a key member of the Sooners’ and Jan. 12 at Rocky Mountain Open* First, 343.550 lineups, Shortle will be returning to his home state as OU takes on the Buckeyes. A native of Brunswick, Ohio, Shortle is Oklahoma’s high- Jan. 20 at Nebraska (w/ Air Force) First, 349.700 est-ranked gymnast on the vault, standing seventh in the nation with a Jan. 26 Michigan W, 351.400 15.917 average. He is also ranked 14th nationally on the floor exercise Feb. 1 nebraska W, 355.500 (15.083). Only and Russell Czeschin have recorded higher floor scores for OU in 2008 than Shortle’s 15.400 against Ne- Feb. 7 at Winter Cup Challenge^ Individual results braska and Air Force on Jan. 20. Feb. 9 at Winter Cup Challenge^ Individual results Feb. 16 at Iowa W, 355.750 Third-ranked sooners face off against no. 7 buckeyes in columbus Feb. 23 at Pacific Coast Classic! Second, 359.800 March 8 at Ohio State 6 p.m. NORMAN, Okla. – The third-ranked Oklahoma men’s gymnastics team travels to Columbus, Ohio, this March 15 MINNESOTA 7 p.m. weekend to take on rival and seventh-ranked Ohio State. The meet is scheduled for a 6 p.m. (CST) start inside St. John Arena on Saturday, March 8. March 22 at Penn State 6 p.m. April 5 MPSF Championships% 7 p.m. The Sooners will be looking to avenge last year’s regular season loss to the Buckeyes in Norman. Ohio April 17 NCAA Qualifiers# 3 p.m./10 p.m. State claimed a 218.650-213.550 victory at McCasland Field House, halting OU’s home undefeated April 18 NCAA Team Finals# 5 p.m. streak at seven years. The last team to beat the Sooners in Norman before the streak began? Ohio State on Jan. 28, 2000. April 19 NCAA Event Finals# 5 p.m. Since OU head coach Mark Williams took over in 2000, the Buckeyes have been one of Oklahoma’s All start times listed are Central chief out-of-conference rivals. Ohio State defeated OU to claim the 2001 NCAA title, and finished ALL CAPS indicates home meets second to the Sooners in 2002, 2003 and 2005. * Colorado Springs, Colo. Hosted by the U.S. Air Force Academy. ^ Las Vegas, Nev. Individual USA Gymnastics ranking event. “Ohio State has always been a program that has the same goals as we do,” Williams said. “Over the last ! Oakland, Calif. Hosted by USA Sports Management. few years we’ve had to go through them in order to win national championships, and vice versa.” % Lincoln, Neb. Hosted by the University of Nebraska. # Stanford, Calif. Hosted by Stanford University. This weekend’s meet is another opportunity for the Sooners to gear up for another championship run against a top-flight opponent. In the team’s last meet at the Pacific Coast Classic on Feb. 23, OU setting the scene No. 3 Oklahoma at No. 7 Ohio State recorded its best team score of the season (359.800), as well as season highs on the (56.850), (62.000) and vault (63.900). Senior claimed his first all-around title of the season in his first competition on all six events, but the Sooners suffered their first setback of the Where: Columbus, Ohio, at St. John Arena year, as they finished second to No. 1 Stanford (361.650).

When: Saturday, March 8, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. (CST) “For us, this weekend’s competition is still a part of the building process we’re establishing towards the conference championships,” Williams said. “I’d like to see improvements on what we did at the Pacific LIVE SCORES: A link to live scoring will be included in the meet Coast Classic, specifically on and pommel horse.” preview release on SoonerSports.com. Scores will also be available on Ohio State’s official athletics site, OhioStateBuckeyes.com. Ohio State is led by head coach Miles Avery, who is in his 11th year with the program. The Buckeyes boast returning All-Americans in seniors D.J. Bucher and Jimmy Wickham from a 2007 team that won its WHAT 2 Watch 4: The Sooners will be looking to avenge last year’s third consecutive Big Ten title and finished eighth at the NCAA Championships. dual meet loss to the Buckeyes in Norman. Ohio State was one of only two teams (Michigan) to beat OU during the 2007 regular season Saturday night will mark Senior Night for the Buckeyes as they host their final home meet of the 2008 and the first team to win at the Howard McCasland Field House since season. 2000.

Oklahoma should be well-rested after taking a week off following its know the foe No. 7 ohio state second-place finish at the Pacific Coast Classic in Oakland, Calif., on Feb. 23. The Sooners scored a season-high 359.800 and set program marks on pommel horse, rings and vault at the PCC. Location: Columbus, Ohio Head Coach: Miles Avery Founded: 1870 Alma Mater: Temple, 1985 Enrollment: 59,091 Record at Ohio State: 391-227-2 (10 years) Colors: Scarlet and Gray Career Record: same Conference: Big Ten

The official site of OU Athletics supplies Sooner fans worldwide with the 2007 Record: 14-7 Media Relations Contact: Emily Meyer latest news and features on Oklahoma athletics direct from Norman. The site Conference Finish: First Phone: (614) 292-1389 provides the latest press releases, rosters, bios, schedules, statistics, notes, NCAA Finish: Eighth Fax: (614) 292-8547 quotes, athlete blogs, photo galleries and audio and video available to both Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 12/5 E-mail: [email protected] Sooner fans and the media. All-Americans Returning/Lost: 3/1 Web Site: OhioStateBuckeyes.com

oklahoma men’s gymnastics notes | Soonersports.com page 1 Release no. 8 march 8, 2008

2008 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Roster

Name Yr. ht. hometown (High School) (Club) Pronunciation Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons Sr. 5-7 Philadelphia, Pa. (Home Schooled) ( Gymnastics Academy) TAH-key ab-DOOL-uh Jr. 5-8 Houston, Texas (Cypress Creek HS) (Houston North Gymnastics) Garrett Carr Jr. 5-11 Mandeville, La. (Fountainbleau HS) (Aces) Russell Czeschin Jr. 6-3 Independence, Mo. (Fort Osage HS) (Great American Gymnastic Express) shuh-SHEEN Corey English So. 5-7 Covington, La. (St. Paul’s HS) (Mandeville Sports Complex) C.J. Grimes Fr. 5-5 Ulysses, Kan. (Ulysses HS) (Littlestar Gymnastics) Jonathan Horton Sr. 5-1 Houston, Texas (Cy-Fair HS) (Cypress Academy) Ian Jackson So. 5-6 Harrisburg, Pa. (Central Dauphin HS) (Artistic Sports Academy Plus) Jason Laughton Jr. 5-6 Northridge, Calif. (Sunland Christian School) (SCATS Gymnastics) lawton Steven Legendre Fr. 5-6 Flower Mound, Texas (Spring Creek Academy) (World Olympic Gymnastics Academy) la-ZHAHN-dra Kyle McNamara Jr. 5-7 Littleton, Colo. (Heritage HS) (5280 Gymnastics) MAC-nuh-mare-uh Jacob Messina Jr. 5-6 Matthews, N.C. (East Mecklenburg HS) (G & J Speedway) Reed Pitts So. 5-9 Allen, Texas (Allen HS) (Eagle’s Wings Athletics) Bobby Shortle Fr. 5-2 Brunswick, Ohio (Brunswick HS) (Gym World) SHORT-uhl Joseph Weaver Sr. 5-6 garland, Texas (William J. Palmer HS) (Colorado Training Center)

Head Coach Mark Williams Ninth Season Nebraska, 1980 Assistant Coach Daniel Furney Third Season Oklahoma, 2004 Assistant Coach Third Season Kharkov State, 1997 roos-TOM share-EE-pahv

Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics News and Notes

What’s next West coast wonder After visiting the Buckeyes on March 8, Oklahoma will close out its home season on Competing in the all-around for the first time in 2008, Jonathan Horton was a one-man March 15 against No. 8 Minnesota. The meet will mark Senior Night for co-captains record-breaking machine at the Pacific Coast Classic. Horton set personal bests on Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons and Jonathan Horton. every event besides p-bars and high bar and recorded program marks in the all-around (91.150), on pommel horse (14.750) and on rings (15.950). Anything you can do, i can do better Apparently strong competition brings out the best in Jonathan Horton, as the senior Sooners hogging conference honors played a bit of “one-upmanship” at the Pacific Coast Classic. During OU’s first rotation The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation has awarded Gymnast of the Week honors on the pommel horse, sophomore Corey English shattered Jason Laughton’s team eight times in 2008, and four times the award has gone to a University of Oklahoma season high with a 14.600, the highest score on the apparatus for a Sooner gymnast gymnast. by 0.350 points. The record didn’t last long, however, as three turns later Horton set a new standard with a 14.750. Steven Legendre was the conference’s first honoree of the season after winning the all-around and floor exercise titles at the Rocky Mountain Open on Jan. 12. The fresh- The team record holder on rings (14.750) going into the PCC, Horton saw classmate man from Port Jefferson, N.Y., earned the distinction again on Jan. 28 after claiming his Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons stake claim to the top spot with an impressive 15.900. Not third consecutive all-around and floor exercise crowns in the Sooners’ Jan. 26 upset of one to give up his record easily, Horton came right back with a 15.950 on the next turn then-No. 2 Michigan in Norman. to reclaim the Sooner rings mark. Jonathan Horton, a two-time MPSF Gymnast of the Year and three-time weekly award Higher stakes = Higher scores winner in 2007, earned two conference honors in three weeks after his performance at The field at the 2008 Pacific Coast Classic was the strongest competition OU has faced the Winter Cup (Feb. 7-9) and his all-around title at the Pacific Coast Classic (Feb. 23). this season, with all five opponents ranked in the GymInfo top 11 at the time. Against the best teams, the Sooners recorded some of their best scores. OU set season highs Last season, four different OU gymnasts accounted for a total of six MPSF weekly for team total (359.800), pommel horse (56.850), rings (62.000) and vault (62.000) en honors. route to a second-place finish. 2008 MPSF Gymnasts of the Week Stats masters Jan. 15 - Steven Legendre, Oklahoma When your team is ranked third in the nation, it’s fair to say that you have a team full Jan. 12 - Kyson Bunthuwong, California of solid individual performers. The GymInfo individual event rankings seem to back up Jan. 28 - Steven Legendre, Oklahoma that statement. Feb. 4 - Greg Stine, Air Force Feb. 11 - Jonathan Horton, Oklahoma In the latest rankings released on March 3, Oklahoma gymnasts accounted for 18 Feb. 18 - Kyle Bunthuwong, California top-20 event rankings. The Sooners lead all teams with five top-20 gymnasts on vault, Feb. 25 - Jonathan Horton, Oklahoma while OU’s four top-20 high bar competitors are second-most in the nation. March 3 - Ryan Lieberman, Stanford

oklahoma men’s gymnastics notes | Soonersports.com page  Release no. 8 march 8, 2008

7vote horton for aau sullivan award OU’s Jonathan Horton is one of 11 semifinalists for the 78th James E. Sullivan Award presented by the Amateur Athletic Union. The five finalists for the award will be hon- ored at a banquet at the famed New York Athletic Club in New York City on April 1.

