Head Coach Mark Williams BOOMER SOONER Norman and Oklahoma City

Home , 1997 Maccabiah Games, 2008 Ryder Cup, Blaine Wilson, Chesapeake Energy Arena, Dean Blevins, Guard Young

a tradition and history of excellence The University of Oklahoma men’s gymnastics program is based on a foundation and tradition of excellence. That tradition includes eight NCAA team championships, 19 conference championships, seven Nissen-Emery award winners and 231 All Americans. We are led by student-athletes willing to persevere in times of adversity and work hard every day with an unbending will to prepare and succeed.

Whether it’s striving for success in the classroom or on the competition floor, we always capitalize on the opportunities in front of us. Through dedication to the schedule and plan, commitment to a refinement of the details and putting action to that preparation, excellent results have followed.

From our longtime partnership with Cleveland Elementary School to joining five Sooners at the Olympics in London this summer, it is a privilege and an honor to work with these student-athletes.

At Oklahoma, we provide the avenues to reach the highest level. Our team accomplishments in the past 13 years are unprecedented. We take pride in helping student-athletes live their dreams beyond OU, to compete at World Championships, Olympic Games or other international events.

Inspiring student-athletes to compete at the highest levels in all that they do – that’s what we aspire to achieve at Oklahoma.

Head Coach Mark Williams BOOMER SOONER Norman and Oklahoma City...... 28 Athletic Training Staff...... 45 Quick Facts...... 4 Sooners in the Community...... 30 Support Staff...... 46 Roster...... 5 Administration...... 47 From National Championships...... 6 Athletics Communications...... 48 To the Olympics...... 8 2013 SEASON OUTLOOK Media Information...... 49 Nissen-Emery Award...... 10 Season Preview...... 32 OU President David L. Boren...... 50 Head Coach Mark Williams...... 12 Opponent Information...... 34 Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione...... 52 Gymnastics Facilities...... 16 Gymnastics Scoring 101...... 36 OU Head Coaches...... 54 McCasland Field House...... 16 Sooner Tradition...... 18 THE SOONERS The National Spotlight...... 20 STAFF Returning Gymnasts...... 56 Head Coach Mark Williams...... 38 Academics and Support...... 22 Newcomers...... 70 Facts About OU...... 24 Assistant Coaches...... 42 Volunteer Assistant Coaches...... 44 Oklahoma Sooners 2013 Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide

2012 SEASON REVIEW All-Time Coaches...... 91 Team and Event Titles...... 72 Letterwinners...... 92 Season Results...... 73 Record Book...... 94 Highs and Lows...... 74 Meet-by-Meet Results...... 75 MEDIA GUIDE CREDITS Individual Awards and Honors...... 82 The 2013 University of Oklahoma men’s gymnastics media guide was designed and produced in-house by the OU Athletics Department in Norman, Okla., using Adobe InDesign and Adobe @SoonerGymnasts HISTORY Photoshop. The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity Program History...... 84 institution. (January 2013) Facebook.com/SoonerGymnasts Eight National Championships...... 86 37 Individual National Titles...... 88 Writer & Designer @OU_MGymnastics Charlie Healy 231 All-Americans...... 89 19 Conference Titles...... 90 Photography Ty Russell, Jerry Laizure, Jessi Dalton, John Cheng, USA Gymnastics, Candid Color Photography, OU Athletics Communications Archives quick facts General Information 2013 Schedule Location...... Norman, Okla. Date opponent location Time (CT) Enrollment...... 30,753 Jan. 12 Rocky Mountain Open Colorado Springs, Colo. 7 p.m. Founded...... 1890 Jan. 19 Stanford Open Palo Alto, Calif. 5 p.m. President...... David L. Boren Jan. 25 Metroplex Challenge Fort Worth, Texas 7 p.m. Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics/AD...... Joe Castiglione Feb. 2 Iowa Iowa City, Iowa 5 p.m. Nickname...... Sooners Feb. 7 & 9 Winter Cup Las Vegas, Nev. 5 p.m. Colors...... Crimson & Cream Feb. 16 Minnesota McCasland Field House 7 p.m. Conference...... Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Feb. 23 Air Force McCasland Field House 7 p.m. Arena...... Howard McCasland Field House (2,300) March 3 Nebraska Lincoln, Neb. 1 p.m. OU All-Time Record...... 618-177-1 (.776) March 9 Michigan Ann Arbor, Mich. 6 p.m. March 23 Ohio State McCasland Field House 7 p.m. Team Information April 6 MPSF Championships Colorado Springs, Colo. 6 p.m. 2012 Overall Record...... 26-3 (.897) April 19 NCAA Qualifier State College, Penn. 7 p.m. High Score...... 357.450, April 20 at NCAA Team Finals April 20 NCAA Team Finals State College, Penn. 7 p.m. MPSF Finish...... First April 21 NCAA Team Finals State College, Penn. 7 p.m. NCAA Finish...... Second Letterwinners Returning/Lost...... 13/4 All-Americans Returning/Lost...... 4/8 2012 Results Date opponent location result Coaching Staff Jan. 14 Rocky Mountain Open Colorado Springs, Colo. First (343.700) Head Coach...... Mark Williams Jan. 21 Ohio State Columbus, Ohio W (353.150-347.750) Year...... 14th Season Jan. 28 Illinois & Michigan Champaign, Ill. Second (347.700) Alma Mater...... Nebraska, 1980 Feb. 2-4 Winter Cup Las Vegas, Nev. Individual Event Record at OU...... 322-30 (.915) Feb. 12 California & Stanford Berkeley, Calif. First (351.600) Career Record...... 322-30 (.915) Feb. 25 Iowa Norman W (356.250-334.400) March 3 stanford Norman W (357.050-351.400) Assistant Coach...... Guard Young March 10 michigan Norman W (355.500-348.950) Year...... Seventh Season March 17 air force & nebraska Norman first (352.400) Alma Mater...... Brigham Young, 2001 March 24 Minnesota & Ohio State Minneapolis, Minn. First (353.100) April 7 MPSF Championships Colorado Springs, Colo. First (355.600) Assistant Coach ...... Norimasa Iwai April 19 ncaa Qualifier norMAN Second (356.200) Year...... Second Season April 20 ncaa TEAM finals norMAN Second (357.450) Alma Mater...... Nihon University, 1995 April 21 ncaa EVENT finals norMAN 12 All-Americans

Men’s Gymnastics Office Phone...... (405) 325-8349 Men’s Gymnastics Office Fax...... (405) 325-7485

Athletics Communications Men’s Gymnastics Contact...... Charlie Healy Office Phone...... (405) 325-8349 Cell Phone...... (847) 641-0602 Fax...... (405) 325-7623 E-mail...... [email protected] Web Site...... www.SoonerSports.com Twitter...... @SoonerGymnasts, @SoonerSports.com Facebook...... Facebook.com/SoonerGymnasts Mailing Address...... 180 West Brooks St., Suite 2525, ...... Norman, OK 73019

4 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 2013 Sooners roster

Dylan Akers Danny Berardini William Clement Todd Dowdy Presten Ellsworth So., 5-9, All-Around So., 5-8, HB, PB So., 5-10, All-Around Fr., 5-4, FX, V, SR Jr., 5-10, All-Around Kingwood, Texas Lake Forest, Ill. San Jose, Calif. Superior, Colo. Allen, Texas

Ethan Jose Troy Nitzky Kanji Oyama Stanton Rehkemper Michael Reid RS-So., 5-7, All-Around RS-Sr., 5-6, PH, SR Fr., 5-6, All-Around RS-So., 5-7, FX, HB So., 5-6, PH Fremont, Calif. Philadelphia, Pa. Huntington Beach, Calif. Plano, Texas Killeen, Texas

Sergey Resnick Alec Robin Jacoby Rubin Michael Squires Chris Stehl RS-Fr., 5-4, PH, PB So., 5-6, All-Around So., 5-3, All-Around So., 5-2, SR Sr., 5-5, All-Around Houston, Texas Calabasas, Calif. Buffalo Grove, Ill. Edmond, Okla. Houston, Texas

Raymond White Josh Yee Jr., 5-4, All-Around Fr., 5-7, All-Around Austin, Texas Mililani, Hawaii

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 5 • • •

fro• • • m national • • championshi• p• • •s • • • • OKLAHOMA: HOME OF CHAMPIONS Known across the state of Oklahoma and throughout the country, the University of Oklahoma men’s gymnastics program is recognized for one thing: winning championships. Since 1977, the Sooners have won eight NCAA National Championships, the third most of any collegiate program behind only Penn State (12) and Illinois (10). Oklahoma has proven itself to be a dominant force throughout the season, claiming 19 conference championship crowns while owning a .776 winning percentage all time. In the last 12 seasons under head coach Mark Williams, the Sooners have won five national titles and never finished below third nationally.

In addition to team success, Oklahoma has also produced 37 individual NCAA title winners and a whopping 231 All-America honorees. Over the years, seven Sooners have earned the honor of the Nissen-Emery Award, given annually to the nation’s top collegiate men’s gymnast.

With so many conference and national titles, All-America honors and prestigious awards, there is no doubt that the University of Oklahoma is the home of champions. The 2008 NCAA National Champion Sooners, OU’s fifth title under Mark Williams

6 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts from national championships

Expect to win National Titles Since 2000 That’s the goal every year for the University of Oklahoma men’s gymnastics program. The names and faces may change from year to year but the OKlahoma 5 expectation remains. Oklahoma is about winning championships.

The Oklahoma men’s gymnastics team has won five of the last 11 NCAA Penn State 3 team crowns, (2008, 2006, 2005, 2003, and 2002), all under current head coach Mark Williams. With eight national championships, the men’s gymnastics team owns the most titles of any OU athletics program, Stanford 2 breaking a tie with the football and wrestling squads with the 2008 win.

In 13 seasons under Williams, the Sooners have staked their claim as the Ohio State 1 nation’s premier program of the last decade. Since 2000, OU has garnered an amazing 11 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation championships and produced 115 All-America honors and 20 individual NCAA titles to go Michigan 1 along with five national championships.

consecutive championships Since the creation of collegiate men’s gymnastics in 1953, only seven schools that still sponsor the sport have won consecutive national championships. The University of Oklahoma has achieved the rare feat of consecutive championships not just once, but on three seperate occasions, the only university in the country to pull off three different back-to-back championships.

OU’s eight national championships ties Nebraska for third all-time behind Penn State (12) and Illinois (9). Oklahoma (1977-1978, 2002-2003, 2005-06) Penn State (1953-1954, 1959-1961) Illinois (1955-1956) *Southern Illinois (1966-1967) Michigan (1969-1970) *Iowa State (1973-1974) Nebraska (1979-1982) Stanford (1992-1993) California (1997-1998)

* indicates school no longer sponsors a men’s gymnastics program

always a contender Since 2000, The University of Oklahoma men’s gymnastics program is the only collegiate men’s gymnastics program to finish in the top four every year at the NCAA Championships.

Since their fourth-place finish in 2000, the Sooners have finished no lower than third in their quest for the national title.

Year...... First...... Second...... Third...... Fourth 2012...... Illinois...... oklahoma...... Penn State...... California 2011...... Stanford...... OKLAHOMA...... Illinois...... California 2010...... Michigan...... Stanford...... OKLAHOMA...... Illinois 2009...... Stanford...... Michigan...... OKLAHOMA...... California 2008...... OKLAHOMA...... Stanford...... Illinois...... Penn State 2007...... Penn State...... OKLAHOMA...... Stanford...... Michigan 2006...... OKLAHOMA...... Illinois...... Stanford...... Penn State 2005...... OKLAHOMA...... Ohio State...... Illinois...... Penn State 2004...... Penn State...... OKLAHOMA...... Illinois...... Ohio State 2003...... OKLAHOMA...... Ohio State...... Penn State...... Michigan 2002...... OKLAHOMA...... Ohio State...... California...... Michigan 2001...... Ohio State...... OKLAHOMA...... California...... Michigan 2000...... Penn State...... Michigan...... Iowa...... OKLAHOMA 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 7 • • •

to• • • the • • OLYMPICs• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • PLENTY OF crimson in london When it comes to Oklahoma men’s gymnastics, the university has done an unprecedented job at preparing its gymnasts for the greatest stage in all of sports: the Olympic Games.

This summer, five of the eight members of the U.S. men’s gymnastics team to compete at the 2012 London Olympics were from OU. Jonathan Horton (2005-08) and Jake Dalton (2009-11) were named to the five-man squad while Chris Brooks (2006-09), Steven Legendre (2008-11) and Alex Naddour (2010-11) were named the three alternates.

It marked the second Olympic appearance for Horton, who helped lead Team USA to a Bronze medal in the 2008 Beijing Games, while also collecting a Silver medal on the high bar. Dalton, who helped Team USA to a Bronze medal at the 2011 World Championships, made his Olympic debut.

Brooks, Legendre and Naddour also made their first appearance on the Olympic squad, but OU head coach Mark Williams with Steven Legendre (left) and Jake Dalton (right), did not compete in London. two of the five Sooner Gymnasts on the 2012 U.S. Olympic team.

8 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts to THE OLYMPICS OU on the world stage The U.S. Men’s Gymnastics Team, which featured four current and former OU gymnasts in its six-man lineup, claimed third place in the team finals of the 2011 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

The United States’ bronze medal showing marked the first time in eight years and fourth time overall that the U.S. squad won a team medal at the World Championships. The USA’s previous team medals came in 1979 (bronze), 2001 (silver) and 2003 (silver).

Oklahoma junior Jake Dalton and OU letterwinners Steven Legendre, Jonathan Horton and Alex Naddour were featured in the United States’ six-man World Championship lineup. OU letterwinner Chris Brooks was the team’s one alternate.

China won the team title with a total of 275.161 and Japan took silver with a 273.093, a mere 0.010 points ahead of Team USA’s 273.083. OU Olympic team members at the 2012 London Games (L to R): Former Asst. Coach Rustam Sharipov, Head Coach Mark Williams, Steven Legendre, Jake Dalton, Chris Brooks, Jonathan Horton, Alex Naddour & OU alum Tom Meadows olympic history The Olympic Games are truly a unique phenomenon. For two weeks of the summer every four years, the eyes of the world turn to the most elite athletes in the world, competing for their country’s pride and the right to wear the gold medal around their necks. One of the most-watched events of the Olympic Games, gymnastics, is considered by many as one of the most physically demanding sports in the world. To be named an Olympic gymnast is truly one of the highest honors in all of sports.

In addition to 2012, OU has produced three past Olympic gymnasts, dating back to three-time Olympian Bart Conner. The 1981 graduate represented the United States in both 1976 and 1980 before winning it all on American soil at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. In addition to helping Team USA take home Gold, Conner proved to be the world’s top gymnast on parallel bars, winning individual Gold.

In 2008, Oklahoma gymnast Jonathan Horton helped the United States win Bronze at the Summer Games in Beijing, China. Horton also found individual success, taking Silver in the high bar portion of the event.

The Sooners’ coaching staff also boasts Olympic success and hopes to pass it on to the current OU gymnasts. Second-year assistant Norimassa Iwai captained the Japanese National Team at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, where he took seventh place on the still rings.

Upon graduating from BYU in 2001, current OU assistant Guard Young returned to his home state of Oklahoma to train with Williams for the Olympic Games while serving as an assistant coach for the Sooners. Young represented the United States at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, where the Americans claimed Silver. OU letterwinner Jake Dalton at the 2012 Olympics Olympians Bart Conner - 1976, 1980, 1984; Guard Young - 2004; Jonathan Horton - 2008, 2012; Jake Dalton - 2012

World Championship Members Jake Dalton - 2009, 2011; Steven Legendre - 2009, 2010, 2011; Chris Brooks - 2010, 2011; Alex Naddour - 2011; Jonathan Horton - 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011; Guard Young - 2001, 2002, 2003; Casey Bryan - 1994; Jarrod Hanks - 1991 U.S. Senior National Team Members Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons, Chris Brooks , Casey Bryan, Bart Conner, Jake Dalton, Daniel Furney, Jarrod Hanks, Jamie Henderson, Matt Hervey, Jonathon Horton, Jeremy Killen, Steven Legendre, Jeff Lutz, Tom Meadows, Alex Naddour, Mark Oates, Mike Rice, Guard Young, Mike Wilson Head Coach Mark Williams with Jake Dalton at the 2012 Olympic Games in London

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 9 • • •

colle• • • ge gymnastics’ • • highest honor• • • • • • • • the nissen-emery award Capping off a historic career at the University of Oklahoma in 2011, gymnast Steven Legendre claimed the most coveted prize in the sport: the Nissen-Emery Award. The Heisman Trophy of gymnastics, the award was founded by trampoline inventor George Nissen, and has been handed out to the nation’s top senior collegiate gymnast annually since 1966. Since the award’s inception, Oklahoma boasts a nation-leading seven Nissen honorees: Bart Conner (1981), Jarrod Hanks (1991), Dan Fink (1998), Todd Bishop (1999), Daniel Furney (2003), Jonathan Horton (2008) and Legendre (2011). Oklahoma is the only program in NCAA history to win back-to-back Nissen awards.

“Being given this award is a tremendous honor and I feel humbled,” said Legendre upon receiving the award. “It feels great to join so many other great Oklahoma gymnasts to win this award.”

The 2009 NCAA all-around champion, Legendre owns Oklahoma records for career NCAA individual titles at six, a mark previously held by Olympic Silver and Bronze medalist Jonathan Horton. Legendre is also a 12-time All-American. Jonathan Horton, the Sooners’ sixth Nissen-Emery Award winner, received the Athletes, coaches and judges vote on the Nissen winner who is, according to the standards, “more trophy in 2008 than simply an excellent gymnast...he must also be an example of good sportsmanship and fair play.”

10 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts nissen-emery award Conner, Oklahoma’s first Nissen-Emery Award winner, received the honor in 1981. ALl-time Award Winners Conner was a seven-time conference champion and nine-time All-American for the Sooners. He also won three national championships and was named co-recipient of Year Winner School the Big Eight Conference “Male Athlete of the Year” award in 1981. The University of 2012 ...... Paul Ruggeri III...... Illinois Oklahoma also claimed back-to-back NCAA Championships during that span, winning 2011 ...... Steven legendre...... Oklahoma titles in 1977 and ‘78. Conner was a member of three Olympic teams (1976, ‘80, ‘84) and 2010 ...... Luke Stannard...... Illinois won two gold medals at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles. 2009 ...... Casey Sandy...... Penn State Hanks, a two-time conference champion and five-time All-American, was the 1991 2008 ...... Jonathan Horton...... Oklahoma recipient of the Nissen Award. He was team captain of the 1991 Sooner squad that won 2007 ...... Matt Cohen...... Penn State the national championship. 2006 ...... Justin Spring...... Illinois 2005 ...... Guillermo Alvarez...... Minnesota Fink was Oklahoma’s third honoree, receiving the award in 1998. He was a three-time 2004 ...... Dan Gill...... Stanford conference champion and a four-time All-American and won the national championship on still rings in 1998. Fink also participated in the 1997 Maccabiah Games, an 2003 ...... Daniel Furney...... Oklahoma international, Olympic-style competition for Jewish athletes. A 1998 Sooner co-captain, 2002 ...... Justin Toman...... Michigan Fink was honored with the Big 12 Conference Medal Award and was named OU’s 2001 ...... Jamie Natalie...... Ohio State “Outstanding Male Scholar Athlete of the Year” in 1998. 2000 ...... Jeff LaVallee...... Massachusetts 1999 ...... Todd Bishop...... Oklahoma In 1999, Oklahoma became the first program to produce back-to-back Nissen Award winners when Bishop earned the prestigious honor. Bishop was also the first non-all- 1998 ...... Dan Fink...... Oklahoma arounder to receive the Nissen since the award’s inception. 1997 ...... Blaine Wilson...... Ohio State 1996 ...... Darren Elg...... Brigham Young Bishop won two straight NCAA titles on high bar in 1998-99 and was a seven-time All- 1995 ...... Josh Stein...... Stanford American for OU. In addition, Bishop scored the first 10.0 in Oklahoma men’s gymnastics 1994 ...... Kip Simons...... Ohio State history in 1999 with three perfect high bar performances in the regular season. 1993 ...... John Roethlisberger...... Minnesota Furney won the 2003 Nissen-Emery Award, claiming individual national championships 1992 ...... Scott Keswick...... UCLA in the parallel bars and the all-around. Furney finished his OU career as a nine-time All- 1991 ...... Jarrod Hanks...... Oklahoma American. He was a member of the NCAA team national champions when the Sooners 1990 ...... Mike Racanelli...... Ohio State went back-to-back in 2002 and ‘03. 1989 ...... David Zeddies...... Illinois The program’s most decorated gymnast, Horton was the 2008 Nissen-Emery recipient in 1988 ...... Tom Schlesinger...... Nebraska one of the strongest fields in the award’s history. Horton’s 18 career All-America honors 1987 ...... Michael Maxwell...... Penn State and six individual national titles are program records. In addition to his collegiate 1986 ...... Wes Suter...... Nebraska success, he was a member of two World Championships teams, finishing fourth in the 1985 ...... Matt Arnot...... New Mexico all-around in 2007 and guiding Team USA to an Olympic berth. 1984 ...... Roy Palassou...... San Jose State 1983 ...... Peter Vidmar...... UCLA 1982 ...... Jim Hartung...... Nebraska 1981 ...... Bart Conner...... Oklahoma Award Winners By Team 1980 ...... Mario McCutcheon...... Southern Connecticut State 1979 ...... Kurt Thomas...... Indiana State Oklahoma 7 1978 ...... Tim LaFleur...... Minnesota 1977 ...... Peter Kormann...... Southern Connecticut State Penn State 6 1976 ...... Gene Whelan...... Penn State 1975 ...... Jay Whelan...... Southern Connecticut State 1974 ...... Steve Hug...... Stanford Ohio State 4 1973 ...... John Crosby...... Southern Connecticut State 1972 ...... Tom Lindner...... Southern Illinois 1971 ...... Brent Simmons...... Iowa State Illinois 4 1970 ...... Pete Difurio...... Temple 1969 ...... Robert Emery...... Penn State Minnesota 3 1968 ...... Dave Thor...... Michigan State 1967 ...... Steve Cohen...... Penn State 1966 ...... James Curzi...... Michigan State Nebraska 3

Stanford 3

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 11 • • •

head• • • coach • • mark william• • • s• • • • • A decade of dominance In 2000, the University of Oklahoma’s men’s gymnastics program began a new era upon the promotion of then-assistant Mark Williams to the head coach of the Sooners. Williams became just the fouth coach in the program’s storied history, and thirteen years later, his reign as the Sooners’ head coach is one of the most succesful coaching careers in all of sports.