Fan votes count one-third toward the final tally, and fans can cast their ballot until March 10 at sports.usatoday.com or on their mobile phones by texting AAUVOTE3 to 44636. You can only vote once; multiple votes will not be counted. Standard carrier text message rates apply.

winter cup highlights Five OU gymnasts competed in the 2008 Winter Cup Challenge in Las Vegas, and all five advanced to the finals competition. Highlighting the Sooners’ weekend in the des- ert were third-place performances by Jonathan Horton on rings and Steven Legendre on floor exercise. Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons tied for fifth on rings, while Ian Jackson made it to the event finals on rings and pommel horse in his Winter Cup debut. All-around good guy Sophomore Ian Jackson claimed the all-around title in OU’s Feb. 1 win over Nebraska Perhaps the most balanced performance, however, came from Jacob Messina, another in his first appearance of the season on all six events this season. Jackson posted an Winter Cup newcomer. The Matthews, N.C., native was the only Sooner to finish in the 85.400 to best teammate Kyle McNamara (84.900) and Nebraska’s Stephen Tetrault. top 20 on every event in which he competed (PH, SR, HB). Jackson also took home the title the last time he competed in the all-around, Feb. 16, 2007 against club teams from the universities of Washington and Texas. men land 10 on big 12 honor roll Ten members of the men’s gymnastics team earned spots on the Big 12 Commis- Leading by example sioners’s Honor Roll for the Fall 2007 term. Junior health and exercise science major The coaching success of Oklahoma’s staff is well-documented. Head coach Mark Russell Czeschin was one of 37 OU student-athletes to earn a perfect 4.0 grade point Williams is a four-time national Coach of the Year and seven-time MPSF Coach of the average. The other Sooner honorees were Chris Brooks, Brian Carr, Corey English, Year, while assistants Rustam Sharipov and Daniel Furney were national Co-Assistant C.J. Grimes, Jason Laughton, Steven Legendre, Reed Pitts, Bobby Shortle and Joseph Coaches of the Year in 2006. Oklahoma’s coaches, however, boast their fair share of Weaver. competitive successes as well. the upset is an upset During his collegiate career at Nebraska, Williams earned All-America honors on high OU’s upset of then-No. 2 Michigan on Jan. 26 was an upset in itself. The Sooners, bar in 1978 after winning the Big Eight title on the apparatus. Williams was also a ranked fifth when they knocked off the Wolverines, rarely have the opportunity to beat member of two Husker national title teams in 1979 and 1980. an opponent ranked higher than they are.

Sharipov, a former parallel bars specialist, took the gold medal on the event at the 1996 In fact, prior to this year’s win against Michigan, the last time OU scored an upset was Olympics and also won top honors on the apparatus at both the 1996 World and Euro- at the 2007 Pacific Coast Classic. The Sooners, ranked third at the time, won the event pean Championships. Sharipov garnered another Olympic gold medal as a member of defeating five of the nation’s top five teams including ... No. 1 Michigan. the Unified Team in 1992. march 3, 2008 gym info poll By three score average Furney, a 2004 OU graduate, was a member of two national championship teams in Norman (2002 and 2003). Furney also won the Nissen Emery Award in 2003 after Rank Team Region Average home Away claiming NCAA titles in the all-around and on parallel bars. During his OU career, 1 Stanford* W 361.433 2 4 Furney accumulated nine All-America honors, including four during the 2003 season. 2 Penn State* e 357.783 3 3 3 OKLAHOMA W 357.683 2 4 Hall of fame nominates horton for gymnast of the year 4 California* W 355.833 1 3 Oklahoma’s Jonathan Horton is one of seven nominees for the International Gymnas- 5 Michigan* e 355.683 2 4 tics Hall of Fame 2007 Gymnast of the Year Award. The OU senior won a his second consecutive Tyson American Cup and finished fourth in the all-around at the World 6 Illinois* E 352.150 2 4 Championships last year. 7 Ohio State* e 350.717 3 2 8 Minnesota* e 344.283 3 3 The other nominees are: Fabian Hambüchen (), Jade Barbosa (), Cheng 9 William & Mary e 343.800 1 5 Fei (), Hisashi Mizutori (Japan), Shawn Johnson (USA), Mitja Petkovsek (Slove- 10 Iowa* E 342.183 3 3 nia), (USA), (China) and Steliana Nistor (). 11 Nebraska* W 341.483 1 5

A Note on the Rankings8 12 Temple E 340.617 2 4 The GymInfo rankings are based on the following criteria: 13 Navy E 339.483 3 3 14 Illinois-Chicago e 337.950 3 3 Jan. 21 - February 11: Ranking by Total Season Average (average of all scores) 15 Air Force* W 334.583 1 6 16 Army E 332.200 3 3 February 18 - March 17: Ranking by Three Score Average 17 Springfield e 329.867 2 4 18 Arizona State* C 314.433 1 3 March 24 - 31: Ranking by Modified Three Score Average (Select the four highest 19 M.I.T. E 313.867 2 2 scores, counting no more than two home meet, and drop the highest score. Average the three remaining scores.) 20 Texas C 307.500 1 3 21 James Madison e 284.867 1 2 April 7: Ranking by National Qualifying Average * indicates OU opponent oklahoma men’s gymnastics notes | Soonersports.com page  Release no. 8 march 8, 2008

Abdullah-SImmons featured on espn.com8 Though he didn’t know it at the time, OU senior Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons’ all-around victory at the 2007 NCAA Men’s Gymnastics Championships was a historic one.

Not only did the Philadelphia, Pa., native become the second consecutive Oklahoma gymnast to win the all-around crown, he became the first African-American in the history of the sport to achieve the feat.

In honor of Black History Month, ESPN.com is featuring the athletes and events that have helped shape the world of sports.

On Feb. 4, writer Jay Weiner highlighted Abdullah-Simmons’ pioneering victory and chronicled his path to stardom at the University of Oklahoma.

He’s Baaaaaaack After sitting out the first two meets of the season to recuperate from a long summer of international competition, senior co-captain Jonathan Horton made his 2008 debut against Michigan.

The senior co-captain’s impact was felt immediately. Horton competed on just four events and won two of them. His winning scores of 15.600 on rings and 15.150 on p-bars marked team season bests at the time. Career highs for everyone good first impressions NCAA men’s gymnastics will be using a new scoring system for the 2008 competition Oklahoma’s freshmen have made an immediate impact, as Steven Legendre has season. No longer will routines be judged on a 10.0 scale. Instead, men’s collegiate claimed three all-around titles and three floor crowns and Bobby Shortle owns a vault gymnastics has adopted the Federation of International Gymnastics (FIG) Scoring championship through three meets. But the newcomers aren’t the only one’s contribut- System which allows for an open-ended Code of Points. ing important “firsts” this season. Instead of scores like 9.65, or 9.8, routines are given scores such as 15.3, 14.8, etc. Junior Kyle McNamara has already matched his 2007 win totals on vault and p-bars, The result? Every men’s gymnast in the NCAA, points-wise, set new career highs on placing first on both events at the Rocky Mountain Open. Classmate Jason Laughton every event the first time they competed in 2008. won the high bar title against Nebraska and Air Force, marking his first career win on the event. Williams names captains And Chris Brooks, a 2007 All-American on high bar, took his first individual crown on Seniors Jonathan Horton and Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons were named co-captains of the the apparatus against the Huskers and Falcons after claiming none last season. 2008 Sooner squad by head coach Mark Williams.

Road Warriors Horton’s leadership and contributions to the team are well-documented. The 2006 With only three home meets scheduled during the 2008 season, OU is going to have NCAA all-around champion owns the OU records for career individual NCAA titles (five) to make its living on the road this season. After back-to-back competitions against and career All-America honors (15). He is serving his third stint as a team captain. Michigan (Jan. 26) and Nebraska (Feb. 1) in Norman, the Sooners will be away from the McCasland Field House for the remainder of the season, save a March 15 matchup The 2007 NCAA all-around champion and a nine-time All-American, Abdullah-Simmons with Minnesota. will look to close out his impressive OU career by leading the Sooners to a third NCAA title in four years. Included in OU’s road plans are visits to No. 4 Ohio State (March 8), No. 9 Iowa (Feb. 16), and defending NCAA champion No. 2 Penn State (March 22). The Sooners will Conference Dominance also face several of the nation’s top teams, including MPSF rivals No. 1 Stanford and Under head coach Mark Williams the Sooners have ruled the Mountain Pacific Sports No. 5 California at the Pacific Coast Classic in Oakland, Calif., on Feb. 23. Federation (MPSF). Since 2000, Williams first season at the helm, Oklahoma has claimed seven conference titles and lost only twice to conference rivals.

The Sooners finished as runner-up to Cal at the 2004 MPSF Championships, the only time under Williams that OU has not worn the conference crown. OU also lost a road dual to Stanford on March 9, 2002.

7OU Gymnastics: A National Name What is the main recruiting area for OU head coach Mark Williams? Try the entire . Oklahoma’s 15-man roster includes student-athletes from 10 different states.

The Sooners also have both coasts covered, with one gymnast from California (Jason Laughton) and two from the Eastern seaboard in Jacob Messina (North Carolina) and Steven Legendre (New York).

The state with the most Sooner gymnasts? Texas with four (Chris Brooks, Jonathan Horton, Reed Pitts and Joseph Weaver), followed by Louisiana (Garrett Carr and Corey English) and Pennsylvania (Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons and Ian Jackson) with two apiece. oklahoma men’s gymnastics notes | Soonersports.com page  Release no. 8 march 8, 2008

7Dynamic duo Senior co-captains Jonathan Horton and Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons have accounted for the last two NCAA all-around titles. Horton was the 2006 champion, while Abdullah- Simmons claimed last year’s crown (Horton was runner-up).

No other team in NCAA history has boasted two all-around champions on the same squad at the same time.

Sooners sign three for 2009 The best keep getting better as head coach Mark Williams signed three of the nation’s top junior gymnasts to National Letters of Intent. Patrick Piscitelli, Chad Crumley and Troy Nitzky will join the Sooners for the 2009 season.

Welcome back Piscitelli hails from Charlotte, N.C., and trains under Jie Ding at G&J Speedway, the In addition to 2007 All-Americans Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons, Chris Brooks, Russell same program as current OU gymnast Jacob Messina. In addition to being an honors Czeschin and Jonathan Horton, OU welcomes back 2005 floor exerciseAll-American student and Academic All-America honoree at Charlotte Catholic High School, Piscitelli Jacob Messina and 2006 floor and vault All-American Reed Pitts. Both Messina and was a member of the U.S. Junior National Team from 2004-2005. He has also won Pitts redshirted last season due to injury. back-to-back all-around titles in Region 8.

In with the new(comers) A native of Long Grove, Ill., Crumley is a six-time Junior Olympic National qualifier and Oklahoma added talent and depth in the 2008 freshman class. Joining the Sooners an Academic All-American from Adlai E. Stevenson High School. He also helped his this season are Steven Legendre from Port Jefferson, N.Y., and Bobby Shortle from club program, Buffalo Grove Gymnastics Center, to the 2007 Club Team Champi- Brunswick, Ohio. onship. Crumley is coached by Don Osborne and his father, Kelly Crumley, who competed at Iowa while Williams was competing at Nebraska. Legendre comes in as a highly-acclaimed junior gymnast and will be expected to be an impact all-around performer. Shortle is expected to challenge for a spot in the lineup Nitzky, from Southampton, Pa., attends William Tennent High School. He is coached on both vault and floor exercise. C.J. Grimes, who redshirted in 2007, could also see by San Juan Jones at Temple University Boys Gymnastics where he has been a Junior action on rings this season. Olympic National qualifier each of the last four years. In 2007, Nitzky finished second in the all-around at the Pennsylvania State Championships. Sooners debut at No. 3 Oklahoma was ranked third in the preseason GymInfo Coaches Poll released on Nov. Williams’ legacy 5, 2007, receiving two first-place votes. Though his team did not win a third straight national title in 2007, the Sooners’ second- place showing continued another impressive streak under head coach Mark Williams. The Sooners have debuted in the top three in each of head coach Mark Williams’ eight seasons at OU and were the coaches’ preseason No. 1 five times in that span (2002-03 Since finishing fourth in Williams’ first full season at the helm in 2000, OU has finished and 2005-07). no lower than second in its quest for the NCAA title. Oklahoma is the only team to finish in the top four at the NCAA Championships every year since 2000. The Sooners boast 12 returning letterwinners from a team that went 26-4 last season and finished second at the NCAA Championships. The 2007 squad also captured the Williams is also one of only seven men’s gymnastics coaches to lead a program to four program’s ninth Mountain Pacific Sports Federation title. or more national titles. Joining Williams on the elite list are Illinois’ Hartley Price (six) and Charley Pond (four), Penn State’s Gene Wettstone (nine), Nebraska’s Francis Al- Gymnasts team up with local school len (eight), Michigan’s Newton Loken (four) and Southern Illinois’ Bill Meade (four). Despite classes of their own and training for the season, members of the OU men’s gymnastics team still find time in their busy schedules to make weekly visits to Norman’s Cleveland Elementary School to assist teachers and mentor students.

Gymnasts are assigned to assist a specific teacher with day-to-day activities including reading, practicing grammar skills and math exercises.

The Sooners have partnered with the school as part of a “Partners in Education” program instituted by Cleveland teacher Regina Bell, the program coordinator, and OU head coach Mark Williams, himself a former English teacher.

Sooners run with the Popular crowd8 A reader survey by Inside Gymnastics magazine showed the OU men’s gymnastics team and senior Jonathan Horton as among the most popular in the sport.

The survey results, published in the January/February 2008 issue, tabbed Horton as the U.S. Male Gymnast of the Year, while 61 percent of voters named him as their favorite NCAA male athlete. The Sooners were also honored as the readers’ favorite NCAA men’s team with 28 percent of the votes. oklahoma men’s gymnastics notes | Soonersports.com page  Release no. 8 march 8, 2008

Legendre earns Pan-Am gold Horton leads Team USA to 2008 Olympic berth Freshman Steven Legendre took the gold medal in the all-around competition at the In case anyone needed more proof that Jonathan Horton is among the best gymnasts Junior Pan-American Gymnastics Championships in City, Guatemala, on in the world, his performance in the all-around finals at the 2007 orldW Artistic Gymnas- Nov. 23. Team USA swept the top four spots in the all-around to capture the team gold tics Championships cemented his stature. The Houston, Texas, native scored a 91.200 as well, recording a 262.933, 10 points better than silver-medalist Brazil and 22 points in , Germany, to finish in fourth place, just 0.2 points from earning a bronze ahead of third-place Argentina. medal.

Legendre scored an 87.032 to best teammate and runner-up Glen Ishino (86.967). Horton became just the fourth American man to record a top-four all-around finish at The USA’s Alexy Bilozertchev earned the bronze medal with an 86.534, while fellow the World Championships and the first since 2004 Olympic gold medalist American finished fourth (85.866). took the title in 2003. Only Hamm and (2nd, 1979) have finished higher than Horton. also finished fourth at the 1999 World Championships. Crimson & Cream on the U.S. National Team Oklahoma has always had a noticeable presence in USA Gymnastics. Over the Horton finished ninth in the all-around in the preliminary round. program’s history, OU has placed 15 athletes on the U.S. Senior National Team. The Sooners have had two Olympians, four World Championships participants and sent “Being fourth in the world is pretty exciting,” said OU head coach and U.S. assistant three athletes to the , Pan American Championships and World Mark Williams. “He also recognizes that he was very close to a medal and that will University Games. certainly motivate him for next year to get up on the podium.”

Since taking over in 2000, Coach Williams has placed four gymnasts on the Senior Horton started the event on pommel horse, admittedly his weakest event. He turned in National Team, including current OU standouts Jonathan Horton and Taqiy Abdullah- a solid routine, scoring a 13.975. By the time the sixth and final rotation was finished, Simmons. Assistant coach Daniel Furney and recent graduate Jamie Henderson have he had jumped 20 places from 24th to fourth. also been a part of the U.S. Team. “I knew I would be playing catch up all day,” Horton said. “I started on my worst event Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics international success and I knew it was going to happen. I had to work my way up, getting to my stronger events.” Olympians - 2004* Fueling Horton’s charge up the standings were impressive routines on the still rings - 1976, 1980, 1984 and high bar, where he posted scores of 15.250 and 14.825, respectively. Both totals ranked among the top five scores of the day on each apparatus. World Championships Team Members U.S. National Team Members Jonathan Horton - 2006, 2007 Bart Conner Finishing on floor exercise, Horton turned in perhaps his best performance of the day Guard Young - 2001, 2002* Mike Wilson scoring a 15.625, tying his best mark on the event in the World Championships. His Casey Bryan - 1994 Mike Rice total was also the third-best floor score of the day, behind only Fuliang Liang of China Jarrod Hanks - 1991 Mark Oates (15.850) and Korea’s Dae Eun Kim and Spain’s Rafael Martinez who posted matching Jeff Lutz scores of 15.800. Pan-Am Games Team Members Matt Hervey Jonathan Horton - 2003 Jarrod Hanks Horton’s fourth-place finish was the second in as many days for a resurgent American Jeff Lutz - 1991 Tom Meadows squad. The U.S. also just missed a bronze medal in the team finals, finishing with a Mike Rice - 1987 Jeremy Killen 272.575, 1.25 points behind third-place Germany. Casey Bryan Pan-Am Championships Participants Guard Young* “To come so close - to have two fourth-place finishes in two days gives me a lump in Jamie Henderson - 2005 Daniel Furney my throat,” Horton said. “To know that we were that close is a lot of motivation for the Jonathon Horton - 2005 Jonathon Horton road to .” Guard Young - 2001* Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons Jamie Henderson The showings by both Horton and the U.S. team should help alleviate some of the World University Games Participants concern after a disappointing showing by the USA at the 2006 World Championships in Heath Mueller - 2003 , . Competing with an inexperienced squad, the U.S. finished 13th in Jeff Lutz - 1991 the team standings. Guillermo Alvarez was the top American in the all-around, finishing Mike Rice - 1987 *participated as an OU assistant coach in 18th place.

oklahoma men’s gymnastics notes | Soonersports.com page  Release no. 8 march 8, 2008

2008 Event recaps

Recap | Pacific Coast classic | feb. 23, 2008 Recap | iowa | feb. 16, 2008

OAKLAND, Calif. - It came down to the final event, but the third-ranked Oklahoma IOWA CITY, Iowa - The fourth-ranked Oklahoma men’s gymnastics team posted its men’s gymnastics team fell just short of toppling No. 1 Stanford Saturday night at the best score of the season, and Sooner gymnasts swept all six event titles en route to 2008 Pacific Coast Classic. Senior Jonathan Horton claimed his third-straight Pacific a 357.750-338.050 road victory over No. 10 Iowa. The Sooners’ team total was the Coast all-around title, and the Sooners recorded their highest score of the season fourth-highest score registered by any team in NCAA competition this season. (359.800), but could not overcome the top-ranked Cardinal competing in its own back- yard at the Oakland Convention Center in downtown Oakland, Calif. Oklahoma gymnasts set or tied 17 individual season highs, including team season marks by junior Russell Czeschin on floor exercise (15.450) and senior Jonathan Competing in the all-around for the first time in 2008, Horton scored a team season- Horton on high bar (15.450). best 91.150 to outpace California’s Tim McNeill (88.500) and Kyson Bunthuwong (86.900). The Sooners started the meet on pommel horse, where Horton and Corey English tied for the event title with matching scores of 14.000, both individual season bests. On OU gymnasts set or tied 13 individual season highs, and Oklahoma set team program floor, Oklahoma swept the top four spots in the standings, registering a team record marks on pommel horse (56.850), still rings (62.000) and vault (63.900). 61.100. Czeschin took his second floor title of the season, tying his season best with a 15.450. The Sooners started strong on the pommel horse, posting a team-record 56.850. Soph- omore Corey English, competing third for OU, scored a personal and team season-high On vault, Oklahoma scored a team season-best 63.800. That total marks the highest 14.600, only to have his record erased three turns later by Horton’s 14.750. vault score in the NCAA in 2008. Once again OU swept the top four spot in the event standings, as Legendre captured his first vault title of the year with a 16.100. Moving to the still rings, Oklahoma got season high scores from its final three competitors to post another team record with a 62.000. Abdullah-Simmons recorded a On the still rings, senior Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons earned his second event title on career-best and team season-high 15.900 in the fifth position, only for Horton to once the apparatus this year, tying his season high with a 15.600. Oklahoma once again again eclipse the mark with a 15.950. The senior co-captains finished third and second, claimed the top four spots on high bar, as Horton set a personal and team best with a respectively, on the event. 15.450.

One week after posting an NCAA-best 63.800 on vault in a The Sooners finished the meet on parallel bars, recording another team season high win at Iowa, the Sooners outdid themselves, scoring a with a 59.100 total. Abdullah-Simmons won his second event title of the afternoon with program-record 63.900 and sweeping the top six spots in a 15.100. the event standings. Horton won his first vault title of the season with a personal-best 16.200. Recap | winter cup | feb. 7-9, 2008 The Sooners struggled on the parallel bars, recording a 57.800, their second-lowest total of the season, NORMAN, Okla. - Oklahoma gymnasts produced several strong performances in Sat- but came back strong on the high bar, earning a urday night’s finals competition at the 2008 Winter Cup Challenge in Las Vegas, Nev. team total of 58.500, its second-highest score of the Highlights of the two-day USA Gymnastics event included top-three finishes by senior season. Jonathan Horton on the still rings and freshman Steven Legendre on the floor exercise.

The Sooners finished on the floor exercise, where Legendre, the all-around gold-medalist for the U.S. squad at the 2007 Junior Pan Am Legendre scored a personal and team season-best Championships, recorded a two-day total of 30.750 on the floor to finish just behind 15.650 to claim the event title. Senior National Team member David Sender (30.950) and Winter Cup all-around champion Paul Hamm (31.950). Legendre also finished 13th on vault (31.300) after leading the event after Thursday’s preliminary round, and earned top-25 finishes on high bar (27.200) and parallel bars (28.150), while placing 34th on the pommel horse (23.900).

Horton, who already secured a spot on the Senior National Team as a member of the 2007 U.S. World Championships squad, competed in only four events at the Winter Cup. In addition to his third-place finish on rings (31.150), the Houston,Texas, native also placed seventh on the p-bars (30.150) and was the highest-scoring collegiate gymnast on the event. Horton also tied for 14th on the high bar with a two-day total of 27.900 and placed 28th on pommel horse with a score of 25.350.