Williams has established OU as the nation’s elite program with five national titles in the last 12 years, claiming crowns in 2002, ‘03, ‘05, ‘06 and most recently in ‘08. Even when the Sooners don’t win it all, they prove to always be in contention. Oklahoma has finished in the top four at the NCAA Championships every season under Williams’ leadership.

Under Williams, the Sooners have won 24 individual titles, 10 conference championships and 42 individual conference titles. Oklahoma has also been awarded a whopping 138 All-America honors since 2000 and has produced three Nissen-Emery Award winners.

For more information on Coach Williams and Oklahoma’s success throughout his tenure, see his Head Coach Mark Williams hoists the NCAA championship trophy after winning his complete coaching bio on page 38. first of five national titles in 2002.

12 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts head coach mark williams under coach williams...

5 National Championships 24 Individual National Titles

10 Conference Championships 42 Individual Conference Titles

3 Nissen-Emery Award Winners 138 All-America Honors

Individual champions Under head coach Mark Williams, seven University of Oklahoma gymnasts have been responsible for 24 NCAA individual national championships. Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons 2007 NCAA All-around Champion Josh Landis 2003 NCAA Floor Exercise and Pommel Horse Champion Steven Legendre 2008 NCAA Floor Exercise and Vault Champion Daniel Furney 2009 NCAA All-Around, Floor Exercise and Vault Champion 2003 NCAA All-around and Parallel Bars Champion 2010 NCAA Floor Exercise Champion

David Hederson Alex Naddour 2005 NCAA Still Rings Champion 2010 NCAA Pommel Horse Champion 2011 NCAA Pommel Horse Champion Jonathan Horton 2006 NCAA All-Around, Still Rings and Floor Exercise Champion jake dalton 2007 NCAA Floor Exercise and High Bar Champion 2011 NCAA Floor Exercise and Vault Champion 2008 NCAA Still Rings Champion 2012 NCAA All-Around and Parallel BarsChampion

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 13 • • •

the• • • nation’s • • best facilities• • • • • • • • The sam viersen gymnastics center When it comes to training, the Sooners have it as good as anyone. The newly renovated San Viersen Gymnastics Center provides OU gymnasts everything they need to be successful.

OU’s practice facility features new locker rooms and two sports medicine training rooms in addition to two regulation size apparatuses for every event. Numerous other training tools for each event make the Sam Viersen Center truly state of the art.

One of only a handful of freestanding, co-ed college gyms in the country, the revolutionary addition will keep the Sam Viersen Gymnastics Center as one of the nation’s premier collegiate gymnastics facilities.

With championship trophies filling the bookcases, a team meeting room provides a space for team meetings, video review sessions and team building activities. Complete with a plasma TV, wood floors, custom cabinetry and computer workstations, this area provides an area for the team to unite.

The latest renovations to the facility also included a new storage area, a reconfiguration of foam and OU Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione delivers a speech at the dedication resi pits and an outdoor patio adjacent to the coaches offices. ceremony for the renovation of the Viersen Center in Spring 2010

14 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts The nation’s best facilities

“All of the renovations are going to increase our competitiveness and our ability to bring in the best and brightest student-athletes as we continue the run of championships both programs have had.” -OU Men’s Gymnastics Head Coach Mark Williams

• Four vault stations • Six foam in-ground pits, eight resi in-ground pits and outdoor patio. • In-ground trampoline • New locker rooms, men’s and • Two regulation size apparatuses for women’s training rooms and weight every event. room.

Sooner Power Oklahoma’s weight training program is a pioneer in the development of strength and conditioning, and is a vital part of the Sooners’ tradition of success. OU strength and conditioning coaches utilize their expertise along with a wide array of equipment and tests to produce national championship caliber athletes.

Evaluation, goal-oriented programs, supervision and state-of-the-art facilities help Oklahoma athletes become bigger, faster, stronger and more flexible. The Robin Siegfried & Family Strength and Conditioning Complex, located in the Barry Switzer Center, has 13,000 square feet to facilitate the intensive training of OU athletes. An additional facility, the Roy Williams Strength Training Facility, is available for workouts inside the Everest Training Center. The former Sooner football All-American made the center possible through a gift to the University.

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 15 • • •

ho• • • me of • • the sooners• • • • • • • • • howard mccasland field house Originally opened in 1928, McCasland Field House is one of OU’s most historic buildings. Located in the heart of campus just north of Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, the storied venue provides the OU men’s gymnastics, volleyball and wrestling programs with a first- class training and competition venue.

In the summer of 2012, the OU Athletics Department completed a major renovation of the Field House. The list of improvements included refurbished exterior brick, new windows and entry doors and a complete roof replacement. Inside, the main lobby, restrooms and concessions were renovated and chair-back seating was added. The volleyball and wrestling locker rooms, training areas and offices also received substantial upgrades.

A new sound system, lighting and video scoreboards make the McCasland Field House the perfect home for the Sooners. One of the most recognizable buildings on campus, the McCasland Field House hosts the men’s gymnastics team’s home meets

16 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts mccasland field house

A rich history Originally constructed in 1928, the Field House was once the home of the men’s basketball team. More than 5,000 fans were in attendance for the facility’s first game as the Sooners beat the Kansas Jayhawks, 45-19.

Since its construction, the Field House has been home to numerous sports. In addition to the men’s gymnastics and basketball programs, volleyball and wrestling have all featured events here.

In addition to sporting events, the Field House has hosted several notable musicians and entertainers in its history. Oklahoma students have watched acts including Jimi Hendrix (1970), Bill Cosby (1968), Henry Mancini (1963), Sonny and Cher (1969), Nat King Cole (1956) and Duke Ellington (1956). Former President Bill Clinton spoke at the Field House during the 2008 Presidential campaign.

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 17 • • •

the• • • sooner • • tradition• • • • • • • • • • • • • • the tradition lives on The University of Oklahoma athletics program boasts a tradition that few schools can rival. Over the years, Sooner squads have combined for 26 team national championships including eight in men’s gymnastics, seven in football, seven in wrestling, two in baseball, one in men’s golf and one in softball.

The Sooner tradition isn’t something buried in the past. It inspires OU’s student-athletes to greater heights every season. In 2010-2011, the Sooners recorded their best-ever finish in the Learfield Sports Director’s Cup at No. 10. In 2011-12, Sixteen of Oklahoma’s 21 teams advanced to postseason competition during the 2011-12 school year.

Highlights included the men’s gymnastics and softball teams finishing second nationally and the men’s cross country team finishing 3rd. Several teams, including the men’s gymnastics squad, hosted postseason play, highlighted by the NCAA Men’s Gymnastics Championships at the Lloyd Noble Center. After 12 Sooners represented OU at the 2012 Olympics in London, the success continued in the fall of 2012, where the football team won its eight Big 12 title and the volleyball and cross The Sooners sent 12 athletes to London for the 2012 Olympic Games, including country teams competed in postseason play. five gymnasts.

18 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts sooner tradition Oklahoma’s student-athletes continue to lead in the classroom and their actions in the community are exemplary. With the Great Expectations campaign, Oklahoma continues to build the finest facilities in the nation. Each day, it becomes more evident that the University of Oklahoma has become one of the finest comprehensive athletics program in the country. When OU student-athletes raise the trophy of another championship, the hands responsible for hoisting that trophy symbolize thousands of Sooners around the globe.

The following represents a closer look at the tradition powering the Oklahoma Sooners:

• Oklahoma was playing football before it was a state. It’s only one of two Division I football programs to win seven or more national championships. And OU is the only Division I football program ever to record 47 straight victories.

• With Sam Bradford at No. 1, Gerald McCoy at No. 3 and Trent Williams at No. 4, Oklahoma became the first school ever to supply three of the first four NFL Draft picks in 2010. 2010 also marked only • The Oklahoma men’s golf program has produced 47 All-Americans, eight three-time All-Americans, the second time that one school has produced the top pick in consecutive NBA (OU’s Blake Griffin eight individual conference champions, 14 conference titles and the 1989 national championship. went first in the 2009 hoops draft) and NFL Drafts. Bradford and Griffin were both named Rookie of the Year in their respective leagues, it was the first time in history that the two award winners came • OU football has produced five Heisman Trophy winners: halfback Billy Vessels won the award in from the same university. 1952, tailback Steve Owens won in 1969, halfback Billy Sims won in 1978, quarterback Jason White brought the trophy back to Norman in 2003 and fellow QB Sam Bradford took home the award • Oklahoma gymnastics great Bart Conner won two NCAA all-around crowns and led the Sooners last season. OU players have captured 63 national awards and the Sooners have also produced five to two NCAA titles in 1977 and 1978. A three-time Olympian (1976, ‘80, ‘84), Conner won two gold Outland Trophies, four Walter Camp Trophies, four Butkus Award winners, four Davey O’Brien Awards, medals in 1984. He was instrumental in the foundation of the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame three Lombardi Awards, three Thorpe Awards, two Bronko Nagurski Awards, two Maxwell Awards, in Oklahoma City. one Tatupu Award, one Johnny Unitas Award and one Bednarik award.

• Oklahoma defeated UCLA in the 2000 Women’s College World Series to capture the school’s first • The Oklahoma baseball team swept through its regional tournament and the World Series without softball national championship. The Sooners won 66 games, broke 15 school records, had four a loss to capture the 1994 national championship. The Sooners topped off a 42-17 regular season All-Americans, the WCWS Most Outstanding Player, three WCWS all-tournament team members, a with the school’s second national baseball title. Big 12 title, a No. 1 ranking and the National Coaching Staff of the Year. The Sooners became just the second non-West Coast team in NCAA history to win a softball national championship. • Oklahoma golf’s Charlie Coe was one of the most celebrated amateur players in the history of the game. During his career, Coe captured U.S. amateur crowns in 1949, 1958 and 1959. He also played in • The OU men’s basketball team has competed in 27 postseason tournaments in the last 31 years. In 19 straight Masters Tournaments. Coe competed on the Walker Cup teams of 1949, 1951 and 1953. 2009 OU produced its 32nd winning season in the last 34 years. No other Big 12 team can boast as many winning campaigns in the span. • Oklahoma wrestling has produced 18 Olympians who have collectively won three gold and two silver medals. Brothers Dave and Mark Schultz both won gold in the 1984 games. • Sooner football has accumulated seven national championships, 44 conference titles, 26 bowl championships, 152 All-Americans and had 350 players drafted by the NFL, including 41 first-round • Oklahoma baseball won the 1951 College World Series with a come-from-behind win over selections and four No. 1 picks: Lee Roy Selmon (1976), Billy Sims (1980), Brian Bosworth (1987— Tennessee in the championship game to become the first team in history to claim the title after supplemental) and Sam Bradford (2010). winning the double-elimination tournament without a defeat.

• Oklahoma’s storied wrestling program has amassed 23 conference titles and seven national • Oklahoma baseball advanced to its 10th College World Series appearance in 2010 and finished the championships. OU has produced 263 All-Americans and its 65 individual national champions ranks season ranked No. 5 nationally, the program’s highest finish since claiming OU’s second national title • • • • • • • • • • • • • • third all-time. in 1994. • The OU women’s basketball team advanced to its third overall and second-consecutive Final Four in • Oklahoma basketball great Wayman Tisdale was a three-time All-American for the Sooners from 2010 after playing the nation’s toughest schedule. The Sooners, at some point, played all four No. 1 1983-85 and is the all-time leading scorer and rebounder in OU history. He was a member of the seeds in the NCAA Championship and 13 teams ranked in the final top 25. 1984 gold-medal-winning U.S. Olympic team and was recently named the greatest player ever in the Big Eight Conference by a panel of longtime conference media observers and officials. Tisdale’s No. 23 • Oklahoma football has placed 28 former Sooners into the National Football Foundation and College jersey was retired by Oklahoma in 1997 -- the first jersey ever retired by OU in any sport. Hall of Fame, including three head coaches: Bennie Owen in 1951, Bud Wilkinson in 1969 and Barry Switzer in 2001. • Former OU letterwinners Michael Blackwood (track and field), Jonathan Horton (men’s gymnastics) and Danny McFarlane (track and field) represented Oklahoma at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

• Three-time OU All-American Anthony Kim won the 2008 AT&T National in early July, becoming the first American golfer since Tiger Woods to win twice in one year on the PGA Tour. Kim was also a member of the victorious U.S. squad at the 2008 Ryder Cup where he played a crucial role in winning the cup with a crushing defeat of Sergio Garcia.

• OU women’s gymnastics made its ninth-straight NCAA Championships in 2012 and its second straight NCAA top three finish. OU made back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Super Six in 2010 and 2011, finishing in a program best second place in 2010 and third place overall in 2011. The Sooners completed their third undefeated regular season in four years in 2011 and had the nation’s longest regular season win streak at 29.

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 19 • • •

the• • • national • • spotlight• • • • • • • • • • • • • • Bringing the sooners to you Oklahoma Athletics is a household name due to the overwhelming media attention that hovers around the Sooners. Writers and broadcasters representing the nation’s most recognized media outlets regularly interact with Sooner players and coaches and routinely spend time in Norman.

And when they can’t come to campus, those same observers keep tabs on OU thanks to extensive television coverage. The Sooners are at the very center of the college athletics and everybody is watching.

In 2012, all 13 Oklahoma football games appeared on live television. OU ended the season with a streak of 138 consecutive televised games and has been shown on TV 348 times dating back to the 1953 season.

With the debut of Sooner Sports TV, even more OU programing can be seen by Sooner fans across the world. All three men’s gymnastics home meets are scheduled to air on the network, in addition to features, historical replays and interviews with coach Williams and the team. “ESPNU Road Trip” visited Norman this fall and did a segmant on the men’s gymnastics squad. The hosts, Ali Nejad and Niki Noto, even got some lessons from coach Williams and the Sooners. 20 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts national spotlight In conjunction with the OU football team hosting Notre Dame in the fall of 2012, the show “ESPNU Road Trip” did a feature on Oklahoma, including a segment on the men’s gymnastics team. The only OU sport besides football to be featured on the 30-minute show, ESPN’s cameras and on-air talent spent several hours at the Sam Viersen Center with the Sooners. In addition to watching practice, the show’s hosts interacted with the gymnasts, and even learned a few tricks of their own.

The men’s gymnastics team has had regular television coverage thanks to consistent top- three rankings through the years. The nation’s eyes were on Norman in April, 2012 when the Sooners hosted the NCAA Men’s Gymnastics National Championships at Lloyd Noble Center.

The Women’s College World Series is hosted in Oklahoma City each year, with all games shown live across the nation.

The popularity of the Sooners is evident in the immense amount of products and apparel purchased by fans. OU ranks 11th in the Collegiate Licensing Consortium. Over the past ten years, ESPN’s popular College Football Gameday production has broadcast on site from 25 of Oklahoma’s games. Since 2000, Oklahoma student-athletes have appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated 13 times. Sooner football is one of the most popular subjects for SI with 34 cover appearances. An average of over 3 million people logged on to SoonerSports.com every month last year, making the official Web site of the Oklahoma Athletics Department one of the top collegiate sites in the nation.

Many former Sooners have gone on to successful careers as talent for the nation’s top media outlets including CBS’ Spencer Tillman and Stacey Dales, formerly with ESPN. Former OU athletes are often called on to provide color commentary during regional broadcasts due to their championship experience and athletics expertise.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 21 • • •

sooner• • • support and • • academics• • • • • • • • • • • • • • prentice gautt academic center In the 1950s, Prentice Gautt came to OU to play football, and, in the process, broke down barriers and crushed stereotypes. Today, OU student-athletes use the Prentice Gautt Academic Center to break another kind of stereotype. The center that today’s student-athletes use everyday now bears the name of the man who left an indelible legacy for Sooner Athletics and helped change a society in the process.

The formal dedication of the Prentice Gautt Academic Center was held Friday, Sept. 17, 1999. The proposal to re-name the center was approved by the OU Board of Regents in March 1999.

The professional consultants of the Prentice Gautt Academic Center help student-athletes with a variety of academic tasks, from learning strategy instruction to any stage of the writing process including preparing for an essay exam and the formal research paper.

The goal is to help student-athletes develop the strategies they need to be successful by encouraging the use of the center for all facets of the learning and writing processes encountered in college.

2012 graduate and All-American gymnast Patrick Piscitelli.

22 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts academics and support

The Prentice Gautt Academic Center provides student-athletes with a state-of-the-art academic Group training is provided for all new student-athletes during the first week of supervised study. This support facility. The environment encourages a collaboration between staff members and student- helps familiarize each student with our resources and procedures. Individual training sessions are athletes. In addition, it is highly conducive to learning in all areas of students’ academic endeavors available to each student and lab technicians are always on hand to help. and features seven learning centers. The Kerr Foundation Computer Center has been a model for other universities around the country. Located on the second and third floors in the north end of the Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial We plan on being a leader in the future as well. Upgrades are scheduled annually and there is a deep Stadium, the Academic Center houses Academic Counseling offices, and Learning and Skill commitment from the Athletics Department ensures that the excellence in the computer center will Development centers including the Kerr Foundation Computer Center, the Thompson Writing Center continue for a long time. and centers for communication, reading, study skills, math and foreign language as well as learning enhancement and study areas. Kerr Language Centers To assist you in speaking, listening, reading and writing in other languages, the Kerr Foundation Kerr Career Center Foreign Language Center offers a multimedia environment that provides instruction in all foreign Whether student-athletes are freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors or graduates, they will benefit languages and in English as a second language. On an individual basis, students have the option from the services of the Kerr Career Center. It provides a system of services that educates and guides of working with computers, audio-visual equipment and tutors in order to enhance their language students through the career development process. experience. math assignments. The Career Center is dedicated to helping students make the transition from college to career by developing an individualized career plan where they gather information to assist in making Thompson Writing CenteR a decision about a career; obtain information on the suitable career list; explore classes and Because learning and writing are essential life long skills which can always be strengthened, the publications in the field as well as obtain experience; and gain knowledge and skills necessary for Writing Center offers personalized instruction to student-athletes who seek assistance in refreshing, résumé writing, job-related letter writing and interviewing techniques. reviewing, or improving these skills. The Thompson Writing Center offers a dynamic, positive atmosphere to help student-athletes generate ideas and strategies for writing assignments. The Career Center is a link with the campus Careers Services Office and offers student-athletes a wide Consultants help student-athletes organize papers, review grammatical basics, develop proofreading array of effective job hunting skills, training and career services. and library research skills, and design résumés.

Kerr Foundation Computer Center Communication Center In the 21st century, computers have become an integral part of the learning experience. Students This academic center focuses on developing communication and public speaking skills for student- need access to computers and their resources almost daily. The Kerr Foundation Computer Centers athletes. The state-of-the-art center, coordinated by a broadcast professional, builds strong media are here to meet these technological needs. We provide each student with the equipment and relations skills through the use of video equipment. support necessary to succeed. Reading and Study Skills Center The computer center is housed within the Prentice Gautt Academic Center and houses nearly 200 If students have trouble with assigned textbook readings or studying, the Reading and Study Skills Center computers available exclusively to our student-athletes. can help. It provides reading and studying techniques and instructs how to make direct applications to current resources. Consultation, computer-assisted instruction, tutoring and independent activities are Students also enjoy a large amount of storage space on our athletic network. Laptop computers are available. checked out to students when the computer center is unavailable. This allows access to our network and resources 24 hours a day. The laptop program is very important in helping athletes stay on top Math Center of their schoolwork when traveling. If performing math functions is a problem, the solution is the Math Center. As a supplement to class instruction, the Math Center provides all levels of math computations, concepts and problems to help students review course material. • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

2012 graduate and All-American gymnast Patrick Piscitelli.

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 23 • • •

the• • • university • • of oklaho• • m• • • •a • • • • • • • • • what do you know about ou? Created by the Oklahoma Territorial Legislature in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a doctoral degree-granting research university serving the educational, cultural, economic and health-care needs of the state, region and nation.

The Norman campus serves as home to all of the university’s academic programs except health- related fields. Both the Norman and Health Sciences Center colleges offer programs at the Schusterman Center, the site of OU-Tulsa.

The OU Health Sciences Center, which is located in Oklahoma City, is one of only four comprehensive academic health centers in the nation with seven professional colleges.

OU enrolls more than 30,000 students, has more than 2,400 full-time faculty members, and has 20 colleges offering 158 majors at the baccalaureate level, 167 majors at the master’s level, 81 majors at the doctoral level, 26 majors at the doctoral professional level, and 24 graduate certificates. The university’s annual operating budget is $1.46 billion. Wagner Hall, located in the heart of OU’s campus

The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution.

24 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts facts about ou

• OU ranks No. 1 in the nation among all public universities in the number of National Merit Scholars • OU won the “PetroBowl” Championship in petroleum engineering, making OU the only school to enrolled, with a record 225 National Merit Scholars in this year’s freshman class – 29 more than the win the competition three times. previous OU record. • Since 1994, research and sponsored programs expenditures at OU have more than doubled, and OU • OU has over a $1.5 billion impact on the state’s economy each year. continues to set new records for funding for externally sponsored research. OU ended FY 2010 with total expenditures of more than $261 million. • The Princeton Review ranks OU in the top 10 public universities in the nation in terms of academic excellence and cost for students. • The OU Health Sciences Center in FY 2010 continued its impressive rate of research growth by achieving more than $118 million in federal, state, corporate and nonprofit or foundation grants and • This year, OU achieved the Carnegie Foundation’s highest tier of research activity classification, the contracts. Funding from the National Institutes of Health – considered to be the gold standard for first time a public institution in Oklahoma has received this outstanding recognition. research – was almost $52 million.

• An OU Debate Team from the Shannon Self Debate Program has won the national championship in • Since 1994, almost $2 billion in construction projects have been completed, are under way or are debate three of the last five years. The winning team in the Cross Examination Debate Association’s forthcoming on OU’s three campuses, the largest of which is the $128 million Peggy and Charles national championship was composed of OU students RJ Giglio and Nick Watts. Stephenson Oklahoma Cancer Center.