Kyle McNamara8 Senior Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons, competing in only three events, secured top-15 fin- ishes on both the still rings and parallel bars. Abdullah-Simmons earned a final score of 30.450 on rings to tie for fifth place and tied for 15th on p-bars with scores of 14.400 and 14.500. He also placed 30th on the high bar with a two-day total of 26.150.

Junior Jacob Messina, making his first Winter Cup appearance, was the only Sooner gymnast to finish in the top 20 in every event in which he competed. Messina tied for 11th on rings (29.450), tied for 13th on pommel horse (27.400) and finished 18th on the high bar (27.400).

Sophomore Ian Jackson, the first alternate for Saturday night’s finals competition, placed 29th on rings (27.450) and 32nd on pommel horse (24.200).

oklahoma men’s gymnastics notes | Soonersports.com page  Release no. 8 march 8, 2008

2008 Event recaps

Recap | nebraska | feb. 1, 2008 Recap | nebraska and air force | jan. 20, 2008

NORMAN, Okla. - Sophomore Ian Jackson won his first all-around title of the season NORMAN, Okla. - The third-ranked Oklahoma men’s gymnastics team claimed its as the Oklahoma men’s gymnastics team defeated No. 12 Nebraska 355.500-337.750 second straight victory over No. 10 Nebraska and Air Force Sunday at the Bob Dev- Friday night at the Lloyd Noble Center. The sixth-ranked Sooners moved to 3-0 on the aney Center in Lincoln, Neb. The Sooners scored a 349.700 to beat the second place season against their Mountain Pacific Sports Federation rivals. Huskers (341.400). Air Force finished third with a 323.650. Oklahoma defeated both programs en route to a season-opening win at the Rocky Mountain Open, Jan. 12, in In a dominating performance in front of a crowd 1,238, the Sooners claimed team Colorado Springs, Colo. titles on all six events and OU gymnasts won at least a share of each individual event crown. Oklahoma set team season highs on the floor exercise (60.250), pommel horse OU’s Steven Legendre added to the stellar start to his freshman season, scoring an (55.850), still rings (60.800) and vault (63.200) en route to the victory. 87.650 to take his second consecutive all-around title. Junior Kyle McNamara, runner- up in the all-around to Legendre at last week’s Rocky Mountain Open, also finished The Sooners swept the top four spots on floor, with junior Russell Czeschin winning second on Sunday with an 83.750 total. the event title with a season-best 15.450. Freshman Bobby Shortle was second with a 15.300, while sophomore Reed Pitts and freshman Steven Legendre tied for third In addition to his all-around crown, Legendre was once again champion on the floor (14.750). exercise, scoring a 15.450. The Port Jefferson, N.Y., native also finished third on the parallel bars (14.600) and high bar (14.900) and was fourth on the pommel horse with Oklahoma also took the top four places on rings, vault and high bar. Jackson was the a 13.700. vault champion, tying Shortle’s team season high with a 15.900. Senior co-captain Jonathan Horton took the rings crown for the second straight week with a 15.750 and Also claiming event titles for the Sooners were junior Jason Laughton and freshman also won the high bar title with a 14.700. Bobby Shortle. Shortle, a walk-on, was the vault champion with a team season-best 15.900, while Laughton tied Nebraska’s Kyle Shanahan (15.000) for first place on the OU’s other event titleists were senior co-captain Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons on p-bars high bar. (14.900) and junior Jason Laughton, who tied Nebraska’s T.J. Schmidt for first on the pommel horse with a score of 14.350. As a team, OU improved on its scores from last week on every event besides rings and placed first on floor (59.500), pommel horse (54.950), vault (62.550), p-bars (57.950) Junior Kyle McNamara, all-around runner-up to Legendre in OU’s first two meets, and high bar (58.950). finished second once again, this time to Jackson. The Littleton, Colo., native recorded an 84.900 total to finish just behind Jackson’s 85.400. McNamara was fourth on both Recap | rocky mountain open | jan. 12, 2008 rings (14.550) and vault (15.700), while Jackson earned top-five finishes on pommel horse (13.700), rings (14.400) and high bar (13.900) in addition to his vault title. NORMAN, Okla. - For the ninth consecutive year, the Oklahoma men’s gymnastics team started the season with a victory at the Rocky Mountain Open. The third-ranked Recap | michigan | jan. 26, 2008 Sooners scored a 343.550 Saturday night in Colorado Springs, Colo., to win the col- legiate portion of the competition, while freshman Steven Legendre claimed the first NORMAN, Okla. - In a top-five showdown at the McCasland Field House Saturday all-around title of his OU career with an 84.950. night, the fifth-ranked Oklahoma men’s gymnastics team opened its home season in style, defeating No. 2 Michigan, 351.400-347.000. Freshman Steven Legendre The Sooners were without several key contributors, including senior Jonathan Horton, claimed his third straight all-around title with an 85.850 and OU scored team season who continues to rest after a busy summer of international competition. Oklahoma highs on rings (60.000), vault (63.000) and parallel bars (58.550) to earn a thrilling also had several other gymnasts who were limited to a few events while nursing minor come-from-behind victory. injuries.

Trailing by two full points, 114.800-112.800, after the first two rotations, Oklahoma No. 10 Nebraska finished second with a 331.200 total, while hostAir Force was third surged back into the lead with outstanding performances on rings and vault. (323.200). Club teams from Arizona State University (305.850) and the University of Washington (194.100) placed fourth and fifth, respectively. A team comprised of Spurred on by a boisterous crowd of 1,485, the Sooners closed the gap to 0.700 points athletes from the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs scored a 347.900 on the rings. Senior co-captain Jonathan Horton, competing for the first time in 2008, but was ineligible for awards in the collegiate division. scored a 15.600 to take the event title, while junior Jacob Messina recorded a season- high 14.950 to claim third place. Oklahoma gymnasts claimed individual titles on five events. In addition to his all- around victory, Legendre, from Port Jefferson, N.Y., took the floor exercise crown with Moving to the vault, the Sooners took back the lead and never relinquished it. Though a 15.400. Senior co-captain Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons won the still rings with a score of the Wolverines’ David Chan took the event title with a 16.150, Oklahoma gymnasts 15.000, while junior Chris Brooks was the high bar champion (14.600). claimed the next six spots in the standings. Freshman Bobby Shortle and sophomore Ian Jackson tied for second on the apparatus with matching scores of 15.850, while Competing in the all-around for the first time as a collegian, junior Kyle McNamara juniors Kyle McNamara and Russell Czeschin rounded out the OU score with a pair of turned in the best performance of his OU career, claiming event titles on vault (15.550) 15.650s and in a tie for fourth place. and parallel bars (14.750) and finishing as the runner-up in the all-around competition.

Horton claimed his second event title of the night on parallel bars, scoring a 15.150. Horton’s classmate and co-captain Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons finished third with a 14.600, and Legendre and junior Chris Brooks earned matching scores of 14.400 to tie for fourth.

Legendre has been a key addition to the Sooner squad. In addition to his all-around win Saturday night, the Port Jefferson, N.Y., native also took his third consecutive floor exercise title with a 15.250.

oklahoma men’s gymnastics notes | Soonersports.com page  Release no. 8 march 8, 2008

2008 Individual event titles (31) 2008 TEAM event titles (28)

Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons (4) Floor Exercise (4): Still Rings (2): Rocky Mountain Open, 15.000, 1/12/08; at Iowa, 15.600, 2/16/08 Rocky Mountain Open, 58.600, 1/12/08; vs. Nebraska and Air Force, 59.500, 1/20/08; vs. Nebraska, 60.250, 2/1/08; at Iowa, 61.100, 2/16/08 Parallel Bars (2): vs. Nebraska, 14.900, 2/1/08; at Iowa, 15.100, 2/16/08 Pommel Horse (4): Chris Brooks (1) Rocky Mountain Open, 53.750, 1/12/08; vs. Nebraska and Air Force, 54.950, 1/20/08; High Bar (1): Rocky Mountain Open, 14.600, 1/12/08 vs. Nebraska, 55.850, 2/1/08; at Iowa, 54.900, 2/16/08

RUSSELL CZESCHIN (2) Still Rings (4): Floor Exercise (1): vs. Nebraska, 15.450, 2/1/08; at Iowa, 15.450, 2/16/08 Rocky Mountain Open, 57.900, 1/12/08; vs. Michigan, 60.000, 1/26/08; vs. Nebraska, 60.800, 2/1/08; at Iowa, 60.250, 2/16/08 corey english (1) Pommel Horse (1): at Iowa, 14.000, 2/16/08 Vault (6): Rocky Mountain Open, 61.700, 1/12/08; vs. Nebraska and Air Force, 62.550, 1/20/08; jonathan horton (8) vs. Michigan, 63.000, 1/26/08; vs. Nebraska, 63.200, 2/1/08; at Iowa, 63.800, 2/16/08; All-Around (1): Pacific Coast Classic, 91.150, 2/23/08 Pacific Coast Classic, 63.900, 2/23/08

Pommel Horse (1): at Iowa, 14.000, 2/16/08 Parallel Bars (5): Rocky Mountain Open, 57.350, 1/12/08; vs. Nebraska and Air Force, 57.950, 1/20/08; Still Rings (2): vs. Michigan, 15.600, 1/26/08; vs. Nebraska, 15.750, 2/1/08 vs. Michigan, 58.550, 1/26/08; vs. Nebraska, 58.000, 2/1/08; at Iowa, 59.300, 2/16/08

Vault (1): Pacific Coast Classic, 16.200, 2/23/08 High Bar (5): Rocky Mountain Open, 54.250, 1/12/08; vs. Nebraska and Air Force, 58.950, 1/20/08; Parallel Bars (1): vs. Michigan, 15.150, 1/26/08 vs. Michigan, 57.050, 1/26/08; vs. Nebraska, 57.400, 2/1/08; at Iowa, 58.400, 2/16/08

High Bar (2): vs. Nebraska, 14.700, 2/1/08; at Iowa, 15.450, 2/16/08

IAN JACKSON (2) All-Around (1): vs. Nebraska, 85.400, 2/1/08

Vault (1): vs. Nebraska, 15.900, 2/1/08

JASon laughton (2) Pommel Horse (1): vs. Nebraska, 14.350, 2/1/08

High Bar (1): vs. Nebraska and Air Force, 15.000, 1/20/08

Steven Legendre (8) All-Around (4): Rocky Mountain Open, 84.950, 1/12/08; vs. Nebraska and Air Force, 87.650, 1/20/08; vs. Michigan, 85.850, 1/26/08 sooners in the national rankings individual (by three score average)

Floor Exercise (3): Rocky Mountain Open, 15.400, 1/12/08; vs. Nebraska and Air Event Gymnast Rank Avg. Force, 15.450, 1/20/08; vs. Michigan, 15.250, 1/26/08; Pacific Coast Classic, 15.650, Floor Exercise...... Steven Legendre...... 6...... 15.500 2/23/08 Floor Exercise...... Russell Czeschin...... T8...... 15.333 Floor Exercise...... Bobby Shortle...... 18...... 15.083 Vault (1): at Iowa, 16.100, 2/16/08 Still Rings...... Jonathan Horton...... 1...... 15.767 Kyle McNamara (2) Still Rings...... Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons...... 3...... 15.700 Vault (1): Rocky Mountain Open, 15.550, 1/12/08 Still Rings...... Jacob Messina...... T16...... 15.100

Parallel Bars (1): Rocky Mountain Open, 14.750, 1/12/08 Vault...... Bobby Shortle...... T7...... 15.917 Vault...... Steven Legendre...... T11...... 15.883 BOBBY SHORTLE (1) Vault...... Jonathan Horton...... 13...... 15.867 Vault (1): vs. Nebraska and Air Force, 15.900, 1/20/08 Vault...... Ian Jackson...... T14...... 15.850 Vault...... Kyle McNamara...... 19...... 15.750 sooners in the national rankings team (by three score average) Parallel Bars...... Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons...... 13...... 14.867 Event Rank Avg. Floor Exercise...... 3...... 60.700 High Bar...... Jonathan Horton...... T6...... 14.900 Pommel Horse...... 9...... 55.883 High Bar...... Steven Legendre...... T12...... 14.650 Still Rings...... 1...... 60.017 High Bar...... Jason Laughton...... 15...... 14.633 Vault...... 1...... 63.633 High Bar...... Chris Brooks...... T16...... 14.600 Parallel Bars...... 4...... 58.617 High Bar...... 3...... 58.617 All-Around...... Steven Legendre...... 10...... 86.150 Team Total...... 3...... 357.683 All-Around...... Kyle McNamara...... 16...... 84.267

oklahoma men’s gymnastics notes | Soonersports.com page  Release no. 8 march 8, 2008

2008 meet-by-meet results

at Rocky Mountain Open (01.12.08) fx PH SR V PB HB Total No. 3 OKLAHOMA...... 58.600...... 53.750...... 57.900...... 61.700...... 57.350...... 54.250...... 343.550 No. 10 Nebraska...... 55.300...... 52.000...... 56.800...... 60.550...... 54.450...... 52.100...... 331.200 Air Force...... 56.350...... 49.650...... 57.050...... 58.200...... 52.350...... 49.600...... 323.200 Arizona State...... 52.800...... 43.950...... 52.350...... 57.200...... 51.250...... 48.300...... 305.850 Washington...... 25.550...... 31.800...... 36.200...... 39.550...... 24.600...... 34.600...... 194.100

at Nebraska w/ Air Force (01.20.08) fx PH SR V PB HB Total No. 3 OKLAHOMA...... 59.500...... 54.950...... 55.800...... 62.550...... 57.950...... 58.950...... 349.700 No. 10 Nebraska...... 56.100...... 53.150...... 57.400...... 62.350...... 56.200...... 56.200...... 341.400 Air Force...... 54.300...... 49.050...... 53.800...... 60.200...... 53.850...... 52.450...... 323.650

Michigan (01.26.08) FX PH SR V PB HB Total No. 5 OKLAHOMA...... 58.950...... 53.850...... 60.000...... 63.000...... 58.550...... 57.050...... 351.400 No. 2 Michigan...... 59.500...... 55.300...... 58.700...... 61.350...... 56.900...... 55.250...... 347.000

Nebraska (02.01.08) FX PH SR V PB HB Total No. 6 OKLAHOMA...... 60.250...... 55.850...... 60.800...... 63.200...... 58.000...... 57.400...... 355.500 No. 12 Nebraska...... 56.400...... 53.800...... 56.800...... 60.950...... 56.450...... 53.350...... 337.750

at Iowa (02.16.08) FX PH SR V PB HB Total No. 4 OKLAHOMA...... 61.100...... 54.900...... 60.250...... 63.800...... 59.300...... 58.400...... 357.750 No. 10 Iowa...... 58.250...... 53.100...... 55.800...... 61.400...... 57.050...... 52.450...... 338.050

at Pacific Coast Classic (02.23.08) fx PH SR V PB HB Total No. 1 Stanford...... 61.000...... 58.350...... 62.500...... 62.400...... 59.100...... 58.300...... 361.650 No. 3 OKLAHOMA...... 60.750...... 56.850...... 62.000...... 63.900...... 57.800...... 58.500...... 359.800 No. 4 California...... 58.500...... 56.950...... 60.300...... 59.950...... 59.750...... 58.950...... 354.400 No. 6 Michigan...... 59.200...... 56.300...... 58.800...... 61.150...... 56.550...... 56.950...... 348.950 No. 5 Illinois...... 59.050...... 54.200...... 58.650...... 61.000...... 57.700...... 56.100...... 346.700 No. 15 Air Force...... 54.400...... 49.850...... 55.850...... 58.800...... 52.600...... 53.400...... 324.900

at Ohio State (03.08.08) FX PH SR V PB HB Total No. 3 OKLAHOMA...... No. 7 Ohio State......

Minnesota (03.15.08) FX PH SR V PB HB Total No. 3 OKLAHOMA...... No. 8 Minnesota......

at Penn State (03.22.08) FX PH SR V PB HB Total No. 3 OKLAHOMA...... No. 2 Penn State......

at MPSF Championship (04.05.08) fx PH SR V PB HB Total No. 3 OKLAHOMA...... No. 1 Stanford...... No. 4 California...... No. 11 Nebraska...... No. 15 Air Force......

2008 team event highs 2008 individual event highs

Event Score Last Time Event Score Gymnast(s) Floor Exercise...... 61.100...... 02.16.08 All-Around...... 91.150...... Horton Pommel Horse...... 56.850...... 02.23.08 Floor Exercise...... 15.650...... Legendre Still Rings...... 62.000...... 02.23.08 Pommel Horse...... 14.750...... Horton Vault...... 63.900...... 02.23.08 Still Rings...... 15.950...... Horton Parallel Bars...... 59.300...... 02.16.08 Vault...... 16.400...... Legendre High Bar...... 58.950...... 01.20.08 Parallel Bars...... 15.400...... Horton Total...... 359.800...... 02.23.08 High Bar...... 15.450...... Horton

oklahoma men’s gymnastics notes | Soonersports.com page 10 Release no. 8 march 8, 2008

Oklahoma men’s Gymnastics Records Under FIG Scoring Code (2008) 2007 Season in review

6Team Records The 2007 Oklahoma men’s gymnastics team narrowly missed the program’s first three-peat as national champion. Locked in a battle with the championship host Penn State, the NCAA crown came down to the final event as OU, finishing Event Record Date(s) Set on vault, couldn’t overcome the Nittany Lions’ strong performance on the rings. Total...... 359.800...... 02.23.08 Oklahoma finished with a 220.200 to Penn State’s 221.000. The Sooners, led by head Floor Exercise...... 61.100...... 02.16.08 coach Mark Williams, recorded their third runner-up finish in his tenure (four NCAA titles) Pommel Horse...... 56.850...... 02.23.08 The weekend did not end without OU adding some hardware to its trophy case, however. Junior Taqiy Still Rings...... 62.000...... 02.23.08 Abdullah-Simmons turned in perhaps the best performance of his OU career to claim the NCAA all-around Vault...... 63.900...... 02.23.08 national title. Parallel Bars...... 59.300...... 02.16.08 High Bar...... 58.950...... 01.20.08 The Philadelphia, Pa., became the second consecutive Sooner to earn the individual title, as classmate Jonathan Horton won the championship in 2006. Abdullah-Simmons also claimed All-America honors in the all-around and on vault, high bar and still rings. 6Individual Records Horton also made history at the event, winning NCAA event titles on the high bar and floor exercise. With Event record record Holder (Date Set) five career individual national titles, Horton broke Bart Conner’s school record. All-Around...... 91.150...... J. Horton (02.23.08) The Houston, Texas, native also broke Conner’s program mark for career All-America honors, earning the Floor Exercise...... 15.650...... S. Legendre (02.23.08) distinction on five events (AA, FX, SR, HB, V) to up his career total to 15, while also tying the school record Pommel Horse...... 14.750...... J. Horton (02.23.08) for honors in a season. Still Rings...... 15.950...... J. Horton (02.23.08) Vault...... 16.400...... S. Legendre (02.07.08) For the fourth straight year Oklahoma led the nation, acquiring 11 total All-Americans at the NCAA Championships. In addition to the nine All-America honors won by Horton and Abdullah-Simmons, Parallel Bars...... 15.400...... J. Horton (02.07.08) sophomore Russell Czeschin (FX) earned the distinction for the first time in his career, while Chris Brooks High Bar...... 15.450...... J. Horton (02.16.08) repeated as an All-American on high bar.

Horton also claimed another prestigious title in 2007. At the Tyson American Cup in Jacksonville, Fla., on Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Quick Facts March 3, against a field of the world’s top gymnasts, he claimed his second consecutive Cup champion- ship, edging Japan’s Nakase Takuya. Horton became the first male gymnast to win back-to-back Tyson General Information American Cup titles since the USA’s Blaine Wilson won three straight from 1997-99. Location...... Norman, Okla. Prior to the NCAA Championships, the Sooners continued their reign in the Mountain Pacific Sports Enrollment...... 29,721 Federation. Despite season-ending injuries to Jacob Messina and Reed Pitts, and losses to Michigan and Founded...... 1890 Ohio State, head coach Mark Williams led the Sooners to the program’s eighth MPSF conference champi- President...... David L. Boren onship on the campus of the University of California-Berkeley. Horton and Abdullah-Simmons finished first VP for Intercollegiate Athletics/AD...... Joe Castiglione and second, respectively, in the all-around standings. Nickname...... Sooners Horton also defended his conference titles on rings and floor and tied for first on the high bar en route to Colors...... Crimson & Cream his second consecutive MPSF Gymnast of the Year award. Williams was also honored as the conference’s Conference...... Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Coach of the Year for the seventh time in his eight seasons at Oklahoma as his Sooners finished the sea- Arena(s)...... Howard McCasland Field House (2,300) son with a record of 26-4. Lloyd Noble Center (12,000) OU All-Time Record...... 493-164-1 (.749) 2007 Oklahoma men’s Gymnastics schedule/results

Team Information Date Opponent Results 2007 Overall Record...... 26-4 (.867) 01.12.07 Rocky Mountain Open Team Finals First, 207.350 High Score...... 220.500 01.13.07 Rocky Mountain Open Event Finals 13 placed MPSF Finish...... First 01.20.07 Nebraska & Air Force First, 213.200 NCAA Finish...... Second 01.27.07 @ Michigan L, 218.000 Letterwinners Returning/Lost...... 13/1 02.02.07 @ Nebraska W , 213.300 All-Americans Returning/Lost...... 11/0 02.09.07 Winter Cup Individual results 02.10.07 Winter Cup Individual results Coaching Staff 02.16.07 Washington & Texas First, 210.500 Head Coach...... Mark Williams 02.24.07 Pacific Coast Classic First, 218.450 Year...... Ninth Season 03.03.07 Ohio State L, 213.550 Alma Mater...... Nebraska, 1980 03.17.07 Iowa W, 220.500 03.31.07 MPSF Championship First, 217.950 Record at OU...... 195-17 (.920) 04.12.07 NCAA Qualifiers Second, 218.600 Career Record...... 195-17 (.920) 04.13.07 NCAA Team Finals Second, 220.200 04.14.07 NCAA Event Finals 11 All-Americans Assistant Coach...... Rustam Sharipov Year...... Third Season 2007 team event highs 2007 individual event highs Alma Mater...... Kharkov State, 1997 Event Score Last Time Event Score gymnast(s) Assistant Coach...... Daniel Furney Floor Exercise...... 38.400...... 03.31.07 All-Around...... 55.950...... Horton Year...... Third Season Pommel Horse...... 35.200...... 03.17.07 Floor Exercise...... 9.800...... Horton Alma Mater...... Oklahoma, 2004 Still Rings...... 38.300...... 04.13.07 Pommel Horse...... 9.000...... B. Carr, Laughton Vault...... 36.500...... 03.17.07 Still Rings...... 9.850...... Horton The Sam Viersen Gymnastics Center Parallel Bars...... 37.400...... 01.27.07 Vault...... 9.300...... Horton Men’s Gymnastics Office Phone...... (405) 325-8341 High Bar...... 37.400...... 03.17.07 Parallel Bars...... 9.650...... Horton Men’s Gymnastics Office Fax...... (405) 325-7485 Team Total...... 220.500...... 03.17.07 High Bar...... 9.800...... Horton

oklahomaou men’s gymnastics men’s gymnastics notes notes | Soonersports.com page 11 Release no. 8 march 8, 2008