• OU is a leader among all American universities in the international exchange and study abroad • OU is home to one of the two largest natural history museums in the world associated with a programs. This past year study abroad by OU students increased by 20 percent. OU currently offers university. The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History has more than 7 million artifacts programs in over 50 countries and 100 cities in six continents. Students from more than 100 coun- and contains 195,000 square feet on 40 acres of land. The museum exhibits include the largest tries are enrolled at OU. Apatosaurus on display in the world and the oldest work of art ever found in North America — a lightning bolt painted on an extinct bison skull. • OU student Sarah Swenson was named a 2011 Rhodes Scholar, becoming OU’s 28th Rhodes Scholar. No other university in Oklahoma has had more than three. • The Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art’s collections total more than 10,000 works of art, including OU’s Weitzenhoffer Collection of French Impressionism, one of the most important gifts of art ever given • OU student Eddie Shimp was named this year’s Goldwater Scholar for excellence in mathematics to a U.S. public university. The museum also shares the Eugene B. Adkins Collection, one of the most and science, bringing to 31 the number of OU students named to that honor since 1995. This places important private collections in the nation of works by the Taos artists as well as Native American OU in the top ranks of universities nationally. works of art, with the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa. Additional collections have further strengthened the museum’s holdings in the areas of Native American and Southwest art. • The Joe C. and Carole Kerr McClendon Honors College offers the largest honors program among public universities in the United States. More than 3,500 students participate in small classes of 19 • OU’s Western History Collection is one of the largest collections inthe world of documents and or less. photographs, including a rare multivolume portfolio on the Indians of the United States and Alaska by Edward S.Curtis. • OU students Caleb Gayle and Austin Slaymaker were named 2010 Truman Scholars. This prestigious national award is given based on a student’s leadership potential, intellectual ability and the likeli- • Set to open in 2011, the Peggy and Charles Stephenson Oklahoma Cancer Center is on track to hood of “making a difference.” become Oklahoma’s first and only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. Achieving this designation, the gold standard for cancer research and care in the United States, • OU student teamstop honors at this year’s Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup Collegiate Business means that Oklahomans will no longer need to travel 450 miles out of state for comprehensive, Plan Competition in Oklahoma City, a competition designed to encourage students of Oklahoma state-of-the-art cancer care. The cancer center is the largest public-private biosciences initiative in universities and colleges to act upon their entrepreneurial ideas and develop skills to lead tomor- Oklahoma history. row’s innovative news businesses. • The University of Oklahoma has established a comprehensive diabetes center with operations on • OU ranks in the top 10 in the nation among most wired colleges, one of only a few universities to the OU campuses in Oklahoma City and Tulsa to provide statewide leadership in diabetes treatment, achieve the ranking two years in a row. research, prevention, information, education and awareness. The Harold Hamm Oklahoma Diabetes Center provides access to the latest developments in diabetes care and management through the • OU’s entrepreneurship program in the Price College of Business ranks in the top five in the nation clinical trials hosted by the center. among all public universities.

• OU has surpassed its goal of $150 million in scholarships and is extending the Campaign for Scholarships for five more years, increasing the goal to $250 million. The success of the campaign has allowed OU to more than double its private scholarships in the last five years.

• The Campaign for Scholarships is continuing, and in March 2008 surpassed its goal of raising $100 million for endowed scholarships. To date, almost $140 million in scholarship endowments have been donated or pledged.

• OU has increased from 100 to 544, the number of endowed faculty positions in the past 15 years, demonstrating a strong commitment to excellence.

• OU continues to set the pace in private fundraising records, with more than $1.8 billion in gifts and pledges since 1994, which has provided funding for dramatic capital improvements, the growth in faculty endowment and student scholarships.

• OU Drama students won the largest number of awards of any university in America in the national Kennedy Center American College Theatre Competition.

• OU has the academically highest ranked student body at a public university in Oklahoma history.

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 25 facts about ou

• A major beautification campaign has transformed the appearance of the OU Health Sciences Center • The highly acclaimed journal of international literature, World Literature Today, is published at the in Oklahoma City. The project replaced a divided highway through campus with seven tiered gardens University of Oklahoma. featuring traditional OU arches at each end. The pedestrian walkway’s landmarks include an OU Seed Sower sculpture at the west end, a clock tower at the east end, and a 70-foot granite fountain in the • OU is home to the Neustadt International Prize for Literature, considered to be second in prestige center. only to the Nobel Prize and often referred to as the “American Nobel.” Twenty–eight Neustadt laure- ates, candidates and jurors have won the Nobel Prize in the past 40 years. • For the outdoor improvements to the Norman campus — gardens, fountains, sculptures, benches — the University of Oklahoma has won first place in the education category for Beautification and • The OU Cousins program matches U.S. and international students to share informal and social Landscaping in the statewide environmental competition. Gifts of over $3 million have permanently experiences. Students may volunteer to live on international floors with half of the residents from endowed OU’s gardens. the United States and half from other countries.

• OU has strong programs in international and area studies, with an International Programs Center • Dance Magazine places the OU School of Dance in the top three of all dance programs in the led by Zach P. Messitte, a foreign policy expert with a doctorate in international politics whose country. experience includes working for the United Nations and CNN. • OU’s 271-acre Research Campus is anchored by the Stephenson Researchand Technology Center, • With nearly 400 doctors, OU Physicians is the state’s largest physician group. Our practice encom- where cutting-edge research into life science fields ranging from robotics to genomic studies is passes almost every adult and child specialty. Many OU Physicians have expertise in the manage- taking place, and the National Weather Center, which houses OU’s academic and research programs ment of complex conditions that is unavailable anywhere else in the state, region or sometimes even in meteorology and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Norman-based weather, the nation. Some have pioneered surgical procedures or innovations in patient care that are world research and operations programs. firsts. • OU’s supercomputer debuted as the fastest in Oklahoma history and in the Big 12 and in the top 10 • About 125 of OU Physicians’ doctors are OU Children’s Physicians. These board-certified pediatric at U.S. universities (excluding federally funded national supercomputing centers). specialists committed their training and, now, their practices to the care of children. Many children with birth defects, critical injuries or serious diseases who can’t be helped elsewhere come to OU • Since its creation in 1998, OU’s Office of Technology Development has created 36 companies that Children’s Physicians. Oklahoma doctors and parents rely on OU Children’s Physicians depth of experi- have generated more than $84 million in capital, more than $10 million in cash and more than $30 ence, nationally renowned expertise and sensitivity to children’s emotional needs. million incurrent estimated equity value for the university. In addition, the companies have created in excess of 150 jobs, which pay on average nearly twice the median household income in Oklahoma. • The University of Oklahoma maintains one of the three most important collections of early manu- scripts in the history of science in the United States. It includes Galileo’s own copy of his work, which • The Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education is ranked among the top 10 percent of all graduate first used the telescope to support the Copernican theory, with corrections in his own handwriting. colleges of education by U.S. News & World Report.

• The University of Oklahoma Libraries has added its 5 millionth volume, continuing a commanding • The OU College of Law had a bar passage rate of 97 percent in 2010, which placed OU among the lead as the state’s largest research library and claiming one of the top two spots in size among Big 12 very best in the nation. libraries. • A major building project has doubled the size of the Law Center, refurbishing classrooms and creat- • OU’s Julian P. Kanter Political Commercial Archive houses the world’s largest collection of political ing a new library, a cutting-edge courtroom, and expanded student lounge and office facilities. commercials. With more than 95,000 commercials, the archive includes political advertisements dating back to 1936 for radio and 1950 for television. • OU President David Boren, a former U.S. senator and governor of Oklahoma, teaches an introductory course in political science each semester, and keeps in close touch with students.

• OU has one of the oldest comprehensive colleges of fine arts in the Great Plains states, with highly regarded schools of Music, Drama, Art and Dance, and programs in opera, musical theater, and sculpture.

• OU has won awards for new initiatives to create a sense of family and community on campus. OU is one of the very few public universities to twice receive the Templeton Foundation Award as a “Character Building College” for stressing the value of community.

• The University of Oklahoma has consistently been designated as one of America’s 100 Best College Buys by Institutional Research & Evaluation, an independent higher education research and consult- ing organization.

• OU has established a faculty-in-residence program with faculty members and their families living in apartments in the student residence halls.

• The Michael F. Price College is ranked as one of the nation’s top business schools at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Price College ranks in U.S. News & World Report’s top 15 in undergraduate business specialties for international business.

• OU is one of a small number of Division I-A universities in the nation to receive the CHAMPS award for preparing student-athletes for life. The award is based on academic excellence, athletic excellence, personal development, community service and career development.

• The Oklahoma Daily, OU’s student newspaper, and Sooner yearbook are consistently ranked among the best in the country.

26 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts facts about ou

• More Native American languages are taught for college credit at OU than at any other university in • The OU Press is the oldest in the Great Plains states and ranks among the 20 most important the world. university presses in the United States. It is aleading publisher of books about Native Americans and the American West. • The Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication at OU is home to the Native American Journalists Association, the oldest and largest international organization for indigenous journalists. • The OU College of Law publishes the only law journal in the United States devoted exclusively to Native American legal issues. • OU has been recognized as an outstanding university for Hispanic students by Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education magazine. • OU finished among the top 25 eight times in the last nine years in the U.S. Sports Academic Direc- tor’s Cup Standings, which measures the overall strength of each Division I-A athletics program. • The Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center houses the papers of more than 55 former members of Congress, making it the nation’s most comprehensive center for congressional • A $50 million gift from the George Kaiser Family Foundation – the largest single gift the university studies. has ever received – helped create the OU School of Community Medicine. The school’s mission is to improve the overall health status of underserved Oklahoma areas, both rural and urban, through • OU’s journalism and mass communication school was elevated to college status, thanks to a $22 community-based medicine. million gift from Edward L. Gaylord on behalf of the Gaylord family of Oklahoma City. • In 1999, a $10 million grant to OU from the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation of • The OU Health Sciences Center is one of only four comprehensive academic health centers in the Tulsa supported the purchase of the BP Amoco property in Tulsa, enabling OU to establish a new nation with seven professional schools. It includes the colleges of Allied Health, Dentistry, Medicine, community-based campus for the University’s Tulsa programs. Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health and Graduate Studies. • In 2003, the Schusterman Family underlined their support of OU in Tulsa with the announcement • The Donald W. Reynolds Department of Geriatric Medicine, established at the OU Health Sciences of a $10 million challenge grant for OU-Tulsa to help complete the first phase of the campus master Center with an $11.2 million grant from the Reynolds Foundation, is one of the premier programs in plan for the Schusterman Center and allow OU-Tulsa to expand degree programming in key areas. education, research and service to elders. • First- and second-year students receive outstanding instruction and mentoring under a program • OU is the only public university in Oklahoma to be included in the Fiske Guide to Colleges, which that brings over 50 retired full professors back to campus to teach their introductory courses lists the top 10 percent of all U.S. universities. • The OU Sooners have won 26 national championships in men’s and women’s sports with the latest • The Department of Communication’s doctoral program is ranked among the top 20 programs in the coming in 2008 when the men’s gymnastics team won its fifth title in seven years. country. • Almost 100 Sooner student-athletes earned Academic All-Conference honors, and a total of 12 • OU frequently hosts national and international scholars and policymakers during major national teams recorded team GPAs of 3.0 or better. conferences and symposia. Over the past few years, guests have included former President George Bush; former U. S. Secretary of State Colin Powell; U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy; • More than 250 Sooner student-athletes were named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll. A former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher; Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond total of 34 OU student-athletes recorded a 4.0 GPA. Tutu; award-winning broadcast journalist Katie Couric; International Political Analyst Fareed Zakaria; and award-winning historian and author David McCullough. • The Athletics Department became just the second Division 1 winner of the Prism Award, recogniz- ing best practices in sports management. • OU’s A. Max Weitzenhoffer Musical Theatre Program is one of the very few university programs in the nation that provides students an opportunity to be in the same cast with professional Broadway actors in brand-new productions.

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 27 • • •

the• • • city of • • norman• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • home of the sooners Norman is an ever-changing city of nearly 90,000 residents. Located in the heart of the state, it has grown to become the third largest city in Oklahoma. Despite its continuous growth, it has maintained the spirit and serenity of a small close-knit community.

Since the Oklahoma land run of 1889, Norman has grown into a popular and smart city. The spirit of Norman and its citizens is unwavering and uncompromising. While other towns were clamoring to become the state capital, Norman residents desired to have the first state university. When the first OU president got off the train and saw a prairie, he saw opportunity.

As home to the state’s premier educational institution, Norman boasts an excellent quality of life and is a city that thrives on and celebrates the diversity of its community.

Legendary University of Oklahoma football coach Barry Switzer called Norman “a university town with a championship spirit.” Norman continually exhibits its love for sports by hosting numerous local and national athletic events. Norman, Okla., home of the University of Oklahoma, was ranked sixth in CNN/ Money Magazine’s 100 Best Places to Live

28 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts norman and oklahoma city a championship spirit In the last five years alone, Norman has served as host of the NCAA Men’s Gymnastics Championship, an NCAA men’s golf regional, NCAA softball regionals, NCAA women’s gymnastics regionals, NCAA women’s tennis regionals, NCAA track and field regionals and the NCAA women’s basketball regionals. In addition, the Big 12 Conference Men’s and Women’s Tennis, Track and Field, Wrestling, Women’s Golf, and Women’s Gymnastics Championships were held in Norman.

oklahoma city Oklahoma City, the capital of Oklahoma, is located just 18 miles from the Norman campus. Thousands crossed the borders of “unassigned lands” at the sound of gunfire at high It was the first city settled in the Land Run of 1889 because of its position as the center of noon. Never before or since has such a “run” occurred anywhere on the earth. the state. It is because of this central location that Oklahoma City has become known as the home of America’s Western heritage. Whether adventure, history, culture or sports, By the time the dust had settled on that historic day, many people had staked their claim Oklahoma City offers a variety of attractions and activities different from any other place at “Oklahoma Station,” an area which was destined to become Oklahoma City, a leading in the country. city in America. In 1911, Oklahoma City officially became the capital after a statewide election moved the state seal from Guthrie. Oklahoma City was born on the afternoon of April 22, 1889, when the central portion of what is now Oklahoma was opened to settlement by presidential proclamation.

A Sports Fan’s paradise • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Oklahoma City has become a haven for exciting sports action. It is home of the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder, two minor league sports teams and the host of the NCAA Women College Softball World Series and Big 12 Baseball and Softball Championships. The Oklahoma City RedHawks, 1996 American Association champions (then named the Oklahoma City 89ers), are the Triple-A baseball affiliate of the Houston Astos. The team plays in the 13,066-seat RedHawks Field at Bricktown, one of the most respected venues in all of minor league sports. The ballpark served as host to a 2004 NCAA baseball regional and the Big 12 Baseball Championship since 2005.

The Oklahoma City Barons are in their second season of play. The American Hockey League squad is the top minor league affiliate of the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers. In addition, the city has hosted numerous PGA and Senior PGA Tour events.

The Oklahoma City Thunder stands as the city’s staple sports symbol. The Thunder, who moved to Oklahoma City in 2008, have already claimed three playoff appearances and one conference title. Oklahoma City reached the NBA Finals in 2012 where they fell to the Miami Heat. The Thunder were led by Kevin Durant. The Thunder’s home venue, Chesapeake Energy Arena, is considered one of the top atmosphere’s to catch a game in all of basketball.

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 29 • • •

sooners• • • in • • the commu• • • • • •nity • • • • • • • • • • • a longstanding partnership The Sooners have been partnering with Cleveland Elementary School for several years, thanks to Cleveland teacher Regina Bell and OU Head Coach Mark Williams.

The program helps bring the gymnasts into the classroom to help the teachers interact with the students before, during and after class.

The Sooners take time to spend an hour with the classes once a week for the entire year as well as attending special functions, including the annual Jog-a-Thon and Fall Festival and an exhibition at the school before the season begins

Having the team interact with the students at Cleveland has also sparked interest about gymnastics with children and parents alike.

OU hosts an annual “Cleveland Elementary Night” at a home gymnastics meet. This season the Sooners welcome Cleveland students, teachers and parents for their February 23 meet against Dylan Akers interacts with students at Cleveland Elementary School Air Force at the McCasland Field House. Students will have the opportunity to serve as junior judges, score flashers, march-in leaders, junior PA announcers and award presenters at the meet.

30 2011 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History season outlook

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History SoonerSports.com | The Official Home of OU Athletics 2011 individual awards and honors • • •

T• • • he season • • • • • • • • • •

The toUniversity of Oklahoma men’s gymnasticsco team enters the 2013m season ranked No.e 3 in the GymnInfo Preseason Coaches Poll.

This is not uncharted territory for the eight-time national champions, who have been ranked in the top three in every preseason poll since 2000.

The Sooners are ranked behind defending NCAA Champion and top-ranked Illinois, and Michigan. Penn State is fourth, followed by Mountain Pacific Sports Federation foe Stanford at No. 5. MPSF members California (No. 6) and Air Force (No. 11) are also ranked in the preseason poll. All four MPSF teams competed at the 2012 NCAA Championship, and OU, California and Stanford all placed in the top five. The storylines for the 2013 season undoubtedly will be the team’s returning youth and Oklahoma, the 2012 NCAA runner-up, heads into 2013 fresh off its 12th-consecutive a new team scoring format. With a 17-man roster that includes 10 sophomores and just top-three finish at the NCAA Championships. The Sooners also claimed their 19th two seniors, consistency in the new five-up, five-count scoring system will be important. conference title in 2012, their 10th in the past 13 years under head coach Mark Williams. “My emphasis has been on getting gymnastics that was consistent, and done well,” Williams said. “We’re trying to put together a team that can build on its difficulty but certainly looking at hit percentages as the most important quality of this team.”

32 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 2013 SEASON PREVIEW five up, five count The biggest change in college gymnastics this season will be the new scoring system. In the past, six gymnasts competed at each event, with the top four scores counting toward a team’s total. This season, five scores will count, and beginning in March, only five gymnasts will compete for each team. The new format will put a greater importance on consistency, without the benefit of the lowest score being dropped.

“I think it will change things dramatically, where you can’t have two misses on an event and still be ok after you drop those scores.” Williams said. “In the preseason, it’s been a work in progress where certain things have had to either come in or out of routines so that we reach our most consistent high team score. We’ll just have to make the most of what we have in terms of doing good gymnastics that guys can do well consistently throughout season and hope we can keep up with the best teams just by our quality of performances. The Sooners return All-Americans (left to right) Presten Ellsworth, Troy Nitzky, Chris Stehl “I think from a spectator standpoint, it will be much easier to understand who’s and Danny Berardini. winning and who’s doing well. When somebody falls, it will affect your team right then, and you know you won’t have the option to drop a score later.” a look inside each meet The 2013 OU schedule consists of 10 regular season meets, including three home sophomore-led youth movement meets at the McCasland Field House. The OU roster is packed with youth. Nine sophomores and four freshmen lead the way, with two juniors and two seniors serving as the experienced veterans on the squad. The season begins at the Rocky Mountain Open on Jan. 12. The Sooners will face What was a group of wide-eyed freshmen last season return more mature a year later, Nebraska, Arizona State, Washington and host Air Force. Oklahoma heads to the west having seen what it takes to reach an elite level. coast on Jan. 19 for the Stanford Open on Jan. 19.

“The great thing about the sophomores is that they now have the scope of a full “The Stanford Open will be a good test against two teams in our conference,” Williams season behind them and they understand the whole process of competing throughout said. “Two meets in, we will have competed against our entire conference and have a the regular season and into the championship rounds and team finals,” Williams said. good understanding of where everybody’s at.” “To understand the processes is the key to having them be a little more prepared for what comes our way throughout the year.” The Sooners will be closer to home, at the Metroplex Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas, on Jan. 25. OU will see several top collegiate teams, Illinois, Ohio State and Iowa. Williams expects Alec Robin on floor, Mike Squires on rings and Mike Reid on pommel horse to play a prominent role in 2013, in addition to Dylan Akers on all-around “The Metroplex Challenge is new to our schedule this year,” Williams said. “It will be a and returning All-American Danny Berardini on parallel bars and high bar. All five big meet against some strong competition, including defending national champions sophomores are coming off impressive freshman campaigns for OU. Illinois.” returning all-americans Oklahoma closes out the first half of its season on the road at Iowa on Feb. 2. The Sooners return four All-Americans from last season. Seniors Troy Nitzky and Chris Stehl earned the honor on rings last season, while junior Presten Ellsworth earned The first of three home meets is slated for Feb. 16 as the Sooners welcome Minnesota All-American status on vault and sophomore Danny Berardini did so on parallel bars. to the McCasland Field House. OU hosts MPSF conference foe Air Force the following Nitzky was also an All-American in 2011 on rings. weekend on Feb. 23. Both meets begin at 7 p.m.

OU lost three All Americans, led by Jake Dalton’s honors in the all-around, floor, rings, “We look forward to finally getting home,” said Williams. “Minnesota is another team vault, parallel bars and high bar. Mike Heredia and Patrick Piscitelli were All Americans that has improved a lot. Air Force will be coming in right after that for a conference on vault. meet.”

Quotable: Mark Williams After trips to Nebraska on March 3 and Michigan on March 9, Oklahoma hosts Ohio “The conference and NCAA team finals will be very interesting,” Williams said. “In the State on March 23 in the final meet of the regular season. The season-finale is past, you’ve had that leniency where you can drop two scores, and now, it’s going scheduled to commence at 7 p.m. to be just like the Olympic finals. It’s all going to count, and that’s definitely a very different way of counting scores than we’ve done in the past. It’s going to make it The postseason begins two weeks later for OU, as the Sooners return to Colorado exciting and interesting, but it’s also going to be a very challenging task even for Springs for the MPSF Conference Championships on April 6. Oklahoma will be the best teams to put their best day out there and be capable of hitting 30 out of 30 competing for its 12th conference title in the last 15 seasons and 20th overall. routines.” The 2013 season concludes on April 19-21 in State College, Pa., at the NCAA Championships. The three-day event is hosted by Penn State, where the Sooners will be competing for their ninth national championship in program history and sixth in the last 12 years.