Williams by the numbers 8 Year record Conference (Finish) Postseason (Finish) 2000...... 15-4...... MPSF (First)...... NCAA (Fourth) head coach 2001...... 24-2...... MPSF (First)...... NCAA (Second) 2002...... 28-1...... MPSF (First)...... NCAA (First) mark williams 2003...... 26-0...... MPSF (First)...... NCAA (First) 2004...... 24-4...... MPSF (Second)...... NCAA (Second) four-time national coach of the year 2005...... 21-2...... MPSF (First)...... NCAA (First) seven-time MPSF coach of the year 2006...... 31-0...... MPSF (First)...... NCAA (First) 2007...... 26-4...... MPSF (First)...... NCAA (Second) Total 195-17 .920 Winning Percentage

If you’re looking for tradition and sustained excellence in NCAA men’s gymnastics, look no farther than Norman, Okla. The Williams Honor Roll At the University of Oklahoma, four-time National Coach of the Year Mark Williams has led the Sooners to four NCAA Career Coaching Highlights titles and three runner-up finishes in the last seven seasons. Not since 1979-1982 has a team produced a finish of • 2007 U.S. World Championships Assistant Coach second place or higher in six or more consecutive seasons. • 2007 MPSF Coach of the Year • 2006 U.S. World Championships Head Coach Williams was named head coach of the program in 2000 and has positioned Oklahoma as a legitimate national • 2006 USA Gymnastics Coach of the Year • 2006 NCAA National Champions contender every year with an overall mark of 195-17 in eight seasons. During his tenure OU has recorded impressive • 2006 National Coach of the Year numbers, including 81 All-America honors and producing the nation’s top gymnast in 2003, Daniel Furney (Nissen • 2006 MPSF Coach of the Year Emery Award). • 2005 NCAA National Champions • 2005 National Coach of the Year Williams’ 2007 OU squad won the program’s eighth MPSF title in nine seasons and finished as national runner-up. • 2005 MPSF Coach of the Year • 2004 U.S. Olympic Personal Coach Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons claimed the NCAA all-around crown and Jonathan Horton won the floor exercise and high • 2003 NCAA National Champions bar titles, breaking Bart Conner’s OU record for career NCAA championships. • 2003 National Coach of the Year • 2003 MPSF Coach of the Year Outside of coaching on the collegiate level, in 2004 Williams was also on the Olympic scene. Williams helped • 2003 World Championshipa Personal Coach guide former OU assistant coach Guard Young to the 2004 Summer Olympics in , . Young had been • 2002 World Championshipa Personal Coach coached by Williams since he was 11 years old and, at the age of 27, Young achieved his goal of competing for the • 2002 NCAA National Champions • 2002 National Coach of the Year U.S. at the Olympics with Williams at his side. Not only did Young compete in the games, but his performance helped • 2002 MPSF Coach of the Year the team earn silver, the first team medal for the U.S. since 1984. • 2001 MPSF Coach of the Year • 2001 West Region NCAA Coach of the Year Although Williams has returned gymnastics at OU to the top of the sport, another one of his primary goals as head • 2001 World Championshipa Personal Coach coach has been to revitalize OU’s presence on the international gymnastics scene. With Young’s showing at the • 2000 MPSF Coach of the Year • 1999 Pan American Games Head Coach 2004 and numerous other gymnasts competing on the world scene, Williams has achieved just that. • 1996 Assistant Olympic Coach • 1995 U.S. World Championshipa Assistant Coach In his 26 years as a professional gymnastics coach, Williams has guided gymnasts to the Olympic, World Champion- • 1994 World Championshipa Personal Coach ship, Pan American Games and University Games teams. He has also coached numerous senior and junior U.S. na- • 1994 USA Gymnastics Coach of the Year tional team members including: Casey Bryan (1994 World Team member); Darren Elg (1987 U.S. Junior champion); • 1994 NCAA Assistant Coach of the Year • 11-time USA International Team Coach Dan Fink (1998 NCAA champion on rings); John Goodwin, Matt Hervey, Jarrod Hanks (1991 World Team members);

Jeremy Killen (1997 NCAA champion on floor exercise); Josh Landis (NCAA Champion on floor exercise and pommel Coaching Accomplishments horse); Jeff Lutz (1991 University Games Team member); Heath Mueller, Curtis O’Rorke, and Jock Stevens (2001 • Athlete on U.S. Olympic Team U.S. National Championships participants); Jamie Henderson and Mueller (2004 U.S. National Championships par- • Two Athletes on World Championships Teams ticipants) Mike Racanelli, Guard Young (2001, 2002 and 2003 World Championships Team member); and Jonathan • Athlete on Pan American Games Team Horton (2005 Pan Am and 2006 and 2007 World Championship team member). • Athlete on Pan American Champ. Team • Athlete on World University Games Team • Nine Athletes on USA Senior National Team In addition to his coaching prowess, Williams is a nationally and internationally certified judge. He has also served as • Seven Athletes on Junior National Team the vice president for the U.S. Men’s Elite Coaches Association, as a member of the Men’s Program Committee for • 81 NCAA All-America Athletes USA Gymnastics (USAG) and on the USAG Board of Directors. Williams was also a member of the 2000 Olympic • 11 NCAA National Champions Selection Committee. • Two USA Junior National All-Around Champions Gymnastics Activities Williams’ career as an athlete was equally impressive. A high school standout from La Grange Park, Ill., he went on • NCAA Rules Committee Chair (2005) to compete at Nebraska (1977-1980). He received All-America honors on the high bar (1978) in addition to the two • NGJA Nationally Certified Judge (1984-2001) national championship titles he earned with his team (1979, 1980). • F.I.G. Certified Judge (1998-2004) • USAG Men’s Program Committee Member (1994-2000) Williams graduated from Nebraska with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education/English and completed his • U.S. Men’s Elite Coaches Association Sec./Treas. & V.P. (1991-98) master’s degree in journalism at OU. • USAG Board of Directors Sr. Rep (1996-98) Williams was married to the former Susan Southhall in May of 1998. The couple welcomed their first child, son • Coached on six NCAA National Championship Teams Cooper, in 2007. (1981, 1991, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006) oklahoma men’s gymnastics notes | Soonersports.com page 12 Release no. 8 march 8, 2008

taqiyABDULLAH-SIMMONS

Year...... Senior 2008: Placed third on rings with a season-high 15.900 at Pacific Coast Classic ...Also set career Height...... 5-7 high on high bar (14.750) at PCC ... Won p-bars with a season-high 15.100 and took the rings title Hometown...... Philadelphia, Pa. (15.600) in win at Iowa ... Tied for fifth on rings (30.450) and tied for 15th on p-bars (29.900) at Club...... Houston Gymnastics Academy Winter Cup Challenge ... Won parallel bars (14.900) and placed second on rings (15.600) and fourth on h-bar (13.950) in home win against Nebraska ... Finished third on p-bars (14.600) in Michigan High School...... Home Schooled win ... Third on rings (14.250) against Nebraska and Air Force ... Won rings title (15.000) at the Events...... All-Around season-opening Rocky Mountain Open.

2008 season Highs

All-Around...... N/A Floor Exercise...... N/A Pommel Horse...... 13.350 Still Rings...... 15.900 Vault...... N/A Parallel Bars...... 15.100 High Bar...... 14.750

Date event FX Ph sr v Pb hb aa

01.12.08...... Rocky Mountain Open...... 12.250...... 15.000...... 01.20.08...... Nebraska (w/ Air Force)...... 12.400...... 14.250...... 14.350...... 01.26.08...... MICHIGAN...... 12.900...... 14.750...... 14.600...... 14.300...... 02.01.08...... NEBRASKA...... 15.600...... 14.900...... 13.950...... 02.07.08...... Winter Cup Challenge...... 15.350...... 14.400...... 14.050...... 02.09.08...... Winter Cup Challenge...... 15.100...... 14.500...... 12.100...... 02.16.08...... Iowa...... 15.600...... 15.100...... 14.350...... 02.23.08...... Pacific Coast Classic...... 13.350...... 15.900...... 14.100...... 14.750...... 03.08.08...... Ohio State...... 03.15.08...... MINNESOTA...... 03.22.08...... Penn State...... 04.05.08...... MPSF Championship...... 04.17.08...... NCAA Qualifier...... 04.18.08...... NCAA Team Finals...... 04.19.08...... NCAA Event Finals...... oklahoma men’s gymnastics notes | Soonersports.com page 13 Release no. 8 march 8, 2008

chrisbrooks

Year...... Junior 2008: Set season highs on floor (15.250), rings (14.300) and p-bars (14.950) in win at Iowa ... Height...... 5-8 Placed second on high bar (14.450) and p-bars and third on floor in Iowa win ...Third on p-bars Hometown...... Houston, Texas (14.550) in home win against Nebraska ... Finished third on high bar (14.450) and tied for fourth on Club...... Houston North Gymnastics p-bars (14.400) in Michigan win ... Fourth on h-bar (14.700) against Nebraska and Air Force ... Won high bar (14.600) and was third on p-bars (14.300) at the Rocky Mountain Open. High School...... Cypress Creek HS Events...... All-Around

2008 season Highs

All-Around...... N/A Floor Exercise...... 15.250 Pommel Horse...... N/A Still Rings...... 14.300 Vault...... N/A Parallel Bars...... 14.950 High Bar...... 14.700

Date event FX Ph sr v Pb hb aa

01.12.08...... Rocky Mountain Open...... 13.900...... 14.300...... 14.600...... 01.20.08...... Nebraska (w/ Air Force)...... 13.600...... 14.150...... 14.700...... 01.26.08...... MICHIGAN...... 14.700...... 14.400...... 14.450...... 02.01.08...... NEBRASKA...... 14.550...... 02.07.08...... Winter Cup Challenge...... 02.09.08...... Winter Cup Challenge...... 02.16.08...... Iowa...... 15.250...... 14.300...... 14.950...... 14.450...... 02.23.08...... Pacific Coast Classic...... 14.900...... 14.500...... 14.500...... 03.08.08...... Ohio State...... 03.15.08...... MINNESOTA...... 03.22.08...... Penn State...... 04.05.08...... MPSF Championship...... 04.17.08...... NCAA Qualifier...... 04.18.08...... NCAA Team Finals...... 04.19.08...... NCAA Event Finals...... oklahoma men’s gymnastics notes | Soonersports.com page 14 Release no. 8 march 8, 2008

garrettcarr

Year...... Junior 2008: Tied for sixth on vault (15.200) at Rocky Mountain Open ... Out for the season with a torn Height...... 5-11 pectoral muscle. Hometown...... Mandeville, La. Club...... Aces High School...... Fountainbleau HS Events...... PH, V, PB, HB