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 33 OPPONENT INFORMATION 2012 SCHEDULE date oPPONENT LOCATION T tiME (CT) AIR FORCE Jan. 12 Rocky Mountain Open Colorado Springs, Colo. 7 p.m. Location...... USAF Academy, Colo. Jan. 19 Stanford Open Palo Alto, Calif. 5 p.m. Jan. 25 Metroplex Challenge Fort Worth, Texas 7 p.m. Nickname...... Falcons Feb. 2 Iowa Iowa City, Iowa 5 p.m. Conference...... Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Feb. 7 & 9 Winter Cup Las Vegas, Nev. 5 p.m. Home Venue...... Cadet West Gym Feb. 16 Minnesota McCasland Field House 7 p.m. Head Coach...... Kip Simons (Eighth Season) Feb. 23 Air Force McCasland Field House 7 p.m. Alma Mater, Year...... Ohio State, 1994 March 3 Nebraska Lincoln, Neb. 1 p.m. Preseason Ranking...... 11 March 9 Michigan Ann Arbor, Mich. 6 p.m. 2012 Record...... 13-14 March 23 Ohio State McCasland Field House 7 p.m. Conference Finish...... 4th April 6 MPSF Championships Colorado Springs, Colo. 6 p.m. NCAA Championships Finish...... N/A April 19 NCAA Qualifier State College, Penn. 7 p.m. Meets against OU...... Jan. 12 (Rocky Mountain Open) April 20 NCAA Team Finals State College, Penn. 7 p.m...... Feb. 23 (Norman) April 21 NCAA Team Finals State College, Penn. 7 p.m...... April 6 (MPSF Championships) CALIFORNIA Location...... Berkeley, Calif. Nickname...... Golden Bears/Bears Conference...... Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Home Venue...... Haas Pavilion Head Coach...... Tim McNeill (Third Season) Alma Mater, Year...... California, 2008 Preseason Ranking...... 6 2012 Record...... Conference Finish...... 3rd NCAA Championships Finish...... 4th Meets against OU...... Jan. 19 (Stanford Open) ...... April 6 (MPSF Championships) ILLINOIS Location...... Urbana-Champaign, Ill. Nickname...... Fighting Illini Conference...... Big Ten Home Venue...... Huff Hall Head Coach...... Justin Spring (Fourth Season) Alma Mater, Year...... Illinois, 2006 Preseason Ranking...... 1 2012 Record...... 28-2 Conference Finish...... 1st NCAA Championships Finish...... 1st Meets against OU...... Jan. 25 (Metroplex Challenge)

34 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts OPPONENT INFORMATION IOWA NEBRASKA Location...... Iowa City, Iowa Location...... Lincoln, Neb. Nickname...... Hawkeyes Nickname...... Cornhuskers/Huskers Conference...... Big Ten Conference...... Big Ten Home Venue...... Field House Main Floor and Carver Arena Home Venue...... Bob Devaney Sports Center Head Coach...... J.D. Reive (Third Season) Head Coach...... Chuck Chmelka (Fourth Season) Alma Mater, Year...... Nebraska, 2000 Alma Mater, Year...... Nebraska, 1982 Preseason Ranking...... 10 Preseason Ranking...... 9 2012 Record...... 3-22 2012 Record...... 7-19 Conference Finish...... 6th Conference Finish...... 7th NCAA Championships Finish...... N/A NCAA Championships Finish...... N/A Meets against OU...... Jan. 25 (Metroplex Challenge) Meets against OU...... Jan. 12 (Rocky Mountain Open) ...... Feb. 2 (Iowa City, Iowa) ...... Jan. 19 (Stanford Open) ...... March 3 (Lincoln, Neb.) MICHIGAN OHIO STATE Location...... Ann Arbor, Mich. Location...... Columbus, Ohio Nickname...... Wolverines Nickname...... Buckeyes Conference...... Big Ten Conference...... Big Ten Home Venue...... Cliff Keen Arena Home Venue...... St. John Arena Head Coach...... Kurt Golder (17th season) Head Coach...... Rustam Sharipov (Second Season) Alma Mater, Year...... Michigan, 1977 Alma Mater, Year...... Kharkov State, 1997 Preseason Ranking...... 2 Preseason Ranking...... 8 2012 Record...... 17-12 2012 Record...... 10-14 Conference Finish...... 2nd Conference Finish...... 5th NCAA Championships Finish...... 6th NCAA Championships Finish...... N/A Meets against OU...... March 9 (Ann Arbor, Mich.) Meets against OU...... Jan. 25 (Metroplex Challenge) ...... March 23 (Norman) MINNESOTA STANFORD Location...... Minneapolis, Minn. Location...... Palo Alto, Calif. Nickname...... Golden Gophers Nickname...... Cardinal Conference...... Big Ten Conference...... Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Home Venue...... Sports Pavilion Home Venue...... Ford Center and Burnham Pavilion Head Coach...... Mike Burns (Ninth Season) Head Coach...... Thom Glielmi (10th Season) Alma Mater, Year...... Penn State, 1981 Alma Mater, Year...... Illinois, 1988 Preseason Ranking...... 7 Preseason Ranking...... 5 2012 Record...... 19-10 2012 Record...... 12-12 Conference Finish...... 4th Conference Finish...... 2nd NCAA Championships Finish...... N/A NCAA Championships Finish...... 5th Meets against OU...... Feb. 16 (Norman) Meets against OU...... Jan. 19 (Stanford Open) ...... April 6 (MPSF Championships)

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 35 GYMNASTICS SCORING 101 overview of scoring system new scoring system in 2013

Prior to the 2008 season, judging men’s gymnastics was based on the 10.0 2013 brings a new scoring system to NCAA men’s gymnastics. For each system. Every routine that you saw had the highest possible score of a 10.0 event, instead of six gymnasts competing and four scores counting, now five if it was performed without any deductions and had the highest possible gymnasts will compete for each team, and all five scores will be counted difficulty allowed. Men’s collegiate gymnastics then adopted the FIG (Federa- towards a team’s final score. The new format will put a greater emphasis on a tion of International Gymnastics) Scoring System of an open-ended Code of teams’ depth, and any errors will be magnified. The new system will begin on Points. Now, when watching USA and college gymnastics, you will see scores March 1st. Before that, six gymnasts will compete at each event, and the top like 15.3, 14.8, 13.9 and so on. five scores will count.

Men’s college gymnastics is judged using three components: Floor First, the gymnast performs his 10 best or hardest skills. These 10 skills each

have value parts ranging from A,B,C,D,E,& F. “A” value corresponds to 0.1 The floor exercise is an event where the gymnast performs multiple tumbling points, “B” to 0.2 points, and so on to an “F” that is worth 0.6 points. The skills in a row and flips forward, backwards and sideways to achieve three of gymnast is free to have as much difficulty as he can do in those 10 skills. the special requirements. The fourth requirement is a non-acrobatic skill like a press handstand or circles on the floor. The fifth requirement is the gymnast’s Second, of those 10 skills, the gymnast performs five that must be used to dismount. Look for double flipping and double twisting skills that grab your fulfill the five special requirements on each event. Every time a requirement attention. is fulfilled, the gymnast is awarded 0.5 points. The gymnast receives a maxi- mum of 2.5 points for all five requirements on each event. pommel horse Pommel horse is one of the hardest events in gymnastics, requiring strength, Third, every gymnast is given 10 points for the execution of the event. If the balance and flexibility. The gymnast continuously does circles, flairs or scissors gymnast falls down or breaks form, the judge takes away points from this while performing requirements and finishes with a dismount. total. still rings After the routine is finished the judges go through the following process: First, they add up the difficulty of the 10 highest skills (max unlimited). Next, Pound for pound, rings is one of the hardest events in sport. The gymnast they add up the special requirements (max 2.5). Then they add 10 points for performs strength moves like the “Iron Cross” which requires him to hold execution and make any necessary deductions. This gives them a final score. up to nine times his own body weight. The requirements on rings include holding strength moves, swinging to strength moves, swing skills, kip skills In the old scoring system, if the gymnast performed a perfect routine it and a dismount. would look like this: vault 3.5 for difficulty + 2.5 for special requirements + 4.0 for execution with no Vault is the most explosive event in gymnastics. The gymnast has a choice of deductions = 10.0 three styles of vaults that include a handspring, roundoff or roundoff onto the board. Like diving, vaults are given ratings based on their difficulty. The With the current scoring system, it looks like: harder the vault, the higher the rating the vault receives.

3.5 difficulty + 2.5 for special requirements + 10.0 for execution with no parallel bars deductions = 16.0 (The difficulty of 3.5 can be more or less depending on the gymnast’s capability). Parallel bars is one of the most versatile events in gymnastics. The gymnast must perform skills in support, upper arm support, skills from hanging, Special Note: Not all events are necessarily equal now. You will tend to see basket skills where the gymnast loops around the p-bars and must finish higher scores on rings and lower scores on pommel horse and parallel bars. with a dismount. Look for unique twists and flips where the gymnasts earn their difficulty points. Examples: • A good pommel horse score ranges from 14.5-15.3 high bar • A good rings score ranges from 15.5-16.3. High bar is the most exciting event to watch in gymnastics. It requires • A good vault score ranges from 14.8-15.4. the gymnast to swing on the bar, then let go of it and catch again. Other requirements include straddle skills, El-grip skills, long hang skills and a dismount. Watch for high flying release moves that remind you of an X-Games style competition.

36 2012 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History staff • • •

m• • • ark • • w• • • • illia• • • • • • • • • • • m• • • • s• • • • • • • • • • • Head Coach | 14th Year at OU (322-30) Five National Championships Five-Time National Coach of the Year Ten Conference Championships Nine-Time MPSF Coach of the Year With three NCAA Championships already in the books, the University of Oklahoma men’s gymnastics program was no stranger to success prior to head coach Mark Williams’ arrival. However, Williams has established OU as the nation’s elite program with five national titles in Oklahoma collected its 10th conference title in 2012 along with its 10th top-two finish since the last 10 years, claiming crowns in 2002, ‘03, ‘05, ‘06 and most recently in ‘08. 2001 by claiming second at the NCAA Championship. Jake Dalton became the first gymnast in OU history to earn All-America honors on six events (all-around, floor, rings, vault, parallel Williams was named the head coach at Oklahoma in 2000 and has positioned the program as a bars, high bar) in one season while claiming NCAA titles on all-around and parallel bars. national contender every year with an overall mark of 322-30 (.915) in 13 seasons. He became Dalton also won conference titles on all-around, parallel bars, high bar and rings. Williams was the program’s fourth head coach after serving as an assistant since 1988. named the MPSF Coach of the Year along with the Coach of the Year for the West Region.

In addition to five national titles, the Sooners have recorded five national runner-up finishes At the 2012 Olmypic Games in London, the eight-man U.S. men’s gymnastics team featured under Williams and other gaudy numbers that include 24 individual national champions, 137 five Sooners. Jake Dalton and Jonothan Horton competed for the United States, while Chris All-America honors, 10 conference team championships, 41 individual conference titles and Brooks, Steven Legendre and Alex Naddour served as alternates. three Nissen Emery Award winners (Steven Legendre in 2011, Jonathan Horton in ‘08 and Daniel Furney in ‘03), presented annually to the nation’s top senior gymnast.

38 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts head coach mark williams

In 2011 senior Steven Legendre was named the program’s seventh Nissen-Emery Award winner. OU also added three individual NCAA National Champions (Jake Dalton; floor and vault, Alex Naddour; pommel horse) and 12 All-American to its extensive list of accomplishments. The team was runner-up in the team final, which marks the four time under Williams that the Sooners have finished in second.

Oklahoma finished the 2010 season as the MPSF Conference Champions and third-place finishers at the NCAA National Championships. Steven Legendre took one step closer to breaking Jonathan Horton’s OU program record six national titles by capturing one more individual National Cham- pionship on floor. Freshman Alex Naddour claimed the pommel national title, while the Sooners claimed 11 more All-American honors. Williams’ success doesn’t stop at the NCAA level. He has earned the respect of the gymnastics A year later, half of Team USA at the 2010 World Championships was again represented by the nation by coaching at every level of the sport, from beginners to Olympians. Sooner program. Steven Legendre and former Sooner Jonathan Horton and Chris Brooks competed in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Horton won the bronze medal in the all-around, while Brooks Although Williams has returned gymnastics at OU to the top of the sport, another one of his pri- and Legendre finished in the top eight in high bar and floor, respectively. mary goals as head coach was to revitalize OU’s presence on the international gymnastics scene. With Sooners at the past two Olympic Games and Young at the 2004 Athens Games, Williams has In 2009, Legendre won national titles in the all-around, floor exercise and vault. The Sooners achieved just that. finished third and for the second year in a row claimed 11 All-America honors. Oklahoma represented half of the USA men’s gymnastics’ team that competed at the 2009 World Championships. Outside of coaching on the collegiate level, Williams was on the international scene at both the Two of the three Sooners would make the event finals on floor (Legendre) and high bar (Horton). 2012 and ‘08 Summer Olympic Games. In 2008, Horton lead the underdog U.S. team to a bronze medal, while collecting a individual silver medal on the high bar. The 2008 Sooners won the eighth national title in the program’s history while Horton won an individual national title on still rings and Legendre won national titles on floor exercise and vault. Williams’ vast experience has been recognized at the highest levels of the sport, one of the most In addition to Horton and Legendre who combined for six All-America honors, OU posted the notable was when he was asked to serve as the assistant coach for Team USA at the 1996 Olympic second-highest total All-America honors in the nation with 11. Games. In July of 1999, Williams was head coach of the USA’s Pan American Games Team which claimed the silver medal. He coached at both the 1994 and ‘95 World Championships, as well as In 2008, Horton won the silver medal in the men’s high bar finals at the 2008 Summer the ‘87 Junior International, ‘91-92 DTB Cups, ‘91 World University Games and 2000 International Olympics in Beijing. It was the second medal for Horton, as he helped guide the U.S. Gymnastics Team Cup. Williams was also named to the Lyons Township High School Hall of Fame in 2009. Team to a bronze medal. As a gymnast, assistant coach or head coach, Williams has been a part of eight NCAA Champion- Following the 2008 and ‘05 seasons, the Oklahoma team traveled to Washington D.C. and was ship teams. A high school standout from La Grange Park, Ill., he went on to compete at Nebraska honored at the nation’s capital on the White House South Lawn at NCAA Champion’s Day. After (1977-1980). He received All-America honors on the high bar (1978) in addition to the two being recognized at a reception held by Oklahoma’s senators, the Sooners received a private tour national championship titles he earned with his team (1979, 1980). He then helped the Corn- of the Capitol from Oklahoma senator Tom Cole. huskers to another title in 1981 as a graduate assistant coach. Ten years later, Williams was on the coaching staff that produced OU’s third National Championship in 1991. Within the next six years, Williams added to his international resume by being the 2006 World Championship head coach, 2007 World Championship assistant coach and a personal coach at the “My stint as a collegiate athlete was one of the best times in my life,” Williams said. “The excite- ‘09 and ‘10 World Championships. ment of being part of a great team is indescribable. There are very few opportunities for gymnasts to feel that unity outside a university setting. I’ve coached hundreds of athletes in my career In 2004, Williams was again on the world scene, where he helped guide Guard Young, then an and not one has ever come to me with any regrets about choosing college gymnastics. I’ve been a OU assistant coach, to the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. Young had been coached by coach at all levels and all have their benefits, but to me, the combination of athletics and educa- Williams since he was 11 years old and, at the age of 27, Young achieved his goal of competing for tion, plus the support and camaraderie of a team, make NCAA gymnastics something special.” the U.S. at the Olympics with Williams at his side. Not only did Young compete in the games, but his performance helped the team earn silver, the first team medal for the U.S. since 1984. Williams graduated from Nebraska with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education/English and completed his master’s degree in journalism at OU with a 4.0. “Mark is not only a good coach but a good friend,” said Young. “He was able to take a young boy who could not even do the splits and make him into an Olympic silver medalist. One of Mark’s Williams was married to his wife, Susan, in May of 1998. The couple welcomed their first child, strengths as a coach is his ability to unite a team. His dedication to the team is something I son Cooper, in 2007. respect and aspire toward.”

In his 30 years as a professional gymnastics coach, Williams has guided gymnasts to the Olympic, World Championship, Pan American Games and University Games. He has also coached numerous Year record conference Finish ncaa Finish senior and junior U.S. national team members. 2000 15-4 First Fourth 2001 24-2 First Second “As a college coach, NCAA competition will always be my first priority,” Williams said, “but I also 2002 28-1 First First 2003 26-0 First First want to encourage those guys who come into the program with aspirations to make the U.S. 2004 24-4 Second Second national team. As a coach, I am committed to making USA Gymnastics training and competition 2005 21-2 First First opportunities available to every athlete on my team who wants to compete on a national and 2006 31-0 First First international level.” 2007 26-4 First Second 2008 28-1 First First In addition to his coaching prowess, Williams has been a nationally and internationally certified 2009 23-3 Second Third judge. He has served as the vice president for the U.S. Men’s Elite Coaches Association, as a 2010 24-4 First Third member of the Men’s Program Committee for USA Gymnastics (USAG) and on the USAG Board of 2011 24-2 Second Second Directors. Williams was a member of the 2000 Olympic Selection Committee. He now is the NCAA 2012 26-3 First Second Chairman of the rules committe. Total 322-30 .915 Winning Percentage

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 39 head coach mark williams

Williams Career Notes The Williams File Education 2012 2005 • B.S. Secondary Education/English (Nebraska, 1980) • M.A. Journalism/Professional Writing (Oklahoma, 1991) • Record: 26-3; NCAA Finish: Second; • Record: 21-2; NCAA Finish: First; Individual National Champions: Dalton Individual National Champions: David Coaching Experience (AA, PB); All-Americans: 12; Conference Henderson (SR); All-Americans: 13; • Head Coach, Oklahoma (2000-present) Finish: First; Conference Champions: Conference Finish: First; Conference • Assistant Coach, Oklahoma (1988-99) Dalton (AA, HB, PB, SR). Champions: David Henderson (V), Jamie • High School Coach (1982-88) Henderson (PH), Horton (AA, SR). Career Coaching Highlights 2011 • 2012 U.S. Olympic Personal Coach • Record: 24-2; NCAA Finish: Second; 2004 • 2012 MPSF Coach of the Year Individual National Champions: Dalton • Record: 24-4; NCAA Finish: Second; • 2011 World Championship Assistant Team Coach • 2010 World Championship Personal Coach (FX, V), Naddour (PH); All-Americans: 12; All-Americans: Eight; Conference Finish: • 2009 World Championship Personal Coach Conference Finish: Second; Conference Second; Conference Champions: Gore • 2008 U.S. Olympic Personal Coach Champions: Dalton (AA, FX, V, PB), (PB), Rowell (HB). • 2008 NCAA National Champions Legendre (FX), Naddour (PH). • 2008 MPSF Coach of the Year • 2008 National Coach of the Year • Williams reaches the 100-win • 2007 MPSF Coach of the Year • Steven Legendre is crowned with plateau faster than any other coach in • 2006 U.S. World Championships Head Coach the Nissen Emery Award and is the NCAA history after defeating then-No. 1 • 2006 USA Gymnastics Coach of the Year seventh Sooner to receive the award. Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio. • 2006 NCAA National Champions • 2006 National Coach of the Year • 2006 MPSF Coach of the Year 2010 2003 • 2005 NCAA National Champions • Record 24-4; NCAA Finish: Third; • Record: 26-0; NCAA Finish: First; • 2005 National Coach of the Year Individual National Champions: Legendre Individual National Champions: Landis • 2005 MPSF Coach of the Year (FX), Naddour (PH); All-Americans 11; (PH, FX), Furney (AA, PB); All-Americans: • 2004 U.S. Olympic Personal Coach • 2003 NCAA National Champions Conference Finish: First; Conference 11; Conference Finish: First; Conference • 2003 National Coach of the Year Champions: Jackson (V), Legendre (FX). Champions: Furney (AA), Landis (PH), • 2003 MPSF Coach of the Year Stevens (V). • 2003 World Championship Personal Coach 2009 • 2002 World Championship Personal Coach • Record: 23-3; NCAA Finish: Third; • Williams makes history by becom- • 2002 NCAA National Champions • 2002 National Coach of the Year Individual National Champions: ing the first coach in NCAA history to win • 2002 MPSF Coach of the Year Legendre (AA, FX, V); All-Americans: 11; two national titles in his first • 2001 MPSF Coach of the Year Conference Finish: Second; Conference four years as a head coach. • 2001 West Region NCAA Coach of the Year Champions: Legendre (V). • 2001 World Championship Personal Coach • 2000 MPSF Coach of the Year • Daniel Furney receives the Nissen • 1999 Pan American Games Head Coach 2008 Emery Award and is the fifth Sooner to • 1996 Assistant Olympic Coach • Record: 28-1; NCAA Finish: First; receive the award. • 1995 Assistant World Championship Coach Individual National Champions: Legendre • 1994 World Championship Personal Coach (FX, V), Horton (SR); All-Americans: 2002 • 1994 USA Gymnastics Coach of the Year • 1994 NCAA Assistant Coach of the Year 11; Conference Finish: First; Conference • Record: 28-1; NCAA Finish: First; • 11-time USA International Team Coach Champions: Horton (AA, SR), Legendre All-Americans: Nine; Conference Finish: (FX). First; Conference Champions: Coaching Accomplishments Bierker (HB), Covey (SR), Landis (PH), • Three Athletes on U.S. Olympic Team • Three athletes on World Championship Teams • Sooners win eighth title and Horton Stevens (FX). • Athlete on Pan American Games Team becomes the program’s sixth Nissen- • Athlete on Pan American Championship Team Emery Award winner. 2001 • Athlete on World University Games Team • Record: 24-2; NCAA Finish: Second; • Nine athletes on USA Senior National Team 2007 All-Americans: 10; Conference Finish: • Eight athletes on Junior National Team • 132 NCAA All-America Athletes • Record: 26-4; NCAA Finish: First; Conference Champions: O’Neil (FX), • 24 NCAA National Champions Second; Individual National Champions: Van Etten (V), Covey (SR). • Two USA Junior National All-Around Champions Abdullah-Simmons (AA), Horton (FX, HB); All-Americans: 11; Conference Fin- 2000 Gymnastics Activities • NCAA Rules Committee Chair, 2005 ish: First; Conference Champions: Horton: • Record: 15-4; NCAA Finish: Fourth; • NCAA Rules Committee, 2002 - 2005, 2009 - Present (AA, FX, SR, HB). All-Americans: Five; Conference Finish: • NGJA Nationally Certified Judge, 1984-2001 First; Conference Champions: Bierker • F.I.G. Certified Judge, 1998-2004 2006 (PB), Furney (PH), Rome (HB). • USAG Men’s Program Committee Member, 1994-2000 • Record: 31-0; NCAA Finish: First; • U.S. Men’s Elite Coaches Association Sec./Treas. & V.P., 1991-98 • USAG Board of Directors Sr. Rep, 1996-98 Individual National Champions: Horton • Coached on seven NCAA National Championship Teams (AA, FX, SR); All-Americans: 14; (1981, 1991, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008) Conference Finish: First; Conference Champions: Horton (FX, SR), Brooks (HB). Athletic Accolades (Nebraska) • NCAA Team Champion, 1979 and 1980 • All-American High Bar, 1978 • The Sooners win their second • Big Eight Champion High Bar, 1978 consecutive title and fourth in five years. • U.S. Junior National Team, 1975

40 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts head coach mark williams

The Williams Family

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 41 assistant coaches • • • • • • • • guard • • • • • yo• • • • • •u • • •n • • •g • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Assistant Coach | Seventh Year at OU 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist Three National Championships

Former Olympian Guard Young was named assistant coach of the University of Oklahoma men’s gymnastics team on June 15, 2011. Young, a 2004 Olympic silver medalist, previously served as an assistant coach for the Sooners from 2000 to ‘05. Education “It was great to have Guard Young back and part of the program last season,” said OU head coach Mark Williams. “He was with the University of Oklahoma previously during a five-year span as an assistant coach and made it to the 2004 • B.S. Communication (Brigham Young, 2001) Olympic games, and we are grateful he came back to OU last season. I know we can continue to win championships with him as part of the staff. He is a tremendous asset to the program and an excellent coach to our student-athletes.” Coaching Experience • Assistant Coach, Oklahoma (2011-present) Young brings an impressive resume to Norman. A graduate of Brigham Young University, Young was a six-time All- • Byers Gymnastics Center (2009-11) American and two-time NCAA vault champion (1999-2000). He was also the NCAA all-around runner-up in 2000. • Youngsters, Inc., Gymnastics Academy (2007-11) “This is actually my third time living in Oklahoma,” said Young. “I moved here with my family in eighth grade and then, • Technique Gymnastics Academy (2005-09) after college, Coach Williams brought me here to help coach while training for the Olympics. Now I’m in my second year • Assistant Coach, Oklahoma (2000-2005) as an assistant coach, and I’m truly enjoying working with Mark and the gymnasts.” Career Coaching Highlights During his first tenure at OU, Young helped lead the Sooners to three NCAA Championship titles (2002, ‘03 and ‘05). In his first year back at Oklahoma, he helped the Sooners win a conference title, his sixth at OU, and a second-place finish • 2005 NCAA National Champions at the NCAA Championships. • 2003 NCAA National Champions • 2002 NCAA National Champions “I wouldn’t have come back again to Oklahoma if I didn’t feel it was the best program in the country and the best opportunity to help win a national championship. That’s exactly what I plan on doing.” Gymnastics Accomplishments While coaching at OU from 2000-’05, Young was mentored by Williams and earned his way onto the 2004 U.S. Olympic • 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist Team. In Athens, Greece, Young was the first American to compete in both team competitions at the Summer Games • 2003 U.S. World Championship Team Alternate and helped the Americans win silver, the first team Olympic medal since 1984. • 2002 U.S. World Championship Team • 2001 World Championship Silver Medalist Young opened the team finals with a 9.7 floor routine before posting a a strong performance on the still rings and vault. • 2000 NCAA Vault Champion In addition to his Olympic appearance, Young was a 10-time U.S. National Team member and competed for Team U.S.A. • 1999 NCAA Vault Champion in the 2001, ‘02 and ‘03 World Championships. The American squad claimed Silver in 2001 and ‘03. • 1996 Junior National Champion

In 2005, Young founded Youngsters, Inc. Gymnastics Academy in Sacramento, Calif. He also directed and coached boys gymnastics at multiple gyms in the Sacramento area.

Young’s father, Wayne, was the 1976 Olympic team captain and the head coach of Brigham Young’s men’s gymnastics team from 1979-’87. Wayne Young was also Guard’s first coach during his childhood. All six of Young’s siblings were also gymnasts.

As a junior gymnast, Young trained under Williams at the Bart Conner Gymnastics Academy in Norman. Under Williams’ guidance, Young was the 1996 junior national champion and earned three junior national team berths. Williams continued to train Young when he returned to OU in preparation for international competition and the Olympic Games.

Young graduated from Brigham Young University in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication. He was recently inducted into BYU’s Hall of Fame in 2010. He and his wife, Alisha, have three children: Tyler (9), Jaxson (6) and Hadley (2).

42 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts • assistant coaches • •

nori• • • masa • • i• •w • • • •ai • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Assistant Coach | Second Year at OU Captain of the Japanese National Team in the 2000 Olympic Games

Japanese Olympian Norimasa Iwai (pronounced “Nor-ee-mah-sa Ee-why”) joined the University of Oklahoma men’s gymnastics staff in August, 2011.

Iwai competed as both an individual and as the captain of the Japanese National Team in the 2000 Summer Olympic Education Games. • Degree in Physical Education (Nihon, 2005) “We’re very excited to have Coach Iwai as a member of our staff,” said Williams. “His experience as a previous captain of the Japanese Olympic team gives him tremendous credibility and credentials, which he has shown through his first year Coaching Experience at Oklahoma.” • Assistant Coach, Oklahoma (2011-present) • Personal Coach at the Toyota Cup (2010) Iwai captained the Japanese National Team to a fourth place team finish in Sydney, Australia, at the 2000 Olympics while finishing seventh individually on the still rings. A year later, he competed for Japan at the 2001 World • Houston Gymnastics Academy (2007-11) Championship and took home gold on the rings at the 2001 East Asia Games. • Personal Coach at the Swiss Cup (2007) • Gymnastics Network (2005-07) Williams believes Iwai’s experience at the sport’s pinnacle events has provided a strong asset to his coaching staff. • Swan Gymnastics Club (2005-07) “Japanese gymnastics is very well respected throughout the world,” said Williams. “He has brought that experience into our program, both collegiately and for our student-athletes with aspirations to compete internationally in Team USA Career Coaching Highlights events and even the Olympic Games.” • Personal coach of Raj Bhavsar, a bronze medalist at the 2008 Olympic Games Along with his numerous accolades as a competitor, Iwai has built up experience of coaching gymnasts at the Gymnastics Network and Swan Gymnastics Club in Japan and recently at the Houston Gymnastics Academy. Gymnastics Accomplishments

As a personal coach, Iwai guided United States gymnast Raj Bhavsar, who claimed a bronze medal in team competition • 2001 East Asia Games Gold Medalist at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Iwai has also been a personal coach for gymnasts in the 2007 Swiss Cup • 2001 World Championships Team Member and ‘10 Toyota Cup. • 2000 Captain of Japanese Olympic Team • 2000 Seventh Place on Rings at Olympic Games Entering his first season as an assistant coach of at a university, Iwai is excited for the opportunities he’ll have with a program rooted in rich gymnastics tradition.

“Coaching at Oklahoma has been a fantastic opportunity,” said Iwai. “OU has a strong history of posting good results at the NCAA Championships. My job is to continue to help our gymnasts post those good results and to train future champions.”

A native of Gunma, Japan, Iwai graduated with a degree in physical education from Nihon University in Tokyo. He and his wife, Akko, have two children: Mumo (9) and Jun (6).

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 43 volunteer assistant coaches • • • • ste • • • ven • • • • • le• • • •g • • endre• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Volunteer graduate Assistant Coach | Sixth Year at OU 2011 Nissen-Emery Winner Six National Championships

After a storied gymnastics career at OU Education that included being named the 2011 • Multi-Disciplinary Studies (Oklahoma, 2011) Nissen-Emery Award winner, a team • Current Graduate Student (Oklahoma, 2015) national championship in 2008, six individual national titles and 12 All- Coaching Experience American honors Steven Legendre is in • Volunteer Assistant Coach, Oklahoma (2011-present) his second season as a volunteer graduate assistant coach for the Sooners. Gymnastics Accomplishments • 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Alternate An alternate on the 2012 U.S. Olympic • 2012 U.S. Floor Exercise Silver Medalist team, he also was on the U.S. World • 2011 World Championships Team Bronze Medalist Championship team that won a bronze • 2011 Nissen Emery Award Winner medal in 2011. Legendre has been a U.S. • 2009-11 World Championships Team Member senior national team member since 2009. • 2010 U.S. Vault Champion • 2010 Floor Exercise NCAA National Champion • 2009 All-Around, Floor and Vault NCAA National Champion • 2008 Floor Exercise and Vault NCAA National Champion • 2008 NCAA Team National Champions • 12 All-American Honors at OU from 2008-11 • • • • • • • Ja • • • ke • • dalton• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Volunteer student Assistant Coach | Fourth Year at OU 2012 Olympian Four National Championships

Jake Dalton is in his first year as a Education volunteer student assistant coach for the • Current Student (Oklahoma, 2013) Sooners. The senior is finishing his degree after a successful collegiate career at OU. Coaching Experience Dalton was a four-time NCAA national • Volunteer Assistant Coach, Oklahoma (2012-present) champion, winning the all-around and parallel bars events in 2012, and the vault Gymnastics Accomplishments and floor exercise events in 2011. He • 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Member earned 13 All-American honors and helped • 2012 U.S. Floor Exercise and Vault Champion OU win two conference titles. He also won • 2012 All-Around and Parallel Bars NCAA National Champion eight individual conference titles. • 2011 World Championships Team Bronze Medalist • 2011 U.S. Vault and Floor Exercise Champion On the national scene, Dalton made • 2011 NCAA Vault and Floor Exercise Champion his Olympic debut in 2012 in London, • 2009 World Championships Team where he competed in the team and floor • 2009 U.S. Vault Champion exercise finals. He has been a U.S. senior • 13 All-American Honors at OU from 2010-12 national team member since 2009 and has won four U.S. championships.

44 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts Athletic Training Staff • •

Dr. • • • David • • hol• • • • • • •de • • • •n • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • team orthopedist | 16th Year at OU

Dr. David Holden, a board certified orthopedic surgeon from the McBride Clinic in Oklahoma City, has worked with the Oklahoma men’s gymnastics squad since 1998.

His experience with elite athletes is extensive, having served as the U.S. Swim Team Physician at the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney, Australia, in addition to being a team physician for several U.S. Olympic teams in 1994, 1995 and 2008. Holden also works with the Oklahoma women’s gymnastics team in addition to several other OU teams. He also has worked at numerous hospitals and clinics in Oklahoma.

Holden is certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery and has a subspecialty certificate in Orthopedic Sports Medicine. He serves as a clinical instructor at the University of Oklahoma Medical School and is a member of various professional organizations including the American Medical Association, Oklahoma State Medical Association, Oklahoma County Medical Association, American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine and is a fellow in the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery.

A native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Holden is a Duke University and University of Texas Medical School in Houston graduate. He and his wife, Rachel, have two children. • •

P • • hillip• • • h• • •a • •r • •t • •o • • g• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • athletic trainer | 2nd Year at OU Certified Athletic Trainer Licensed Athletic Trainer

Phillip Hartog is a native of Hamilton, New Zealand, Education and is in his second year at OU after earning a • B.S. Exercise Science (BYU, 2011) bachelor’s degree in exercise science with an • Current Graduate Student (Oklahoma, 2013) emphasis in athletic training at BYU. Athletic Training Experience In addition to working with the men’s gymnastics • Men’s Gymnastics Athletic Trainer, Oklahoma (2011-present) team at OU, Hartog was the volunteer athletic • Region III Camps Athletic Trainer (2011-present) trainer for Jake Dalton and Steven Legendre in the • Volunteer Trainer for Jake Dalton & Steven Legendre (2012) summer of 2012 as they trained for the Olympic • Athletic trainer for seven sports at BYU (2008-11) Games. While attending BYU, he worked with the football, women’s soccer, women’s gymnastics, rugy Athletic Training Accolades track and field and cross country teams and the • Certified Member of the National Athletic Trainer’s spirit squad. Association • Licensed Member of the Oklahoma Athletic Trainer’s Hartog is a certified member of the National Association Athletic Trainer’s Association and is a licensed • Vice President of Cougar Athletic Training from 2008-10 member of the Oklahoma Athletic Trainer’s • Named “Rookie Trainer of the Year” at BYU in 2009 Association.

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 45 support staff

Dr. Ted Boehm Paul Buzzard Lisa Cavanaugh Debbie Copp Danny Davis Team Primary Care Equipment Manager Meet Director Director of Publications Director of Event Physician Management

Kelsey Hargens Danny Haynor Charlie Healy Carol Ludvigson Scott Matthews Assistant Director of Event Management Communications Academic Advisor Director of Graphic Graphic Design Design

Brandon Meier Ashley Payne David Payne Patrick Piscitelli Lindy Roberts Assistant A.D. for Marketing Information Technology Team Manager Sport Administrator Broadcast/Soonervision

Matt Schaeperkoetter Ticket Office

46 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts administration

joe castiglione Larry Naifeh Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Programs and Director of Executive Associate Director of Athletics Athletics, The University of Oklahoma

Kenny Mossman Dr. Nicki Moore Senior Associate A.D. for External Relations Senior Associate A.D./Senior Woman Adminstrator

Dr. brandon martin Jason Leonard Senior Associate A.D./Administration Executive Director of Compliance

michael alford LINDY ROBERTS Senior Associate A.D. for Development Associate A.D. for Event Management

luther lee Greg Tipton Associate A.D. for Business/Chief Financial Officer Associate A.D. for Internal Operations

dusty clements Mike Meade Assistant A.D. for Development Associate A.D. for Athletics Academic Services

matt mcmillen danny davis Assistant A.D. for Football Operations Assistant A.D. for Operations and Facilities ou ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT brandon meier The mission of the University of Oklahoma Athletics Department is to inspire Assistant A.D. for Broadcast Operations champions today and prepare leaders for tomorrow by providing an excellent environment to enable student-athletes to achieve their highest academic, athletic and personal aspirations. charlie taylor Core Values Assistant A.D. for Marketing • Integrity • Passion for Excellence • Commitment mck williams • Respect & Responsibility for Self & Others Assistant A.D. for Ticket Operations • Appreciation for and Encouragement of Gender & Cultural Diversity

Philosophy The University of Oklahoma Athletics Department promotes excellence in athletics Pete Moris without compromising excellence in academics or integrity in its commitment Assistant A.D. for Communications to rules or conduct. Student-athletes are encouraged by the coaching and administrative staff to maintain a balance between athletics, academics, and the social aspects of college. Renata Hays Assistant A.D. for Branding and Licensing It is believed that athletic participation gives an added dimension to the student’s overall college experience and provides an opportunity for social, moral, emotional, and cultural growth and development. Joe Washington The athletic programs strive to create traits that once acquired will carry over and Special Assistant to the Athletics Director, benefit student-athletes in their personal and professional endeavors. The University Executive Director, Varsity O Association of Oklahoma maintains a tradition of excellence in intercollegiate sports.

The Athletics Department continues to uphold this tradition by striving to make Merv Johnson each athletic team and individual of championship caliber. Its staff members work Special Assistant to the Athletics Director to instill in student-athletes an appreciation for hard work, perseverance, and pride in accomplishment. It is believed these attributes will be utilized throughout the student-athlete’s life. Kelly Damphousse Faculty Athletics Representative

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 47 OU Athletics communications

Pete moris Scott matthews Assistant Athletics Director, Communications Director of Graphic Design Office: (405) 325-0096 | E-mail: pmoris@ou .edu Office: (405) 325-8223 | E-mail: smatthews@ou .edu

Mike Houck Kelsey hargens Director of Media Relations - Men’s Basketball Assistant Director Graphic Design Office: (405) 325-8227 | E-mail: mhouck@ou .edu Office: (405) 325-9377 | E-mail: khargens@ou .edu

Jared Thompson ANNA KREMER Associate Communications Director - Women’s Basketball Graphic Design Graduate Assistant Office: (405) 325-3671 | E-mail: jaredthompson@ou .edu Office: (405) 325-6578 | E-mail: jakremer@ou .edu

Karl anderson Jason Matheson Assistant Communications Director - Football / Softball Director of Digital Media Office: (405) 325-8571 | E-mail: karl .anderson@ou .edu Office: (405) 325-4274 | E-mail: jmatheson@ou .edu

mike ashcraft andrew lentz Assistant Communications Director - Baseball / Soccer Assistant Director of Digital Media Office: (405) 325-6449 | E-mail: ashcraft@ou .edu Office: (405) 325-1855 | E-mail: tkukowski@ou .edu

jenn mereby Debbie Copp Assistant Communications Director - Volleyball / Track Director of Publications Office: (405) 325-6449 | E-mail: cmoran@ou .edu Office: (405) 325-8367 | E-mail: dcopp@ou .edu

charlie healy Intern - Men’s Gymnastics / Rowing / Men’s Basketball Office: (405) 325-8234 | E-mail: chealy@ou .edu OU Athletics Communications Communications Main Phone ...... (405) 325-8231 Jordan christiansen Communications Fax ...... (405) 325-7623 Graduate Assistant - W . Gymnastics / W . Basketball University of Oklahoma Athletics Communications Office: (405) 325-8413 | E-mail: lesali@ou .edu McClendon Center, Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Suite 2525, 180 W Brooks St, Norman, OK 73019 SoonerSports.com The latest, official information on the Oklahoma men’s gymnastics team is available at SoonerSports .com . Log on for complete media services including statistics, rosters, bios, schedules and more . Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Online Official OU Athletics Web site ...... SoonerSports .com OU Men’s Gymnastics on Twitter ...... Twitter .com/SoonerGymnasts OU Men’s Gymnastics on Facebook . . . . .Facebook .com/SoonerGymnasts OU Men’s Gymnastics on Instagram . . . Instagram .com/ou_mgymnastics Mountain Pacific Sports Federation ...... MPSports .org Official NCAA Stats and Rankings ...... Troester .com/gym

48 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts media information media policies local media outlets CREDENTIALS PRINT TELEVISION Members of the media should contact Charlie Healy of the OU Athletics Communications Norman Transcript KFOR (NBC Channel 4) Office to request season or individual meet credentials for Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Clay Horning, Sports Editor Bob Barry Jr., Sports Director meets. Individual meet requests should be made no later than 5 p.m. the day prior to P.O. Drawer 1058 444 E. Britton Rd. the meet. Names of media members will be left on a media pass list at the side entrance Norman, OK 73070 Oklahoma City, OK 73114 to the McCasland Field House. Media members should be prepared to produce proper Phone: (405) 366-3535 Phone: (405) 478-6366 identification. Fax: (405) 366-3516 Fax: (405) 478-6337

Media Interviews and practice policy The Oklahoman KOCO (ABC Channel 5) Non-postgame interview requests for players and coaches should be directed to Charlie Mike Sherman, Sports Editor Daniel Holdge Sports Director Healy in the OU Athletics Communications Office at (405) 325-8234 or [email protected]. P.O. Box 25125 P.O. Box 14555 All requests should be made at least one day in advance of the desired interview time. Oklahoma City, OK 73125 Oklahoma City, OK 73113 Practices are usually open to the public. However, media who wish to attend must gain Phone: (405) 475-3314 Phone: (405) 475-5257 clearance by contacting Charlie Healy in the OU Athletics Communications Office. Fax: (405) 475-3315 Fax: (405) 478-6675

KWTV (CBS Channel 9) Postgame Information Tulsa World Dean Blevins, Sports Director Postgame interviews will take place on the gym floor following a “cooling off period” of Michael Peters, Sports Editor P.O. Box 14159 approximately 5-10 minutes. Final stat sheets will be available at the end of each meet. P.O. Box 1770 Oklahoma City, OK 73113 Tulsa, OK 74102 Phone: (405) 841-9940 Sam Viersen Gymnastics Center Phone: (918) 581-8355 Fax: (405) 841-9989 OU’s practice facility, the Sam Viersen Gymnastics Center, is located at 325 W. Imhoff Rd. Fax: (918) 581-8352 in Norman. From Interstate 35, exit east on Lindsey St. and proceed approximately one KOKH (FOX Channel 25) and a half miles. Take a right (south) onto Chautauqua Ave. and continue for about a Oklahoma Daily Myron Patton, Sports Director half a mile until Chautauqua intersects with Imhoff. Turn left (east) on Imhoff until you Student Newspaper 1228 E. Wilshire Blvd. pass the baseball facility. The Viersen Center is directly across the street (North) from 860 Van Vleet Oval, Rm. 126 Oklahoma City, OK, 73111 the Lloyd Noble Center. Parking is available at the north end of the Lloyd Noble Center Norman, OK 73019 Phone: (405) 843-2525 parking lot. Phone: (405) 325-7630 Fax: (405) 325-6051 Fax: (405) 478-4343 soonersports.com Sooner Spectator RADIO For the latest information on Oklahoma men’s gymnastics, including stats, recaps, (local magazine) KNTL/WWLS (97.9 FM/640 AM) notes, videos, photos and more, visit the official website of Oklahoma Athletics at www. Jay Upchurch, editor Randy Heitz, Sports Director SoonerSports.com. P.O Box 950240 4045 NW 64th, Suite 600

Oklahoma City, OK 73195 Oklahoma City, OK 73116 Social Media Phone: (405) 488-0242 Phone: (405) 858-6112 For the latest updates and behind-the-scenes news on the team, follow the Sooners on Fax: (405) 682-1901 Fax: (405) 848-1497 Twitter at @SoonerGymnasts, on Facebook at Facebook.com/SoonerGymnasts and on Instagram at @ou_mgymnastics. Sooners Illustrated KREF (1400 AM) (local magazine) T.J. Perry, Sports Director Michael Dempsey, editor 2020 Alameda OUinsider.com Norman, OK 73071 Phone: (405) 321-1400 Fax: (405) 321-6820

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 49 administration • •

D• • • avid l. • • b• • • oren• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • University president | 19th Year at OU David L. Boren, who has served Oklahoma as governor and U.S. senator, became the thirteenth president of the University of Oklahoma in November 1994. He is the first person in state history to have served in all three positions.

Boren is widely respected for his academic credentials, his longtime support of education, and for his distinguished political career as a reformer of the American political system. A graduate of Yale University in 1963, Boren majored in American history, forts to make government work better for American citizens. As chairman of the Senate graduated in the top one percent of his class and was elected Phi Beta Kappa. He was Intelligence Committee, he strengthened oversight of secret government programs and selected as a Rhodes Scholar and earned a master’s degree in politics, philosophy and reformed the procedures for Presidential notice of such programs to Congress. economics from Oxford University, England, in 1965. For more than 10 years, he led the fight for congressional campaign finance reform and In 1968, he received a law degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law, for legislation discouraging administration and congressional staff from cashing in on where he was on the Law Review, elected to the Order of the Coif, and won the Bledsoe government experience and contacts by becoming lobbyists. In addition, he introduced Prize as the outstanding graduate by a vote of the faculty. legislation seeking to limit gifts and travel subsidies that government workers, including members of Congress, can receive from lobbyists. Boren also chaired the special As Oklahoma’s governor from 1974 through 1978, Boren promoted key educational 1992-93 Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress, which produced proposals to initiatives that have had an enduring impact on Oklahoma. Established during his make Congress more efficient and responsive by streamlining congressional bureau- tenure were the Oklahoma Arts Institute, the Scholar-Leadership Enrichment Program, cracy, reducing staff sizes and reforming procedures to end legislative gridlock. and the Oklahoma Physicians Manpower Training Program, which provides scholarships for medical students and medical personnel who commit to practice in underserved Boren left the U.S. Senate in 1994 with an approval rating of 9l percent after being rural areas. Also, the first state funding for Gifted and Talented classes was provided reelected with 83 percent of the vote in 1990, the highest percentage in the nation in a in 1976 and, from 1976 through 1978, Oklahoma ranked first among all states in the U.S. Senate contest in that election year. percentage increases of funding for higher education. Boren served from 1988 to 1997 as a member of the Yale University Board of Trustees. One of Boren’s most far-reaching projects in promoting quality education at all levels His university experience also includes four years on the faculty of Oklahoma Baptist is the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence, which he founded in 1985. The foundation University, where he was chairman of the Department of Political Science and chairman recognizes outstanding public school students and teachers and helps establish private of the Division of Social Sciences. In 1993, the American Association of University Pro- local foundations to help give academic endowment grants to local public schools. As fessors presented Boren with the Henry Yost Award as Education Advocate of the Year. a senator, he was the author of the National Security Education Act in 1992, which provides scholarships for study abroad and for learning additional languages, as well as In April 2004, Boren received the Mory’s Cup from the Mory’s Association at Yale legislation to restore the tax deductibility of gifts of appreciated property to universities University. In making the presentation to Boren it was noted that he was the first Yale in 1993. graduate in the university’s history extending over three centuries to have served as a Governor, U.S. Senator and President of a major university. Boren, also a former state legislator, spent nearly three decades in elective politics before becoming the president of the University of Oklahoma. Boren was the youngest Under Boren’s leadership, the University of Oklahoma has developed and emerged governor in the nation when he served from 1974 to 1978. Known as a reformer, Boren as a “pacesetter university in American public higher education,” with 20 major new campaigned with a broom as his symbol. During his term, he instituted many progres- programs initiated since his inauguration. They include establishment of the Honors sive programs, including conflict-of-interest rules, campaign-financing disclosure, College, the Charles M. Russell Center for the Study of Art of the American West, a stronger open meeting laws for public bodies, more competitive bidding on state new expository writing program for freshmen modeled on the program at Harvard, government contracts, and reform of the state’s prison system, including expanded edu- an interdisciplinary religious studies program, the Artist-in-Residence Program, the cation programs for first-time offenders and the largest expansion of the work-release International Programs Center, and the Faculty-in-Residence Program putting faculty program in state history. family apartments in student residence halls. The Retired Professors Program has been started, bringing 50 retired full professors back to the University to teach freshmen. During his time in the U.S. Senate from 1979 to 1994, Boren served on the Senate Fi- nance and Agriculture Committees and was the longest-serving chairman of the Senate The number of new facilities started or completed on the campus during the Boren Select Committee on Intelligence. From his days as a state legislator and governor of years has matched the explosion in new programs. Since 1994, almost $1 billion in Oklahoma to Washington, Boren carried a commitment to reform, leading numerous ef construction projects have been completed or are under way on OU’s three campuses.