2008 season Highs

All-Around...... N/A Floor Exercise...... N/A Pommel Horse...... N/A Still Rings...... N/A Vault...... 15.200 Parallel Bars...... N/A High Bar...... N/A

Date event FX Ph sr v Pb hb aa

01.12.08...... Rocky Mountain Open...... 15.200...... 01.20.08...... Nebraska (w/ Air Force)...... 01.26.08...... MICHIGAN...... 02.01.08...... NEBRASKA...... 02.07.08...... Winter Cup Challenge...... 02.09.08...... Winter Cup Challenge...... 02.16.08...... Iowa...... 02.23.08...... Pacific Coast Classic...... 03.08.08...... Ohio State...... 03.15.08...... MINNESOTA...... 03.22.08...... Penn State...... 04.05.08...... MPSF Championship...... 04.17.08...... NCAA Qualifier...... 04.18.08...... NCAA Team Finals...... 04.19.08...... NCAA Event Finals...... oklahoma men’s gymnastics notes | Soonersports.com page 15 Release no. 8 march 8, 2008

russellczeschin

Year...... Junior 2008: Tied for fourth on vault at Pacific Coast Classic, tying his season high (15.750) on the event Height...... 6-3 ... Tied his season high (15.450) and won his second floor title of the season in Iowa win ... Won Hometown...... Independence, Mo. the floor title with a season-high 15.450 in home win against Nebraska ...Also placed third on vault Club...... Great American Gymnastic Express against the Huskers (15.750) ... Tied for fourth on vault with a 15.650 against Michigan ... Fourth on floor (14.600) and vault (15.600) against Nebraska and Air Force ... Placed second on floor (14.900) High School...... Fort Osage HS and vault (15.500) at the Rocky Mountain Open. Events...... FX, V

2008 season Highs

All-Around...... N/A Floor Exercise...... 15.450 Pommel Horse...... N/A Still Rings...... N/A Vault...... 15.750 Parallel Bars...... N/A High Bar...... N/A

Date event FX Ph sr v Pb hb aa

01.12.08...... Rocky Mountain Open...... 14.900...... 15.500...... 01.20.08...... Nebraska (w/ Air Force)...... 14.600...... 15.600...... 01.26.08...... MICHIGAN...... 13.600...... 15.650...... 02.01.08...... NEBRASKA...... 15.450...... 15.750...... 02.07.08...... Winter Cup Challenge...... 02.09.08...... Winter Cup Challenge...... 02.16.08...... Iowa...... 15.450...... 15.450...... 02.23.08...... Pacific Coast Classic...... 15.100...... 15.750...... 03.08.08...... Ohio State...... 03.15.08...... MINNESOTA...... 03.22.08...... Penn State...... 04.05.08...... MPSF Championship...... 04.17.08...... NCAA Qualifier...... 04.18.08...... NCAA Team Finals...... 04.19.08...... NCAA Event Finals...... oklahoma men’s gymnastics notes | Soonersports.com page 16 Release no. 8 march 8, 2008

coreyenglish

Year...... Sophomore 2008: Recorded a career-best 14.600 on pommel horse at Pacific Coast Classic ... Claimed first Height...... 5-7 event title of his OU career with a 14.000 on pommel horse at Iowa ... Also scored a season-high Hometown...... Covington, La. 14.500 on p-bars in win over Hawkeyes ... Tied for third on pommels (13.550) in Michigan win ... Club...... MGA Placed third on pommel horse (14.000) against Nebraska and Air Force. High School...... St. Paul’s HS Events...... PH, PB

2008 season Highs

All-Around...... N/A Floor Exercise...... N/A Pommel Horse...... 14.600 Still Rings...... N/A Vault...... N/A Parallel Bars...... 14.500 High Bar...... N/A

Date event FX Ph sr v Pb hb aa

01.12.08...... Rocky Mountain Open...... 01.20.08...... Nebraska (w/ Air Force)...... 14.000...... 12.400...... 01.26.08...... MICHIGAN...... 13.550...... 14.000...... 02.01.08...... NEBRASKA...... 02.07.08...... Winter Cup Challenge...... 02.09.08...... Winter Cup Challenge...... 02.16.08...... Iowa...... 14.000...... 14.500...... 02.23.08...... Pacific Coast Classic...... 14.600...... 03.08.08...... Ohio State...... 03.15.08...... MINNESOTA...... 03.22.08...... Penn State...... 04.05.08...... MPSF Championship...... 04.17.08...... NCAA Qualifier...... 04.18.08...... NCAA Team Finals...... 04.19.08...... NCAA Event Finals...... oklahoma men’s gymnastics notes | Soonersports.com page 17 Release no. 8 march 8, 2008

jonathanhorton

Year...... Senior 2008: Placed fifth (89.600) at the Tyson American Cup ... MPSF Gymnast of the Week for Feb. 25 Height...... 5-1 ... Also named College Gymnastics Association National Gymnast of the Week for Feb. 25 ... Took Hometown...... Houston, Texas the all-around (91.150) and vault (16.200) titles and finished second on rings (15.950) and fourth on Club...... Cypress Academy pommel horse (14.750) at Pacific Coast Classic ... Set season highs in the all-around and on vault, pommel horse, rings and floor (15.100) at the PCC ...Pacific Coast all-around, rings and pommel High School...... Cy-Fair HS horse scores established OU team records ... Won event titles on pommel horse (14.000) and Events...... All-Around high bar (15.450) in win at Iowa ... MPSF Gymnast of the Week for Feb. 11 ... Placed third on rings (31.150) and seventh on p-bars (30.150) at Winter Cup Challenge ... Set season high on p-bars 2008 season Highs (15.400) at Winter Cup ... Won event titles on rings (15.750) and high bar (14.700) in home win against Nebraska ... Won event titles on rings (15.600) and parallel bars (15.150) versus Michigan ... Also tied for third on pommel horse (13.550) against the Wolverines. All-Around...... 91.150 Floor Exercise...... 15.100 Pommel Horse...... 14.750 Still Rings...... 15.950 Vault...... 16.200 Parallel Bars...... 15.400 High Bar...... 15.450

Date event FX Ph sr v Pb hb aa

01.12.08...... Rocky Mountain Open...... 01.20.08...... Nebraska (w/ Air Force)...... 01.26.08...... MICHIGAN...... 13.550...... 15.600...... 15.150...... 13.800...... 02.01.08...... NEBRASKA...... 13.400...... 15.750...... 15.500...... 14.100...... 14.700...... 02.07.08...... Winter Cup Challenge...... 11.450...... 15.400...... 14.750...... 14.850...... 02.09.08...... Winter Cup Challenge...... 13.900...... 15.750...... 15.400...... 13.050...... 02.16.08...... Iowa...... 15.050...... 14.000...... 15.900...... 15.450...... 02.23.08...... Pacific Coast Classic...... 15.100...... 14.750...... 15.950...... 16.200...... 14.600...... 14.550...... 91.150 03.08.08...... Ohio State...... 03.15.08...... MINNESOTA...... 03.22.08...... Penn State...... 04.05.08...... MPSF Championship...... 04.17.08...... NCAA Qualifier...... 04.18.08...... NCAA Team Finals...... 04.19.08...... NCAA Event Finals...... oklahoma men’s gymnastics notes | Soonersports.com page 18 Release no. 8 march 8, 2008

ianjackson

Year...... Sophomore 2008: Tied for fourth on vault (15.750) at Pacific Coast Classic ... Second on rings with a season- Height...... 5-6 high 15.150 in win at Iowa ... Placed 29th on high bar (27.450) and 32nd on pommel horse (24.200) Hometown...... Harrisburg, Pa. at Winter Cup Challenge ... Won the all-around (85.400) and vault (15.900) titles in home win Club...... ASAP against Nebraska ... Also earned top-five finishes on pommel horse (13.700), rings (14.400) and high bar (13.900) against the Huskers ... Tied for second on vault with a 15.850 against Michigan. High School...... Central Dauphin HS Events...... All-Around

2008 season Highs

All-Around...... 85.400 Floor Exercise...... 14.400 Pommel Horse...... 13.700 Still Rings...... 15.150 Vault...... 15.900 Parallel Bars...... 13.100 High Bar...... 13.900

Date event FX Ph sr v Pb hb aa

01.12.08...... Rocky Mountain Open...... 01.20.08...... Nebraska (w/ Air Force)...... 01.26.08...... MICHIGAN...... 14.700...... 15.850...... 02.01.08...... NEBRASKA...... 14.400...... 13.700...... 14.400...... 15.900...... 13.100...... 13.900...... 85.400 02.07.08...... Winter Cup Challenge...... 14.050...... 12.350...... 14.050...... 15.400...... 12.550...... 13.350...... 81.750 02.09.08...... Winter Cup Challenge...... 11.850...... 13.400...... 02.16.08...... Iowa...... 13.050...... 15.150...... 15.800...... 02.23.08...... Pacific Coast Classic...... 13.500...... 14.800...... 15.750...... 03.08.08...... Ohio State...... 03.15.08...... MINNESOTA...... 03.22.08...... Penn State...... 04.05.08...... MPSF Championship...... 04.17.08...... NCAA Qualifier...... 04.18.08...... NCAA Team Finals...... 04.19.08...... NCAA Event Finals...... oklahoma men’s gymnastics notes | Soonersports.com page 19 Release no. 8 march 8, 2008

jasonlaughton

Year...... Junior 2008: Fourth on high bar (14.150) in win at Iowa ... Tied for first on pommel horse with a season- Height...... 5-6 high 14.350 in home win against Nebraska ... Also placed second on h-bar (14.450) and set a Hometown...... Northridge, Calif. season high on p-bars (14.450) against the Huskers ... Shared high bar title (15.000) and was Club...... SCATS Gymnastics second on pommel horse (14.250) against Nebraska and Air Force ... Second on high bar (13.850) and fourth on pommel horse (13.500) at the Rocky Mountain Open. High School...... Sunland Christian School Events...... All-Around

2008 season Highs

All-Around...... N/A Floor Exercise...... N/A Pommel Horse...... 14.350 Still Rings...... 14.150 Vault...... N/A Parallel Bars...... 14.450 High Bar...... 15.000