50 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts administration The number of new facilities started or completed on the campus during the Boren years United States in private endowment per capita. Since 1994, endowed professorships have has matched the explosion in new programs. Since 1994, almost $1 billion in construc- increased from 100 to 560 and the OU donor base has grown from 18,000 to more than tion projects have been completed or are under way on OU’s three campuses. Among the 125,000 friends and alumni. During the first 10 years of Boren’s tenure over $1 billion in largest of the recent projects are the $18.7 million renovation and expansion of historic private gifts were donated to the university. Holmberg Hall, home of music and dance programs; the $67 million National Weather Center; the $19 million addition to the Michael F. Price College of Business; the $17 million Above all, the Boren years have been marked by an emphasis on putting students first. Gaylord Hall for journalism and mass communication; the $27 million Stephenson Re- There is not a university president in the country that is more committed to students as his search and Technology Center; and the $83.5 million stadium project. The Health Sciences number one priority. He teaches a freshman-level course in political science each semester Center has a new Student Union, and the new $24 million Stanton L. Young Biomedical and is one of the few presidents of major universities to teach. Research Center. Boren is married to Molly Shi Boren, a former judge and English teacher. Mrs. Boren is Presidential Travel Scholarships, students from 111 countries on campus, more reciprocal President Emeritus of the Oklahoma Arts Institute, which provides education programs in international exchange agreements than any other university and the new International nine arts disciplines for high school students from across the state who are gifted in the Programs Center are all making OU more international. The new Honors College helps arts. Molly Boren has two degrees from the University of Oklahoma, a master’s degree in to assure that no students need to leave Oklahoma to find an educational experience to English and a Juris Doctorate from the OU College of Law. A native of Seminole, Boren has match their potential. two children, Carrie Christine Boren, an Episcopal minister, and David Daniel Boren, who has served as a member of the United States Congress from Oklahoma. Devoting much of In 1995, Boren launched the “Reach for Excellence” fundraising campaign with a five-year his life to public service, Boren drew from the example of his parents, the late Congress- goal of $200 million, which was twice as large as any fundraising drive in Oklahoma his- man Lyle H. Boren and Christine Boren. tory. The drive exceeded $500 million, raising OU into the top 15 public universities in the

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 51 administration • •

j• • oe• • • casti• • • • • • • • • • •g • • lione• DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS | 16th Year at OU Renaissance – A rebirth or renewal

The word “renaissance” has often been used to describe the University of Oklahoma since the arrival of David L. Boren as its 13th president. It’s no coincidence then that the same term could be used to describe the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and its leader, Joe Castiglione. Just as Boren has transformed the university community that books in the black in each of the last 13 years, making it one of the few Division I pro- the department is an integral part of, Castiglione, with the support of Boren and OU’s grams which remain totally self-sustaining. His understanding of how the department Board of Regents, has done the same thing with the athletics department, easily one of fits into the University’s academic mission led to a decision in June 2009 to increase the the most recognized representatives of the state’s flagship for higher education. direct support provided by the department on an annual basis to $4 million dollars. Through direct and indirect support, OU Athletics, under Castiglione’s leadership, pro- A department with a long tradition of excellence, there are some who would argue that vides more than $7 million annually to OU’s Academics Budget. Facility improvement the past 13 years represent the best of the best. With seven national championships and construction has been carried out at a record pace and Castiglione takes pride to and 44 conference titles produced in his tenure, it would be hard to dispute that. A point out that those improvements have all been paid for with private money. place where competitive dreams come true and academic goals are the expectations, not the exceptions, has been created at OU. Through his leadership and the support of Castiglione is quick to give full credit to the student-athletes and coaches, the staff, the University’s administration, there is a department-wide commitment, involving OU President David L. Boren, the OU Board of Regents, the donors and the fans for the student-athletes, coaches and staff, to that standard. success experienced during his tenure. It was that commitment to a team approach emphasis that was one of the many qualities that that the search committee recognized The 11th director of athletics at OU, Castiglione arrived on the Sooner campus in 1998 when they recommended Castiglione to university administration in 1998. and what he found was nothing like what you would see today. He made some big changes, some big and, in the process, created a team of administrators, coaches and In recognition of the performance of OU’s teams on the field and in the classroom, of the support staff who have built a climate that pursues ambitious, if not, lofty goals, high fiscal stability created during his tenure, the dramatic increases in donor giving, facility standards and a commitment to ethical behavior that is second to none. construction and renovations, and the cutting-edge programs that the department has begun during his tenure, Castiglione was named National Athletic Director of the Year in The emphasis has been and will always be on OU’s nearly 600 student-athletes who May 2009 by the Sports Business Journal. have flourished in the atmosphere, creating new levels of excellence in competition and in the classroom only to raise the bar in succeeding years. Their performances enhance That award was one of several earned by Castiglione and the department. The 2007 the belief shared by Castiglione, the department’s staff and the university family that PRISM Award winner, presented by the School of Sports Management at the University the best is yet to come. of Massachusetts, OU was just the second Division I winner and all of the programs recognized by the selection panel were started under Castiglione’s leadership with the Proof of the overall excellence of the program can be demonstrated by the annual full support of university administration. Learfield Director’s Cup rankings. The Sooners broke into the top 10 for the first time in school history at the conclusion of the 2010-11 academic year. That performance came His peers have honored him for the department’s achievements as well. In October after the department finished in the top 30 in 10 of the previous 12 years, a sustained 2004, the Bobby Dodd Foundation named him Athletics Director of the Year. In 2003, pattern of excellence not seen before in the history of one of the nation’s premier he was inducted into the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators intercollegiate athletics departments. Hall of Fame. In June 2001, he received the General Robert R. Neyland Athletic Direc- tor Award for lifetime achievement from the All-American Football Foundation. The For Castiglione, though, it’s not just about the championships and trophies. The victories National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) named him Central that he celebrates with his Sooners include graduation rates that continue to climb, Region AD of the Year in 2000. record-setting grade point averages and academic honors. The true measure of achievement for Castiglione and, by extension, the department’s coaches and staff, is measured The achievement that may bring him the most pride, though, came in May 2007 when in the success of the student-athletes in relation to the department’s mission statement he completed a master’s of education degree from OU. To understand the need for “Inspiring champions today … Preparing leaders for tomorrow” education and lifelong learning, OU’s student-athletes just have to look at their AD who started and completed his master’s degree while running the department and Since arriving at OU in 1998 after an outstanding administrative career at Missouri, maintaining his priorities to his family. He quickly put his experience to use as an Castiglione has insisted that daily and long-term decisions be made in a financially re- adjunct professor in the College of Education, teaching graduate classes in Marketing, sponsible manner. The result of that commitment has helped the department close the Development and Leadership in Higher Education.

52 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts administration Development and Leadership in Higher Education. NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee. He chairs the NCAA’s Football Academic Progress Rate (APR) Working Group and is currently serving on the Gatorade Collegiate Castiglione was instrumental in the athletics department’s major campaign, Great Expec- Advisory Board, the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame Board tations: The Campaign For Sooner Sports. The largest fund-raising effort in OU athletics of Directors and the NCAA Bowl Licensing Committee. history included projects that impact each of OU’s 21 sports and has become a national model for intercollegiate athletics. The campaign ended three years later with more than He served three terms as the chair of the Big 12 Board of Athletics Directors and is a past $125 million raised and that figure has grown to more than $330 million since then as president of both the Division I-A Athletic Directors Association and NACDA. He served a funds continue to be raised for facility improvements, including the recently announced four-year term on the NCAA Championship/Competition Cabinet and the NCAA Baseball $75 million Sooner Student Housing Center, and scholarship endowments. Committee and is a past member of the NCAA Football Special Events Certification Com- mittee. He recently served on the NCAA Diversity Leadership Strategic Planning Committee Hired on April 30, 1998, Castiglione joined the Sooner family after serving as athletics and the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Discussion Group. He is currently serving on director at Missouri. In his 17-year career with the Tigers, Castiglione, who was named the NCAA Working Group on Collegiate Model-Rules Committee. A former member of the director of athletics at Missouri on Dec. 15, 1993, was credited with rebuilding sports pro- Phi Delta Theta Foundation Board of Trustees, he is a highly requested speaker at annual grams, hiring outstanding coaches, implementing an innovative master plan for facilities, conventions and continuing education institutes. In November 2011, he was named to the inspiring record-setting increases in fund-raising and balancing the budget in each of his Broward County Sports Hall of Fame. five years as athletics director. His involvement in the local community has led to service with civic clubs, churches and A 1979 Maryland graduate, Castiglione received the University’s Distinguished Alumnus charities, including the United Way of Norman. Castiglione recently served his third term as Award in April 2007. He began his career as the sports promotions director at Rice. He then OU’s campus co-chair, which resulted in the highest recorded contributions ever by faculty, worked a year as director of athletic fund-raising at Georgetown before being hired in 1981 staff and students to the United Way of Norman’s annual campaign. at Missouri as director of communications and marketing. A native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Castiglione is married to the former Kristen Bartel, a 1990 His commitment to the success of student-athletes has gone beyond the Norman campus graduate of the University of Missouri. They are the parents of two sons, Joseph Robert, Jr. and he has served at the national and conference level. He recently was named to the and Jonathan Edmund.

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 53 OU head coaches

Sunny Golloway Lon Kruger Sherri Coale Martin Smith Baseball Men’s Basketball Women’s Basketball Cross Country/Track & Field

Bob Stoops Ryan Hybl Veronique Drouin-Luttrell Mark Williams Football Men’s Golf Women’s Golf Men’s Gymnastics

K.J. Kindler Leeanne Crain Matt Potter Patty Gasso Women’s Gymnastics Rowing Soccer Softball

John Roddick David Mullins Santiago Restrepo Mark Cody Men’s Tennis Women’s Tennis Volleyball Wrestling

54 2012 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History the sooners Returning Gymnasts dylan akers Sophomore | 5-9 All-Around Kingwood HS | Kingwood,Texas Cypress Academy Communication Major

2012 (freshman) • Finished 12th in the all-around finals of the 2012 NCAA Championship and third among freshmen. • Finished ninth on floor exercise in the 2012 NCAA Cham- pionship’s event finals with a 14.900, just .05 points shy of All-America honors. • Claimed his first all-around title of his career with an 83.100 against Minnesota and Ohio State on March 24. • Collected his first collegiate high bar title on March 17 against Air Force and Nebraska with a 14.650 along with a career-best vault score of 14.850. • Scored a 86.700 in his collegiate all-around debut against California and Stanford,his highest AA score of the year. • Had two of the Sooners’ top three pommel horse scores of the season with a 14.950 against Stanford on March 3 and a 14.900 at the team qualifier of the NCAA Championship on April 19. • Competed in all 12 of OU’s meets in 2012. • Scored a career-high 15.300 on floor against Minnesota and Ohio State on March 24. • Earned career-best scores on rings (14.250) and high bar (14.800) at the MPSF Championship on April 7. • Secured a career-high 14.750 on parallel bars against Iowa on Feb. 25.

Club/High School • Competed at Cypress Academy of Gymnastics. • Coached by Tom Meadows. • Attended Kingwood High School in Kingwood, Texas. • Three-time Junior National Team member. • Represented the United States in international competitions in Australia, Mexico, Canada and Puerto Rico. • Claimed first place on pommel horse in the junior division of the 2009 Visa Championships. • Fifth-place finisher on pommel horse at the 2010 and 2011 Visa Championships. • Competed with Jacob Dalton on Team USA at the Pan American Championships, taking first place as a team.

Personal • Full name is Dylan Taylor Akers. • Born in Houston, Texas. career highs • Son of Coy and Pauline Akers. All-Around...... 86.700, Feb. 12, 2012 at California & Stanford • Has an older brother, Jacob, and an older sister, Caitlin Floor...... 15.300, March 24, 2012 at Minnesota & Ohio State • Microbiology major. Pommel Horse...... 14.950, March 3, 2012 vs. Stanford Rings...... 14.250, April 7, 2012, 2012 at MPSF Championships Vault...... 14.850 March 17, 2012 vs. Air Force & Nebraska Parallel Bars...... 14.750, Feb. 25, 2012 at Iowa High Bar...... 14.250, April 7, 2012 at MPSF Championships

56 2013Boomer Oklahoma Sooner Men’sSeason Gymnastics Outlook Media GuideStaff The SoonersBoomer SoonerSeason ReviewSeason OutlookHistory Staff Sooner Sports.comThe Sooners | T he OfficialSeason H omeReview of OU AthleticsHistory 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts Returning Gymnasts danny berardini Sophomore | 5-8 Parallel Bars, High Bar Lake Forest HS | Lake Forest, Ill. Buffalo Grove Gymnastics Center Accounting Major

2012 (freshman) • Became OU’s first freshman All-American on parallel bars since Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons in 2005 with a 14.950 and a third-place finish at the NCAA Championship’s event finals. • Claimed his first collegiate parallel bars title with a 14.950 against Iowa on Feb. 25. • Scored over a 15 on parallel bars in the MPSF Champion- ship, NCAA Team Qualifier and NCAA Team Finals. • Earned a career-best 15.150 on parallel bars in the team qualifier of the NCAA Championship on April 19. • Competed in all 12 of OU’s meets in 2012. • Collected a career-best 14.500 on high bar on March 10 against Michigan. • Scored a career-high 14.350 on rings on Feb. 25 against Iowa. • Earned career-best scores on floor (12.600) and vault (14.400) on Jan. 14 at the Rocky Mountain Open.

Club/High School • Competed at Buffalo Grove Gymnastics Center. • Coached by Kelly Crumley, the father of OU gymnast Chad Crumley. • Attended Lake Forest High School in Lake Forest, Ill. • Claimed fourth place on still rings in the junior division of the 2011 Visa Championships. • Finished in fourth place on high bar, fifth place on still rings and 11th place in all-around in the junior division of the 2009 Visa Championships. • Took 11th place in all-around and fifth place on parallel bars and rings at the 2009 J.O. National Championships.

Personal • Full name is Daniel James Berardini. • Born in Lake Forest, Ill. • Son of Don and Terri Berardini. • Has three older brothers: Mike, Nick and Kevin. • Older brother Nick played basketball for the University of Missouri. • Older brother Kevin is a senior on the University of Illinois men’s basketball team. • Majoring in accounting. career highs All-Around...... 86.700, Feb. 12, 2012 at California & Stanford Floor...... 15.300, March 24, 2012 vs. Minnesota & Ohio State Pommel Horse...... 14.950, March 3, 2012 vs. Stanford Rings...... 14.250, April 7, 2012 at MPSF Championsips Vault...... 14.850, March 17, 2012 vs. Air Force & Nebraska Parallel Bars...... 14.750, Feb. 25, 2012 vs. Iowa High Bar...... 14.800, Twice, Last: April 7, 2012 at MPSF Championships

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 57 Returning Gymnasts william clement Sophomore | 5-10 All-Around Valley Christian HS | San Jose, Calif. California Sports Center Health and Exercise Science Major

2012 (FRESHMAN) • Was the only Sooner to compete on high bar in all 12 of OU’s meets in 2012. • Finished third on high bar at the MPSF Championship with a 14.450. • Scored a career-high 14.700 on high bar against Michigan on March 10. • Earned career-best scores on pommel horse (13.650) and rings (13.400) against Air Force and Nebraska on March 17. • Scored a career-high 14.800 on vault against Minnesota and Ohio State.

• Club/High School • Competed at California Sports Center. • Coached by Scott Burns. • Attended Valley Christian High School in San Jose, Calif. • Participated in the Junior Olympic National Championships in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011. • Region 1 team member in 2010 and 2011. • Finished in 27th place in the all-around and 11th on high bar at the 2010 Junior National Championships.

Personal • Full name is William Carlton Clement. • Born in Berkeley, Calif. • Son of Donna Diaz and Carl Clement. • Has an older brother, Bryan, and a younger sister, Whitney. • Majoring in health and exercise science.

career highs Pommel Horse...... 13.650, March 17, 2012 vs. Air Force & Nebraska Rings...... 13.400, March 17, 2012 vs. Air Force & Nebraska Vault...... 14.800, March 24, 2012 vs. Minnesota & Ohio State High Bar...... 14.700, March 10, 2012 vs. Michigan

58 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts Returning Gymnasts

presten ellsworth Junior | 5-10 All-Around Allen High School | Allen, Texas World Olympic Gymnastics Academy Criminology/Sociology Major

2012 (Sophomore) • Named an All-American on vault after taking third place at the NCAA Championship’s event finals with a season-best 15.200. • Recorded career highs on rings (14.800) and parallel bars (14.900) against Air Force and Nebraska on March 17. • Scored a career-high 15.100 on floor at the NCAA Championship’s team qualifier on April 19 and against Minnesota and Ohio State on March 24. • Earned a career-high 14.500 on pommel horse in the NCAA Championship’s team finals on April 20.

2011 (Freshman) • Earned a 14.250 on parallel bars in the 2011 NCAA Team Finals. • Placed 16th on parallel bars (14.450) at the MPSF Championships. • Finished seventh on paralell bars (14.500) in win over Penn State and Illinois. • Finished seventh on vault (15.500) and high bar (14.400) in win against Cal. • Tied for sixth on parallel bars with a score of 13.500 in win over Minnesota and Team Texas. • Finished in the top-10 on all events scoring a 84.100 in the all-around against Ohio State, setting four career highs. • Claimed sixth on vault with a score of 15.800 at the Rocky Mountain Open.

Club/High School • Trained at World Olympic Gymnastics Academy. • Coached by Sergei Pakanich. • Attended Allen High School in Allen, Texas. • Finished seventh in the all-around at the Junior Olympics National Championship in 2009.

Personal • Full name is Presten Michael Ellsworth. • Born in Allen, Texas. • Son of Mike and Cami Ellsworth. • Has a younger brother, Brady, and a younger sister, Cailee. • Majoring in criminoloy/sociology. career highs All-Around...... 84.100, Jan. 22, 2011 vs. Ohio State Floor...... 15.100, March 24, 2012 vs. Minnesota & Ohio State Pommel Horse...... 14.500, April 20, 2012 at NCAA Team Finals Rings...... 14.800, March 17, 2012 vs. Air Force & Nebraska Vault...... 15.800, Jan. 15, 2011, at Rocky Mountain Open Parallel Bars...... 14.900, March 17, 2012 vs. Air Force & Nebraska High Bar...... 14.400, March 5, 2011, vs. California

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 59 Returning Gymnasts ethan jose RS-Sophomore | 5-7 All-Around Mission San Jose HS | Fremont, Calif. Golden Bear Gymnastics Pre-Med/Zoology Major

2012 (RS-Freshman) • Sat out the first four meets of the season, but competed in the Sooners’ final eight meets of the year on high bar. • Scored a career-best 14.550 on high bar on March 10 against Michigan.

Club/High School • Competed at Golden Bear Gymnastics. • Coached by Vince Miller and Michael Ashe. • Attended Mission San Jose High School in Fremont, Calif. • Selected to the Region 1 Team. • Finalist at the Junior Olympic National Championships on parallel bars and rings. • Six-time Junior Olympic National Championships qualifier.

Personal • Full name is Ethan Warner Jose. • Born in Hayward, Calif. • Son of Joe and Diane Jose. • Has a younger sister, Megan. • Majoring in pre-med/zoology.

career highs High Bar...... 14.550, March 10, 2012 vs. Michigan

60 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts Returning Gymnasts 2009 (freshman) • Missed the 2009 season due to injury.

Club/High School troy nitzky • Trained at Temple Boys Gymnastics. RS-Junior | 5-6 • Attended William Tennent High School in Philadelphia, Pa. • Third in all-around at Maccabiah Games. Pommel Horse, Rings William Tennent HS | Philadelphia, Pa. Personal Temple Boys Gymnastics • Full name is Troy Ryan Nitzky. Multidisciplinary Studies Major • Born in Philadelphia, Pa. • Son of Karen Nitzky. • Has three older siblings, brother Derek and sisters Liz and Stacey. 2012 (RS-Junior) • Majoring in multidisciplinary studies. • Named an All-American on rings for the second-straight season after finishing sixth with a 14.750 in the NCAA Championship’s event finals. • Took third on pommel horse (14.650) and fourth on rings (15.150) at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Championship on April 7. • Claimed the pommel horse title against Air Force and Nebraska on March 17 with a 14.600. • Boasted two of the Sooners’ top six rings scores of the season (15.450 and 15.400). • Scored a career-best 14.850 on pommel horse during the team qualifier of the NCAA Championship on April 19. • Earned a career-high 14.450 on parallel bars in a win over Michigan on March 10. • Notched a season-best 15.450 on rings on March 3 against Stanford. • Competed in all 12 meets on pommel horse and rings. • One of OU’s three co-captains.