Date event FX Ph sr v Pb hb aa

01.12.08...... Rocky Mountain Open...... 13.500...... 13.000...... 13.850...... 01.20.08...... Nebraska (w/ Air Force)...... 14.250...... 13.150...... 15.000...... 01.26.08...... MICHIGAN...... 13.400...... 13.900...... 13.950...... 02.01.08...... NEBRASKA...... 14.350...... 14.150...... 14.450...... 14.450...... 02.07.08...... Winter Cup Challenge...... 02.09.08...... Winter Cup Challenge...... 02.16.08...... Iowa...... 13.250...... 14.000...... 14.450...... 14.150...... 02.23.08...... Pacific Coast Classic...... 14.000...... 14.050...... 13.050...... 14.450...... 03.08.08...... Ohio State...... 03.15.08...... MINNESOTA...... 03.22.08...... Penn State...... 04.05.08...... MPSF Championship...... 04.17.08...... NCAA Qualifier...... 04.18.08...... NCAA Team Finals...... 04.19.08...... NCAA Event Finals...... oklahoma men’s gymnastics notes | Soonersports.com page 20 Release no. 8 march 8, 2008

stevenlegendre

Year...... Freshman 2008: Took floor title with an OU-record 15.650 at Pacific Coast Classic ... Also placed second on Height...... 5-6 vault (16.050) and tied his season high on p-bars (14.600) at PCC ... Won vault title (16.100) and Hometown...... Port Jefferson, N.Y. was second on floor (15.350) in win at Iowa ... Placed third on floor (30.750) and 13th on vault Club...... World Olympic Gymnastics Academy (31.300) and earned top-25 finishes on p-bars (28.150) and high bar (27.200) at Winter Cup Chal- lenge ... Led vault standings after season-high 16.400 in Winter Cup prelims ... Tied for third on floor High School...... Spring Creek Academy (14.750) in home win against Nebraska ... MPSF Gymnast of the Week for Jan. 28 ... Claimed third Events...... All-Around straight all-around (85.850) and floor exercise (15.250) titles in Michigan win ...All-around (87.650) and floor exercise (15.450) champion against Nebraska and Air Force ... Placed third on p-bars 2008 season Highs (14.600) and h-bar (14.900) and fourth on pommel horse (13.700) against the Huskers and Falcons ... MPSF Gymnast of the Week for Jan. 15 ... Won the all-around (84.950) and floor exercise (15.400) in his first collegiate competition at the Rocky Mountain Open ...Also placed second on All-Around...... 87.650 p-bars (14.350), third on vault (15.400), and fifth on high bar (13.050) at the RMO. Floor Exercise...... 15.650 Pommel Horse...... 13.700 Still Rings...... 14.000 Vault...... 16.400 Parallel Bars...... 14.600 High Bar...... 14.900

Date event FX Ph sr v Pb hb aa

01.12.08...... Rocky Mountain Open...... 15.400...... 12.850...... 13.900...... 15.400...... 14.350...... 13.050...... 84.950 01.20.08...... Nebraska (w/ Air Force)...... 15.450...... 13.700...... 13.500...... 15.500...... 14.600...... 14.900...... 87.650 01.26.08...... MICHIGAN...... 15.250...... 12.350...... 14.000...... 15.500...... 14.400...... 14.350...... 85.850 02.01.08...... NEBRASKA...... 14.750...... 12.850...... 02.07.08...... Winter Cup Challenge...... 15.400...... 12.300...... 13.700...... 16.400...... 13.750...... 13.050...... 84.600 02.09.08...... Winter Cup Challenge...... 15.350...... 11.600...... 14.900...... 14.400...... 14.150...... 02.16.08...... Iowa...... 15.350...... 16.100...... 02.23.08...... Pacific Coast Classic...... 15.650...... 16.050...... 14.600...... 14.700...... 03.08.08...... Ohio State...... 03.15.08...... MINNESOTA...... 03.22.08...... Penn State...... 04.05.08...... MPSF Championship...... 04.17.08...... NCAA Qualifier...... 04.18.08...... NCAA Team Finals...... 04.19.08...... NCAA Event Finals...... oklahoma men’s gymnastics notes | Soonersports.com page 21 Release no. 8 march 8, 2008

kyleMcnamara

Year...... Junior 2008: Finished third on vault with a season-high 15.900 at Pacific Coast Classic ...Also set personal Height...... 5-7 best on rings with a 14.600 at PCC ... Placed second in the all-around with a season-best 84.900 in Hometown...... Littleton, Colo. home win against Nebraska ... Tied for fourth on vault with a 15.650 in Michigan win ... Placed sec- Club...... 5280 Gymnastics ond on p-bars (14.650) and was the all-around runner-up (83.750) against Nebraska and Air Force ... Won the vault (15.550) and p-bars (14.750) at the Rocky Mountain Open ... Also placed third on High School...... Heritage HS pommel horse (13.600) and was runner-up in the all-around (84.150) at the RMO. Events...... All-Around

2008 season Highs

All-Around...... 84.900 Floor Exercise...... 14.200 Pommel Horse...... 13.600 Still Rings...... 14.600 Vault...... 15.900 Parallel Bars...... 14.750 High Bar...... 13.900

Date event FX Ph sr v Pb hb aa

01.12.08...... Rocky Mountain Open...... 13.300...... 13.600...... 14.200...... 15.550...... 14.750...... 12.750...... 84.150 01.20.08...... Nebraska (w/ Air Force)...... 14.050...... 12.500...... 13.100...... 15.550...... 14.650...... 13.900...... 83.750 01.26.08...... MICHIGAN...... 14.200...... 15.650...... 02.01.08...... NEBRASKA...... 13.150...... 13.600...... 14.550...... 15.700...... 14.000...... 13.900...... 84.900 02.07.08...... Winter Cup Challenge...... 02.09.08...... Winter Cup Challenge...... 02.16.08...... Iowa...... 13.250...... 14.500...... 15.650...... 14.000...... 12.300...... 02.23.08...... Pacific Coast Classic...... 14.600...... 15.900...... 03.08.08...... Ohio State...... 03.15.08...... MINNESOTA...... 03.22.08...... Penn State...... 04.05.08...... MPSF Championship...... 04.17.08...... NCAA Qualifier...... 04.18.08...... NCAA Team Finals...... 04.19.08...... NCAA Event Finals...... oklahoma men’s gymnastics notes | Soonersports.com page 22 Release no. 8 march 8, 2008

jacobmessina

Year...... Junior (RS) 2008: Recorded a season-high 15.350 on rings at Pacific Coast Classic ...Third on rings (15.000) Height...... 5-6 and fourth on p-bars (14.750) in win at Iowa ... Earned top-20 finishes on rings (29.450), pommel Hometown...... Matthews, N.C. horse (27.400) and high bar (27.400) at the Winter Cup Challenge ... Placed third on pommel horse Club...... G & J Speedway (14.200), rings (14.900) and high bar (14.300) in home win against Nebraska ... Set season bests on horse and high bar against the Huskers ... Placed third on rings (14.950) in Michigan win ... High School...... East Mecklenburg HS Second on rings (14.450) and fourth on p-bars (14.550) against Nebraska and Air Force ... Placed Events...... All-Around second on pommel horse (13.800) and tied for fourth on rings (14.800) at the Rocky Mountain Open. 2008 season Highs

All-Around...... N/A Floor Exercise...... N/A Pommel Horse...... 14.200 Still Rings...... 15.350 Vault...... N/A Parallel Bars...... 14.750 High Bar...... 14.300

Date event FX Ph sr v Pb hb aa

01.12.08...... Rocky Mountain Open...... 13.800...... 14.800...... 13.950...... 01.20.08...... Nebraska (w/ Air Force)...... 13.000...... 14.450...... 14.550...... 01.26.08...... MICHIGAN...... 13.350...... 14.950...... 13.000...... 02.01.08...... NEBRASKA...... 14.200...... 14.900...... 14.300...... 02.07.08...... Winter Cup Challenge...... 13.550...... 14.450...... 13.850...... 02.09.08...... Winter Cup Challenge...... 13.850...... 15.000...... 13.550...... 02.16.08...... Iowa...... 13.650...... 15.000...... 14.750...... 12.600...... 02.23.08...... Pacific Coast Classic...... 13.100...... 15.350...... 13.600...... 14.200...... 03.08.08...... Ohio State...... 03.15.08...... MINNESOTA...... 03.22.08...... Penn State...... 04.05.08...... MPSF Championship...... 04.17.08...... NCAA Qualifier...... 04.18.08...... NCAA Team Finals...... 04.19.08...... NCAA Event Finals...... oklahoma men’s gymnastics notes | Soonersports.com page 23 Release no. 8 march 8, 2008

reedpitts

Year...... Sophomore (RS) 2008: Tied for third on floor with a season-high 14.750 in home win against Nebraska ... Earned a Height...... 5-9 season-highs onvault (15.500) in Michigan win ... Tied for fourth on floor (14.150) at the season- Hometown...... Allen, Texas opening Rocky Mountain Open. Club...... Eagle’s Wing Athletics High School...... Allen HS Events...... FX, V

2008 season Highs

All-Around...... N/A Floor Exercise...... 14.750 Pommel Horse...... N/A Still Rings...... N/A Vault...... 15.500 Parallel Bars...... N/A High Bar...... N/A

Date event FX Ph sr v Pb hb aa

01.12.08...... Rocky Mountain Open...... 14.150...... 14.900...... 01.20.08...... Nebraska (w/ Air Force)...... 13.950...... 14.800...... 01.26.08...... MICHIGAN...... 14.500...... 15.500...... 02.01.08...... NEBRASKA...... 14.750...... 15.400...... 02.07.08...... Winter Cup Challenge...... 02.09.08...... Winter Cup Challenge...... 02.16.08...... Iowa...... 14.350...... 02.23.08...... Pacific Coast Classic...... 13.650...... 03.08.08...... Ohio State...... 03.15.08...... MINNESOTA...... 03.22.08...... Penn State...... 04.05.08...... MPSF Championship...... 04.17.08...... NCAA Qualifier...... 04.18.08...... NCAA Team Finals...... 04.19.08...... NCAA Event Finals...... oklahoma men’s gymnastics notes | Soonersports.com page 24 Release no. 8 march 8, 2008

bobbyshortle

Year...... Freshman 2008: Second on vault with a season-high 16.000 in win at Iowa ... Placed second on floor (15.300) Height...... 5-2 and vault (15.850) in home win against Nebraska ... Tied for second on vault (15.850) in Michigan Hometown...... Brunswick, Ohio win ... Won the vault title (15.900) and was second on floor (15.400) against Nebraska and Air Force Club...... Gym World ... Tied for fourth on floor (14.150) and was fifth on vault (15.250) in his first collegiate competition at the Rocky Mountain Open. High School...... Brunswick HS Events...... FX, V

2008 season Highs

All-Around...... N/A Floor Exercise...... 15.400 Pommel Horse...... N/A Still Rings...... N/A Vault...... 16.000 Parallel Bars...... N/A High Bar...... 12.700

Date event FX Ph sr v Pb hb aa

01.12.08...... Rocky Mountain Open...... 14.150...... 15.250...... 12.700...... 01.20.08...... Nebraska (w/ Air Force)...... 15.400...... 15.900...... 12.550...... 01.26.08...... MICHIGAN...... 14.500...... 15.850...... 02.01.08...... NEBRASKA...... 15.300...... 15.850...... 02.07.08...... Winter Cup Challenge...... 02.09.08...... Winter Cup Challenge...... 02.16.08...... Iowa...... 14.100...... 16.000...... 02.23.08...... Pacific Coast Classic...... 14.550...... 15.700...... 03.08.08...... Ohio State...... 03.15.08...... MINNESOTA...... 03.22.08...... Penn State...... 04.05.08...... MPSF Championship...... 04.17.08...... NCAA Qualifier...... 04.18.08...... NCAA Team Finals...... 04.19.08...... NCAA Event Finals...... oklahoma men’s gymnastics notes | Soonersports.com page 25