2011 (RS-sophomore) • Earned All-America honors on rings after posting a 15.200 at the 2011 NCAA Championships. • Tied for fifth on rings (15.300) at the MPSF Conference Championships. • Placed second on rings with a career-high 15.700 in win over Penn State and Illinois. • Took fifth on pommel horse (14.200) in win at Michigan. • Tied for seventh on pommel horse (14.150) against Cal. • Tied for third on rings in win at the Stanford Open with a score of 15.300. • Placed second on rings (14.900) in win at Nebraska. • Finished second on pommel horse (13.850) and first on rings (15.350) in win over Minnesota and Team Texas. • Finished fourth on pommel horse (14.050) and third on rings (15.250) in win over Ohio State. • Tied for fourth on rings with a 14.600 at the Rocky Mountain Open.

2010 (RS-freshman) • Tied for 22nd on rings with a score of 14.550 in the Team Finals of the NCAA Championships. career highs • Tied for 10th in MPSF Championship on rings with a score of Pommel Horse...... 14.850, April 19, 2012 at NCAA Qualifier 14.450 on rings. Rings...... 15.700, March 19, 2011, vs. Penn State & Illinois • Posted a 14.050 to finish seventh on pommel horse in win at Parallel Bars...... 14.450, March 10, 2012 vs. Michigan Ohio State. • Posted a 14.550 on rings to place sixth against Minnesota. • Recorded a 14.650 to finish fifth on rings in win against Nebraska.

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 61 Returning Gymnasts

stanton rehkemper RS-Sophomore | 5-7 Floor, High Bar Plano Senior HS | Plano, Texas World Olympic Gymnastics Academy Health and Exercise Science Major

2012 (RS-freshman) • Made his collegiate debut with a 13.450 on floor against Iowa on Feb. 25. • Scored career highs on floor (14.200) and high bar (14.400) against Air Force and Nebraska on March 17.

Club/High School • Competed at World Olympic Gymnastics Academy. • Coached by Yuri Kartsev. • Attended Plano Senior High School in Plano, Texas. • Participated in the Junior Olympic National Championships in 2008, ‘09 and ‘10.

Personal • Full name is Stanton Nicholas Rehkemper . • Born in Garland, Texas. • Son of Chris and Trina Rehkemper. • Has an older brother, Jarod, and a twin sister, Brianna. • Is an Eagle Scout. • Majoring in health and exercise science.

career highs Floor...... 14.200, March 17, 2012 vs. Air Force & Nebraska High Bar...... 14.400, March 17, 2012 vs. Air Force & Nebraska

62 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts Returning Gymnasts michael reid Sophomore | 5-6 Pommel Horse Killeen HS | Killeen,Texas Crenshaws Athletic Club Mechanical Engineering Major

2012 (freshman) • Claimed the pommel horse title at the Rocky Mountain Open on Jan. 14 with a 14.400. • Notched the Sooners’ top pommel score (15.000) of the year on Jan. 21 against Ohio State. • Scored OU’s fifth-best pommel horse score of the season (14.800) against Stanford on March 3. • Competed on pommel horse in 11 of OU’s 12 meets.

Club/High School • Competed at Crenshaws Athletic Club. • Coached by Eric Marburger. • Attended Killeen High School in Killeen, Texas. • Competed in the National Qualifier. • Region 3 team member.

Personal • Full name is Michael James Reid. • Born in Werzburg, Germany. • Son of Angela Manigault. • Majoring in mechanical engineering.

career highs Pommel Horse...... 15.000, Jan. 21, 2012 at Ohio State

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 63 Returning Gymnasts sergey resnick RS-Freshman | 5-4 Pommel Horse, Parallel Bars G.W. Carver HS | Houston, Texas Houston Gymnastics Academy Health and Exercise Science Major

2012 (freshman) • Did not compete, redshirted.

Club/High School • Competed at Houston Gymnastics Academy. • Coached by current OU assistant Norimasa Iwai. • Attended G.W. Carver High School in Houston, Texas. • Region 3 champion in 2011. • Finished in sixth place on pommel horse and12th place on parallel bars at Nationals in 2011.

Personal • Full name is Sergey Victor Resnick. • Born in Houston, Texas. • Son of Hannah Bilson and Victor Resnick • Has two older brothers, Erick and Thomas. • Majoring in health and exercise science.

64 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts Returning Gymnasts alec robin Sophomore | 5-6 All-Around Calabasas HS | Calabasas, Calif. Victory Gymnastics Academy Pre-Dental/Biology Major

2012 (freshman) • Earned a career-high 15.050 on floor to tie for sixth at the MPSF Championship on April 7. • Recorded a career-best 14.800 on vault on the road against California and Stanford on Feb. 12. • Scored a career-high 13.100 on pommel horse in a road win over Minnesota and Ohio State on March 24. • Competed on floor in all 12 of the Sooners’ meets along with eight meets on vault and two on pommel horse.

Club/High School • Competed at Victory Gymnastics Academy. • Coached by Ru-wei Jiang. • Attended Calabasas High School in Calabasas, Calif. • Four-time qualifier for the Junior Olympics National Championship. • Two-time qualifier for the Visa Championships. • Three-time member of the Region 1 regional team. • Nine-time member of the Southern California State Team.

Personal • Full name is Alec Thomas Robin. • Born in Tarzana, Calif. • Son of Steve and Tami Robin. • Has an older brother, Max, and a younger brother, Jake. • Majoring in pre-dental/biology and minoring in chemistry and Spanish.

career highs Floor...... 15.050, April 7, 2012 at MPSF Championships Pommel Horse...... 13.100, March 24, 2012 vs. Minnesota & Ohio State Vault...... 14.800, Feb. 12, at California & Stanford

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 65 Returning Gymnasts JACOBY RUBIN Sophomore | 5-3 All-Around Stevenson HS | Buffalo Grove,I ll. Buffalo Grove Gymnastics Center Undecided Major

2012 (Freshman) • Won three event titles in the 2012 season, the most of any OU freshman. • Claimed his first career parallel bars title on March 17 against Air Force and Nebraska with a career-high 14.950. • Won the high bar title against Iowa on Feb. 25 with a career-best 15.250. • Earned his first collegiate pommel horse title by scoring a career-high 14.800 against Minnesota and Ohio State on March 24. • Earned a career-high 15.000 on rings at the Rocky Moun- tain Open on Jan. 14. • Could not compete in the NCAA Championship after being diagnosed with mononucleosis. • Competed in 11 of OU’s 12 meets.

Club/High School • Competed at Buffalo Grove Gymnastics Center. • Coached by Leo Krivisky. • Attended Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Ill. • Member of the U.S. Junior National Team in 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2010. • Claimed second place in all-around in the junior division of the 2010 Visa Championships.

Personal • Full name is Jacoby Bennett Rubin. • Born in Chicago, Ill. • Son of Michael and Kelly Rubin. • Has an older sister, Samara, and an older brother, Hal. • Undecided on major.

career highs Pommel Horse.....14.800, 2x, Last: March 24, 2012 vs. Minnesota & Ohio State Rings...... 15.000, Jan. 14 at Rocky Mountain Open Parallel Bars...... 14.950, March 17, 2012 vs. Air Force & Nebraska High Bar...... 15.250, Feb. 25, 2012 vs. Iowa

66 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts Returning Gymnasts MICHAEL SQUIRES Sophomore | 5-2 Rings Edmond North HS | Edmond, Okla. Oklahoma Gold Gymnastics Petroleum Engineering Major

2012 (Freshman) • Scored a career-high 15.000 on rings on the road against California and Stanford on Feb. 12. • Scored a 14.700 on rings in the team finals of the 2012 NCAA Championship. • Competed on rings in 10 of OU’s 12 meets.

Club/High School • Competed at Oklahoma Gold Gymnastics. • Coached by Josh Grelle, Brandon Cottle and Jamie Henderson. • Region 3 Rings Champion in 2011. • Competed in the National Qualifier in 2010 and 2011. • Valedictorian (with distinction) at Edmond North High School in Edmond, Okla.

Personal • Full name is Michael Taylor Squires. • Born in Oklahoma City, Okla. • Son of Ron and Kristen Squires. • Has a younger brother, Andrew. • Majoring in petroleum engineering.

career highs rings...... 15.000, Feb. 12, 2012 at California & Stanford

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 67 Returning Gymnasts Personal • Full name is Chris Michael Stehl • Born in Syosset, N.Y. • Son of Robert and Susan Stehl. chris stehl • Has an older brother, Robbie, younger brothers, Michael and Senior | 5-5 Nicholas, and a younger sister, Summer. • Majoring in human relations. All-Around William B. Travis HS | Houston,Texas Cypress Academy Human Relations Major

2012 (Junior) • An All-American on rings after scoring a 14.900 in the NCAA Championship’s event finals. • Won six event titles in 2012, the second-most of any Sooner. • Won his first all-around title at the Rocky Mountain Open on Jan. 14, scoring an 83.000. • Also won parallel bars (14.500) and rings (15.700) titles at the Rocky Mountain Open. • Claimed the rings title with a career-high 15.750 against Iowa on Feb. 25. • Earned the rings title vs. Michigan on March 10 with a 15.400. • Scored a 15.000 on rings to take the event title against Air Force and Nebraska on March 17. • Earned a career-high 15.050 on floor in the team qualifier of the NCAA Championship on April 19. • Competed in all 12 of OU’s meets.

2011 (sophomore) • Scored a 14.350 on parallel bars in the NCAA Team Finals. • Placed 18th on parallel bars (14.350) at the MPSF Championship. • Finished in third on rings (14.800) in win at Michigan. • Claimed second on rings with a career high 15.500 in win against Cal. • Placed third on parallel bars (14.600) in win at Nebraska. • Posted the top score of the meet on parallel bars with a 14.050 in win of Minnesota and Team Texas. • Finished second on parallel bars with a 14.300 in win over Ohio State. • Placed eighth on parallel bars with a 14.100 at the Rocky Mountain Open.

2010 (freshman) • Competed in the NCAA Qualifier on pommel horse (13.650). • Scored a 13.650 on pommel horse in the NCAA Team Finals. • Finished fourth on pommel horse with a score of 13.650 against Nebraska. • Placed 11th on pommel horse at the Rocky Mountain Open with a score of 13.750.

Club/High School • Trained at Cypress Academy. career highs • Coached by Tom Meadows. All-Around...... 85.200, Feb. 13, 2011, at Nebraska • Attended William B. Travis High School in Richmond, Texas. Floor...... 15.050, April 19, 2012 at NCAA Qualifier • Finished fourth in all-around in 2007, eighth in the all-around Pommel Horse...... 14.400, March 5, 2011, vs. California in 2008 and fifth in the all-around in 2009 at the J.O. Rings...... 15.750, Feb. 25, 2012 vs. Iowa Nationals. Vault...... 14.800, Feb. 13, 2011, at Nebraska • Finished second on rings and parallel bars at the 2006 Visa Parallel Bars...... 14.750, March 19, 2011, vs. Penn State & Illinois Championship. High Bar...... 14.400, March 19, 2011, vs. Penn State & Illinois

68 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts Returning Gymnasts RAYMOND WHITE Junior | 5-4 All-Around John B. Connally HS | Austin, Texas Crenshaw Athletic Club Linguistics Major

2012 (Sophomore) • Won three event titles. • Took fourth place on floor exercise at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Championship, scoring a 15.150. • Won the floor title against Minnesota and Ohio State with a career-high 15.500 on March 24. • Claimed an event title on floor by earning a 15.350 against Air Force and Nebraska on March 17. • Won the pommel horse title on Feb. 25 against Iowa with a 14.750. • Scored a career-high 14.900 on pommel against Stanford on March 3. • Earned a season high of 15.000 on vault in the NCAA Championship’s team finals on April 20. • Competed in 10 of the Sooners’ 12 meets.

2011 (freshman) • Scored a 14.950 and 14.000 on floor and pommel horse, respectively in the NCAA Team Finals. • Placed eighth on pommel horse (14.050) at the MPSF Championships. • Earned fifth on floor (14.600) in win at Michigan. • Tied for fifth on vault with a 15.850 against Cal. • Placed fifth on pommel horse (14.500) in win at Stanford Open. • Took fourth on vault with a score of 15.600 in win over Ohio State. • Finished sixth on floor (14.400) and fifth on vault (15.800) at the Rocky Mountain Open.

Club/High School • Trained at Crenshaw Athletic Club. • Coached by Reed Crowe. • Attended John B. Connally High School in Austin, Texas. • Region Three floor champion. • Placed eighth in all-around in the Region Three Finals.

Personal • Full name is Raymond Gerard White, Jr. • Born in Austin, Texas. • Son of Anita Marie White and Raymond Gerald White, Sr. • Has one sister. career highs • Majoring in linguistics. Floor...... 15.500, Twice, Last: March 24, 2012 vs. Minnesota & Ohio State

Pommel Horse...... 14.900, March 3, 2012 vs. Stanford Rings...... 14.050, Feb. 25, 2012 at Iowa Vault...... 15.880, March 5, 2011, vs. California high bar...... 13.400, Feb. 12, 2012 at California & Stanford

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 69 newcomers todd dowdy kanji oyama Freshman | Freshman | 5-6 Floor, Vault, Rings All-Around Monarch HS | Superior, Colo. Marina HS | Huntington Beach, Calif. Xtreme Altitude Gymnastics SCATS Gymnastics Marketing Major Undecided Major

Club/High School Club/High School • Competed at Xtreme Altitude Gymnastics. • Trained at SCATS Gymnastics. • Attended Monarch High School. • Graduated from Marina High School. • Was vault and parallel champion at Regionals in 2012 Personal where he also finished 3rd in all-around. • Full name is Todd Dowdy. • Finished 10th in the all-around at the 2010 Nationals. • Born in San Jose, Calif. • Son of Rick and Linda Dowdy. Personal • Has two older sisters, Dana and Jill. • Originally from Japan. • Majoring in marketing. • Speaks fluent Japanese. • Son of Mari and Shoji Oyama. • Has an older sister, Eri, and two younger brothers, Kouji and Zenji. • Undecided on major.

josh yee Freshman | 5-7 All-Around Myron B. Thompson Academy | Mililani, Hawaii Hawaiian Island Twisters Health and Exercise Science Major

Club/High School • Trained at Hawaiian Island Twisters. • Coached by Mike Yee. • Graduated from Myron B. Thopmson Academy. • Finished 10th in the all-around, 7th in pommels, 7th in vault and 7th in parallel bars at the 2011 Visa Champion- ships.

Personal • Full name is Josh Yee. • Born in Mililani, Hawaii. • Son of Mark and Lori Yee. • Has two older brothers, Mark and Michael. • Majoring in Health and Exercise Science.

70 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts kanji oyama

2012 season in review 2012 Team and Event Titles

2012 INDIVIDUAL EVENT TITLES Michael Heredia (1) Jake Dalton (29) Vault (1): Mar. 17 vs Air Force & Nebraska 15.100 Floor (6): Mar. 10 vs Michigan 16.050 Mar. 3 vs Stanford 16.050 Michael Reid (1) Feb. 25 vs Iowa 16.100 Pommel (1): Jan. 14 Rocky Mountain Open 14.400 Feb. 12 at California & Stanford 15.600 Jan. 28 at Illinois & Michigan 15.900 Troy Nitzky (1) Jan. 21 at Ohio State 16.250 Pommel (1): Mar. 17 vs Air Force & Nebraska 14.600 Parallel Bars (7): Apr. 19 NCAA Qualifier 15.400 Apr. 7 MPSF Championships 15.300 Mar. 24 at Minnesota & Ohio State 15.200 2012 Team EVENT TITLES Mar. 10 vs Michigan 15.350 Floor (10): Apr. 19 NCAA Qualifier 60.150 Mar. 3 vs Stanford 15.550 Mar. 24 at Minnesota & Ohio State 61.100 Jan. 28 at Illinois & Michigan 15.300 Mar. 17 vs Air Force & Nebraska 60.200 Jan. 21 at Ohio State 15.100 Mar. 10 vs Michigan 61.250 All-Around (5): Apr. 20 NCAA Finals 91.000 Mar. 3 vs Stanford 60.050 Apr. 7 MPSF Championships 89.250 Feb. 25 vs Iowa 60.750 Mar. 3 vs Stanford 90.500 Feb. 12 at California & Stanford 59.500 Jan. 28 at Illinois & Michigan 88.400 Jan. 28 at Illinois & Michigan 60.500 Jan. 21 at Ohio State 89.000 Jan. 21 at Ohio State 61.600 High Bar (5): Apr. 7 MPSF Championships 15.200 Jan. 14 Rocky Mountain Open 57.300 Mar. 24 at Minnesota & Ohio State 15.300 Mar. 3 vs Stanford 15.000 Rings (9): Apr. 7 MPSF Championships 59.950 Jan. 21 at Ohio State 15.550 Mar. 24 at Minnesota & Ohio State 58.600 Jan. 14 Rocky Mountain Open 14.700 Mar. 17 vs Air Force & Nebraska 58.900 Vault (5): Apr. 20 NCAA Finals 15.500 Mar. 10 vs Michigan 60.350 Mar. 10 vs Michigan 15.550 Mar. 3 vs Stanford 60.550 Mar. 3 vs Stanford 15.350 Feb. 25 vs Iowa 60.750 Feb. 25 vs Iowa 15.250 Feb. 12 at California & Stanford 60.300 Jan. 21 at Ohio State 15.000 Jan. 21 at Ohio State 59.950 Rings (3): Apr. 7 MPSF Championships 15.300 Jan. 14 Rocky Mountain Open 57.600 Jan. 28 at Illinois & Michigan 15.300 Jan. 21 at Ohio State 15.200 Parallel Bars (8): Apr. 7 MPSF Championships 59.350 Mar. 24 at Minnesota & Ohio State 58.500 Chris Stehl (6) Mar. 17 vs Air Force & Nebraska 58.900 Rings (4): Mar. 17 vs Air Force & Nebraska 15.000 Mar. 10 vs Michigan 58.600 Mar. 10 vs Michigan 15.400 Mar. 3 vs Stanford 59.650 Feb. 25 vs Iowa 15.750 Feb. 25 vs Iowa 59.200 Jan. 14 Rocky Mountain Open 15.700 Jan. 28 at Illinois & Michigan 57.400 All-Around (1): Jan. 14 Rocky Mountain Open 83.000 Jan. 21 at Ohio State 57.150 Parallel Bars (1): Jan. 14 Rocky Mountain Open 14.500 High Bar (8): Apr. 7 MPSF Championships 58.750 Patrick Piscitelli (3) Mar. 24 at Minnesota & Ohio State 58.200 Floor (1): Jan. 14 Rocky Mountain Open 14.300 Mar. 17 vs Air Force & Nebraska 58.100 Vault (2): April 19 NCAA Qualifier 15.350 Mar. 10 vs Michigan 58.950 Jan. 14 Rocky Mountain Open 15.000 Mar. 3 vs Stanford 58.950 Feb. 25 vs Iowa 57.800 Jacoby Rubin (3) Jan. 21 at Ohio State 58.050 Parallel Bars (1): Mar. 17 vs Air Force & Nebraska 14.950 Jan. 14 Rocky Mountain Open 55.600 High Bar (1): Feb. 25 vs Iowa 15.250 Pommel (1): Mar. 24 at Minnesota & Ohio State 14.800 Vault (7): Apr. 20 NCAA Finals 61.200 Mar. 17 vs Air Force & Nebraska 59.800 Raymond White (3) Mar. 10 vs Michigan 59.600 Floor (2): Mar. 24 at Minnesota & Ohio State 15.500 Mar. 3 vs Stanford 59.650 Mar. 17 vs Air Force & Nebraska 15.350 Feb. 25 vs Iowa 59.100 Pommel (1): Feb. 25 vs Iowa 14.750 Jan. 21 at Ohio State 59.150 Jan. 14 Rocky Mountain Open 58.400 Dylan Akers (2) All-Around (1): Mar. 24 at Minnesota & Ohio State 83.100 Pommel (7): April 19 NCAA Qualifier 59.100 High Bar (1): Mar. 17 vs Air Force & Nebraska 14.650 Apr. 7 MPSF Championships 57.750 Mar. 24 at Minnesota & Ohio State 57.300 Danny Berardini (1) Mar. 10 vs Michigan 56.750 Parallel Bars (1): Feb. 25 vs Iowa 14.950 Feb. 25 vs Iowa 58.650 Jan. 21 at Ohio State 57.250 Presten Ellsworth (1) Jan. 14 Rocky Mountain Open 57.400 Floor (1): Apr. 19 NCAA Qualifier 15.100

72 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 72 88 NationalNational ChampionshipsChampionships • 1919 ConferenceConference ChampionshipsChampionships • 231231 All-AmericansAll-Americans • 77 Nissen-EmeryNissen-Emery AwardsAwards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 2012 Season results at Rocky Mountain Open (Jan. 14, 2012). FX PH SR V PB HB Total OKLAHOMA...... 55.400...... 55.600...... 61.900...... 58.400...... 55.600...... 56.800...... 343.700 Air Force...... 54.100...... 52.900...... 59.200...... 56.000...... 56.600...... 54.500...... 333.300 Nebraska...... 54.200 ...... 53.500 ...... 56.800 ...... 56.600 ...... 56.100 ...... 54.100 ...... 331.300 Arizona State...... 50.300...... 49.300...... 55.700...... 54.100...... 52.900...... 51.800...... 314.100 Washington...... 47.000...... 31.300...... 45.900...... 51.600...... 38.200...... 34.100...... 248.100 at Ohio State (Jan. 21, 2012) FX PH SR V PB HB Total OKLAHOMA...... 61.600...... 57.250...... 59.950...... 59.150...... 57.150...... 58.050...... 353.150 Ohio State...... 60.300...... 56.850...... 57.750...... 58.450...... 56.400...... 58.000...... 347.750 at Illinois (Jan. 29, 2012) FX PH SR V PB HB Total Illinois...... 58.200...... 55.200...... 59.100...... 58.900...... 57.000...... 61.400...... 349.800 OKLAHOMA...... 60.500...... 55.000...... 59.200...... 58.100...... 57.400...... 57.500...... 347.700 Michigan...... 57.800...... 55.800...... 55.900...... 57.700...... 55.900...... 56.000...... 339.100 at California (Feb. 12, 2012) FX PH SR V PB HB Total OKLAHOMA...... 59.500...... 57.500...... 60.300...... 59.100...... 56.700...... 58.500...... 351.600 California...... 56.000...... 59.200...... 58.200...... 59.200...... 57.300...... 59.500...... 349.000 Stanford...... 56.700...... 55.700...... 58.200...... 58.900...... 56.400...... 57.800...... 343.700

Iowa (Feb. 25, 2012) FX PH SR V PB HB Total OKLAHOMA...... 60.750...... 58.650...... 60.750...... 59.100...... 59.200...... 57.800...... 356.250 Iowa...... 55.650...... 54.800...... 58.800...... 56.550...... 55.000...... 53.600...... 334.400

Stanford (March 3, 2012) FX PH SR V PB HB Total OKLAHOMA...... 60.050...... 58.250...... 60.550...... 59.600...... 59.650...... 58.950...... 357.050 Stanford...... 59.950...... 58.550...... 58.550...... 59.200...... 58.000...... 57.150...... 351.400

Michigan (March 10, 2012) FX PH SR V PB HB Total OKLAHOMA...... 61.250...... 56.750...... 60.350...... 59.600...... 58.600...... 58.950...... 355.500 Michigan...... 60.000...... 56.250...... 58.050...... 59.050...... 57.600...... 57.400...... 348.950

Nebraska & Air Force (March 17, 2012) FX PH SR V PB HB Total OKLAHOMA...... 60.200 ...... 56.500 ...... 58.900 ...... 59.800 ...... 58.900 ...... 58.100 ...... 352.400 Nebraska...... 59.250 ...... 54.450 ...... 56.000 ...... 58.400 ...... 56.850 ...... 56.600 ...... 341.550 Air Force...... 56.550 ...... 53.000 ...... 55.950 ...... 56.450 ...... 53.000 ...... 53.000 ...... 327.950 at Minnesota (March 24, 2012) FX PH SR V PB HB Total OKLAHOMA...... 61.100 ...... 57.300 ...... 58.600 ...... 59.400 ...... 58.500 ...... 58.200 ...... 353.100 Minnesota...... 59.900 ...... 55.700 ...... 58.500 ...... 60.200 ...... 58.700 ...... 57.600 ...... 350.600 Ohio State...... 60.000 ...... 56.600 ...... 57.100 ...... 58.700 ...... 56.200 ...... 55.900 ...... 344.500 at MPSF Championships (April 7, 2012) FX PH SR V PB HB Total OKLAHOMA ...... 60.600 ...... 57.750 ...... 59.950 ...... 59.200 ...... 59.350 ...... 58.750 ...... 355.600 Stanford ...... 60.950 ...... 56.750 ...... 58.800 ...... 59.450 ...... 59.300 ...... 56.850 ...... 352.100 California ...... 59.650 ...... 56.300 ...... 58.100 ...... 59.300 ...... 57.450 ...... 55.150 ...... 345.950 Air Force ...... 55.900 ...... 54.750 ...... 57.400 ...... 56.850 ...... 55.850 ...... 55.200 ...... 335.950

NCAA Team Qualifier (April 19, 2012) FX PH SR V PB HB Total Illinois ...... 59.50 ...... 58.80 ...... 58.15 ...... 59.55 ...... 60.15 ...... 60.10 ...... 356.25 Oklahoma ...... 60.15 ...... 59.10 ...... 59.25 ...... 59.50 ...... 60.05 ...... 57.55 ...... 356.20 California ...... 59.15 ...... 56.50 ...... 56.50 ...... 59.70 ...... 59.45 ...... 59.85 ...... 351.15 Minnesota ...... 57.20 ...... 55.05 ...... 56.75 ...... 59.75 ...... 58.45 ...... 56.15 ...... 343.35 Temple ...... 57.30 ...... 56.20 ...... 55.85 ...... 58.15 ...... 56.30 ...... 55.55 ...... 339.45 Air Force ...... 56.35 ...... 56.10 ...... 53.15 ...... 57.35 ...... 56.40 ...... 54.40 ...... 333.75

NCAA Team Finals (April 20, 2012) FX PH SR V PB HB Total Illinois ...... 60.00 ...... 60.75 ...... 59.45 ...... 60.10 ...... 59.80 ...... 58.75 ...... 358.85 OKLAHOMA ...... 60.95 ...... 58.35 ...... 60.20 ...... 61.20 ...... 59.60 ...... 57.15 ...... 357.45 Penn State ...... 59.95 ...... 59.00 ...... 60.60 ...... 59.55 ...... 57.80 ...... 57.90 ...... 354.80 California ...... 59.70 ...... 60.00 ...... 57.90 ...... 59.25 ...... 57.80 ...... 58.35 ...... 353.00 Stanford ...... 61.25 ...... 58.90 ...... 57.60 ...... 60.10 ...... 56.60 ...... 58.20 ...... 352.65 Michigan ...... 59.80 ...... 57.10 ...... 57.15 ...... 59.40 ...... 59.10 ...... 58.50 ...... 351.05

88 NationalNational ChampionshipsChampionships • 1919 ConferenceConference ChampionshipsChampionships • 231231 All-AmericansAll-Americans • 77 Nissen-EmeryNissen-Emery AwardsAwards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 73 team and individual highs and lows team Highs and lows High Low Team Score 357.450 at NCAA Team Finals (4/20) 343.700 at Rocky Mountain Open (1/14) Floor 61.600 at Ohio State (1/21) 55.400 at Rocky Mountain Open (1/14) Pommel Horse 59.100 at NCAA Qualifier (4/19) 55.000 at Illinois & Michigan (1/28) Rings 61.900 at Rocky Mountain Open (1/14) 57.500 at California & Stanford (2/12) Vault 61.200 at NCAA Team Finals (4/20) 58.100 at Illinois & Michigan (1/28) Parallel Bars 60.050 at NCAA Qualifier (4/19) 55.600 at Rocky Mountain Open (1/14) High Bar 58.950 vs Michigan (3/10) 56.800 at Rocky Mountain Open (1/14) Margin of Victory 21.850 over Iowa (1/14) 2.200 over California (2/12) Margin of Defeat 2.100 to Illinois (1/28) 0.05 to Illinois (1/19)

individual highs All-Around Vault 91.000 Jake Dalton at NCAA Team Finals (4/20) 15.550 Jake Dalton at NCAA Team Finals (4/20) 90.500 Jake Dalton vs Stanford (3/3) Jake Dalton vs Michigan (3/10) 90.000 Jake Dalton vs Michigan (3/10) 15.350 Patrick Piscitelli at NCAA Qualifier (4/19) 89.250 Jake Dalton MPSF Championships (4/7) Jake Dalton vs Stanford (3/3) 89.000 Jake Dalton at Ohio State (1/22) 15.250 Mike Heredia at NCAA Team Finals (4/20) 88.400 Jake Dalton at Illinois & Michigan (1/28) Patrick Piscitelli at NCAA Team Finals (4/20) Jake Dalton vs Iowa (2/25) Floor Exercise 15.200 Patrick Piscitelli at Minnesota & Ohio State (3/24) 16.250 Jake Dalton at Ohio State (1/21) 16.100 Jake Dalton vs Iowa (2/25) Parallel Bars 16.050 Jake Dalton vs Stanford (3/3) 15.550 Jake Dalton vs Stanford (3/3) Jake Dalton vs Michigan (3/10) 15.500 Jake Dalton at NCAA Team Finals (4/20) 15.950 Jake Dalton at NCAA Event Finals (4/21) 15.400 Jake Dalton at NCAA Qualifier (4/19) 15.900 Jake Dalton at Illinois & Michigan (1/28) 15.350 Jake Dalton vs Michigan (3/10) 15.800 Jake Dalton MPSF Championships (4/7) 15.300 Jake Dalton at Illinois & Michigan (1/28) 15.750 Jake Dalton at NCAA Team Finals (4/20) Jake Dalton MPSF Championships (4/7) 15.250 Jake Dalton at NCAA Event Finals (4/21) Pommel Horse 15.200 Jake Dalton vs Minnesota & Ohio State (3/24) 15.000 Michael Reid at Ohio State (1/21) 15.150 Danny Berardini at NCAA Qualifier (4/19) 14.950 Dylan Akers vs Stanford (3/3) 15.100 Jake Dalton at Ohio State (1/21) 14.900 Dylan Akers at NCAA Qualifier (4/19) Raymond White vs Stanford (3/3) High Bar 14.850 Troy Nitzky at NCAA Qualifier (4/19) 15.550 Jake Dalton at Ohio State (1/21) 14.800 Raymond White at NCAA Team Finals (4/20) 15.400 Jake Dalton at NCAA Team Finals (4/20) Jacoby Rubin vs Minnesota & Ohio State (2/24) 15.300 Jake Dalton vs Minnesota & Ohio State (3/24) Jacoby Rubin at California & Stanford (2/12) 15.250 Jake Dalton at NCAA Qualifier (4/19) Michael Reid vs Stanford (3/3) Jacoby Rubin vs Iowa (2/25) 15.200 Jake Dalton MPSF Championships (4/7) Still Rings 15.000 Jake Dalton vs Stanford (3/3) 15.750 Chirs Stehl vs Iowa (2/25) Jake Dalton at California & Stanford (2/12) 15.700 Chris Stehl at Rocky Mountain Open (1/14) 14.950 Jacoby Rubin vs Stanford (3/3) 15.550 Jake Dalton vs Stanford (3/3) 15.500 Jake Dalton at Rocky Mountain Open (1/14) 15.450 Troy Nitzky vs Stanford (3/3) 15.400 Troy Nitzky at Rocky Mountain Open (1/14) Chris Stehl vs Michigan (3/10) 74 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 88 NationalNational ChampionshipsChampionships • 1919 ConferenceConference ChampionshipsChampionships • 231231 All-AmericansAll-Americans • 77 Nissen-EmeryNissen-Emery AwardsAwards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 2012 Meet-by-Meet resuLts

Jan. 14 ● Cadet West Gymnasium ● Colorado Springs, Colo. Jan. 21 ● St. John Arena ● Columbus, Ohio Oklahoma 343.700 Oklahoma 353.150 air force 333.300 Ohio state 347.750

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The No. 3 University of Oklahoma men’s gymnastics team continued Nebraska 331.300 its hot start to the 2012 season by taking down No. 2 Ohio State on Saturday in Colum- arizona state bus, Ohio, 353.150-347.750. 314.100 The Sooners (5-0, 1-0 MPSF) swept all six team event titles and scored almost 10 points higher than their season-opener total in Colorado last weekend. COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The University of Oklahoma men’s gymnastics team clinched its 13th-straight Rocky Mountain Open title Saturday at the U.S. Air Force Academy in “I think we’re going to be a good team,” said OU Head Coach Mark Williams. “I was a little Colorado Springs, Colo. frustrated at times that we were giving away more than we should have. I’m certainly happy for the victory, but we have a lot to do to be a good team and we have a lot more The Sooners, ranked No. 1 in the GymInfo Preseason Coaches Poll, posted a team score of work to do to actually get there.” 343.700, edging out second-place Air Force (333.300) by 10.400 points. Nebraska took third place with a 331.300 followed by club teams from Arizona State (314.100) and OU was led by junior Jake Dalton, who took home five event titles (floor, rings, vault, Washington (248.100). Members of the U.S. Olympic Training Center also competed but parallel bars and high bar) along with the all-around title with an 89.000. their results are not official. “I definitely saw a jump from last weekend,” said Dalton. “I had a few mistakes last “It always means a lot for us to start the season off strong and with a win,” said junior weekend and I had a couple of mistakes tonight as well, but our team is really coming Jake Dalton. “We came in and we did what we wanted to do. We’ve put a lot of effort into together. We’re staying strong and fighting through the whole meet. We came out with a the gym since coming back from Christmas break. We wanted to come in here and hit win and that’s what we’re looking to do.” our routines. We had a few mistakes, with it being the first meet of the season, but that keeps the fire under our feet as we head back to the gym to fix those mistakes.” Oklahoma began the dual on pommel horse, scoring a 57.250. The Sooners were led on the apparatus by freshmen Michael Reid (15.000) and Jacoby Rubin (14.600), both As a team, Oklahoma claimed the top score on floor, pommel horse, rings, vault and high posting career highs. bar. After trailing Ohio State through one event by 3.050, the Sooners collected a 61.600 on Individually, four Sooners took home a combined six event titles: Chris Stehl (rings, floor and took a 118.850-117.150 lead after two rotations. Raymond White (15.500), parallel bars), Patrick Piscitelli (floor, vault), Dalton (high bar) and Michael Reid (pommel Dylan Akers (14.950) and Alec Robin (14.900) all set career highs on floor, while Dalton horse). tied his personal best of 16.250. Since 2000, Oklahoma has won at least two individual event titles in each year of the OU extended its lead in the third rotation with a 59.150 on vault behind Dalton’s 15.000 Rocky Mountain and has swept the individual titles five times (2001, 2006, 2008, 2009, and Michael Heredia’s 14.800. Oklahoma scored a 59.150 on rings with three gymnasts 2012). posting scores of 15.000 or higher on rings; Dalton (15.200), Nitzky (15.100) and Stehl (15.000). Stehl, the only Sooner to compete in all-around, collected an 83.000 to take first place. In the past 13 seasons, all of the Rocky Mountain Open all-around champions have been Dalton led Oklahoma on high bar in the fifth rotation with a career-best 15.550 to help Sooner gymnasts. the Sooners score a 58.050 in the event.

“Starting the season with winning the all-around is just amazing,” said Stehl. “I couldn’t The Sooners clinched the victory with a 57.150 on parallel bars with top scores coming have done it without my teammates, they were backing me up the entire way. The from Dalton (15.100) and Rubin (14.500). energy level was just amazing.” The dual marked Ohio State’s first home meet under former OU assistant Rustam The Sooners opened the meet on rings, where they scored a 61.900, improving on last Sharipov. The Buckeyes’ first-year head coach spent six seasons in Norman as an assistant year’s season-best of 61.250. Stehl set a Rocky Mountain Open record with a career-high coach from 2005-2011 and helped coach the Sooners to NCAA titles in 2006 and 2008. 15.700. Dalton (15.500) and Patrick Piscitelli (15.300) also boasted career highs on rings. “It was great to see my old friend Rustam,” said Williams. “He put on a great competition On vault, Oklahoma posted a 58.400. Three of the Sooners’ four counting scores came for his first home meet as their new head coach.” from freshmen, with Alec Robin scoring a 14.600 and Danny Berardini and Dylan Akers each earning a 14.400. Piscitelli led the Sooners with a 15.000. As of this season, the NCAA is having judges score the vault one full point lower per gymnast than in the past. Stehl led the Sooners on parallel bars with a 14.500 followed by freshman Jacoby Rubin with a 14.400. As a team, Oklahoma scored a 55.600 on the apparatus. On high bar, Oklahoma scored a 56.800 behind Dalton’s 14.700 and Rubin’s 14.500. The Sooners scored a 55.400 on floor exercise with Piscitelli leading the squad with a 14.300. OU ended the night on pommel horse, posting a 55.600. Freshman Michael Reid led the Sooners with a 14.400, winning his first career event title. “I think this showed that we have a lot of heart,” said Dalton. “If there’s a mess up, we have the next guy to pick it up and step up. Nobody gave up and everyone fought to the end. We started strong and finished strong, which is something we wanted to do.” 88 NationalNational ChampionshipsChampionships • 1919 ConferenceConference ChampionshipsChampionships • 231231 All-AmericansAll-Americans • 77 Nissen-EmeryNissen-Emery AwardsAwards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 75 2012 Meet-by-meet results Jan. 28 ● Huff Hall● Champaign, Ill. Feb. 12 ● Haas Pavilion ● Berkeley, Calif. illinois 349.800 Oklahoma 351.600 Oklahoma 347.700 California 349.000 michigan 339.100 stanford 343.700

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The top-ranked University of Oklahoma men’s gymnastics team BERKELEY, Calif. -- After suffering a tough road loss to Illinois two weeks ago, the top- suffered its first loss of the season, falling to No. 2 Illinois on Saturday, 349.800-347.700. ranked Oklahoma men’s gymnastics team got right back to business by taking down No. No. 7 Michigan scored a 339.100 to take third place in the triangular meet, held in 7 California and No. 5 Stanford at Sunday’s tri-meet in Berkeley, Calif. Champaign, Ill. The Sooners (8-1, 3-0 MPSF) boasted a 351.600 total to top California’s 349.400 and Oklahoma led the Fighting Illini through the first five of the six rotations before Illinois Stanford’s 343.700. OU posted the night’s top team scores on floor and rings while junior scored a 61.400 on high bar to knock off the nation’s No. 1-ranked team. The tri-meet Jake Dalton won the floor exercise title with a 15.600. marked the Sooners (6-1, 1-0 MPSF) first regular-season loss since falling to Stanford on March 7, 2010. Oklahoma began the meet on parallel bars, where freshman Danny Berardini’s career- high 14.300 led the Sooners to a team score of 56.700. “Illinois had a pretty electric atmosphere,” said OU Head Coach Mark Williams. “The home team took advantage of that and came away with the victory because they wanted it Freshman Dylan Akers notched a career-best 14.600 on high bar, helping OU score more. We gave things away, little by little. We started well in the first few events but then 58.500, its best high bar score this season. we started to have some uncharacteristic mistakes. We have to do better at finishing and being the team that wants to win.” The Sooners had a strong showing on floor behind Dalton’s meet-leading 15.600 and freshman Alec Robin’s 14.800, scoring a 59.500.The top five floor scores of the meet all Despite taking second in the overall meet, the Sooners still took event titles on floor and came from OU gymnasts. parallel bars. OU junior Jake Dalton claimed three event titles - floor, rings and parallel bars - along with the all-around title with an 88.400. Through three meets, Dalton has Oklahoma had its best performance on pommel horse this season with a 57.500. accumulated two all-around titles and 10 event titles. Freshman Jacoby Rubin and Akers each recorded career bests with a 14.800 and 14.600, respectively. The Sooners began the night by posting a 59.200 rings to take an early lead. Dalton led Oklahoma with a 15.300 followed by junior Chris Stehl (14.900) and freshman Michael Three Sooners scored over a 15.000 on rings to score a 60.300. Dalton and junior Chris Squires (14.600). Junior Presten Ellsworth tied a career best with a 14.400. Stehl both earned a 15.200 while freshman Michael Squires scored a career-high 15.000.

Oklahoma totaled a 60.200 on floor behind a 15.900 from Dalton and a 15.200 for sopho- OU concluded the meet by scoring a 59.100 on vault behind sophomore Raymond White’s more Raymond White. Senior Michael Heredia set a career high with a 14.700. 14.900 and junior Presten Ellsworth’s and Robin’s season highs of 14.800 each.

Freshman Dylan Akers posted a career-best 13.900 on pommel horse to lead the Sooners Oklahoma competes in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) for men’s gymnas- in their 55.000 showing on the apparatus. Freshman Jacoby Rubin scored a 13.900 and tics, a hybrid conference that also features Air Force, California and Stanford, making the White earned a 13.700. Sooners win over the pair of west coast schools even more important.

On high bar, the Sooners scored a 57.500 with Dalton claiming the team’s best score of 14.900. Freshmen Rubin (14.600) and William Clement (14.400) each scored career highs.

After four rotations, Oklahoma led Illinois by a narrow margin of 232.200-231.400. The Sooners put together a 58.100 on vault after White notched a season-best 14.900 to extend their lead to 290.300-288.400 with one rotation remaining.

Oklahoma concluded the meet with a 57.400 on parallel bars, but it wasn’t enough to match the Fighting Illini’s 61.400 on high bar in the sixth rotation. Illinois’ high bar total, fueled by C.J. Maestas’ 15.600 and Paul Ruggeri’s 16.000, gave the Illini their first lead of the meet and with it, the victory.

“Obviously, we have to get better,” said Williams. “There are events that, as a team, we did poorly. We can’t give things away like that and expect to be in the hunt at the end with the best teams.”

76 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 2012 Meet-by-Meet resuLts

Feb. 25 ● McCasland Field House ● Norman, Okla. March 3 ● McCasland Fieldhouse ● Norman, Okla. Oklahoma 356.250 Oklahoma 357.050 Iowa 334.400 Stanford 351.400

NORMAN, Okla. -- After starting its first five weeks of the 2012 season on the road, the NORMAN, Okla. -- – In a battle between two of the most dominant programs in top-ranked Oklahoma men’s gymnastics team finally got a chance to compete in front of collegiate gymnastics, the top-ranked Oklahoma men’s gymnastics team took down a home crowd on Saturday night, scoring a season-best score of 356.250 to take down defending national champion Stanford on Saturday night at the McCasland Field House. No. 12 Iowa at the McCasland Field House. Oklahoma’s team total 357.050 was the highest of any NCAA program this season and Oklahoma, the No. 1-ranked team in the GymInfo rankings for the past five straight it easily topped the Cardinal’s 351.400. The Sooners won event titles in five events and weeks, improved to 9-1 in the home opener win, topping Iowa’s 334.400 total. captain Jake Dalton claimed four individual event titles (floor, vault, parallel bars and high bar) in addition to winning the all-around title with a season-high 90.500. “I was happy with our team’s energy and their fight,” said Head Coach Mark Williams. “In terms of team performance I was really happy with the way things went. We still had “I feel like this team has improved almost every week,” said OU Head Coach Mark quite a few mistakes, but we didn’t necessarily have to count any of those. We’re still in Williams. “This is how you win championships, by putting together a competition like the middle of the season and still working on some of that stuff, but in the end we came up with our highest score of the season. I’m very pleased with that.” this. There’s still work to be done, but overall we’re in a good place right now and I’m really happy about the performance.” Oklahoma won the team title in all six events along with five Sooners combining to win all six individual titles – Jake Dalton (floor, vault), Raymond White (pommel horse), Chris The Sooners (10-1, 4-0 MPSF) started the meet by notching a 60.060 on floor exercise. Stehl (rings), Danny Berardini (parallel bars) and Jacoby Rubin (high bar). Oklahoma, ranked No. 1 in the nation on floor, scored over a 60 in the event for the fourth time this season. The Sooners topped Stanford’s floor score of 59.950, claiming its 23rd- The Sooners began their home debut with a hot start on the floor exercise, totaling a straight floor title. 60.750, their second highest floor score of the season. Oklahoma has won the floor title in 23 consecutive regular season meets. Dalton, the 2011 NCAA floor champion, won the event title with a 16.050, scoring over a 16 for the third time this season. Four Sooners either tied or broke career highs on floor, including a 14.950 by freshman Alec Robin and a 14.850 by senior Michael Heredia. OU was led in the event by Dalton’s Freshman Dylan Akers (14.950) and Raymond White (14.900) both scored career highs meet-best 16.100. on pommel horse to lead the Sooners to a 58.25 on the apparatus. The Cardinal posted a 58.550 on the horse, the only event it won, to lead the Sooners by 0.2 points after two Oklahoma kept up its strong start on pommel horse, where it recorded a season-best rotations, 118.5-118.3. 58.650 behind three individual career highs. Sophomore Raymond White led the Sooners with a career-high 14.750. Freshmen Jacoby Rubin and Dylan Akers each scored a 14.650 The Cardinal’s lead didn’t last long, as Oklahoma reclaimed first place in the third rotation on the apparatus. with a 60.550 on rings behind Dalton’s career-high 15.550 and junior Troy Nitzky’s season-high 15.450. The Sooners are back at home next Saturday when they host defending national champion Stanford on at the McCasland Field House. OU defeated the Cardinal in a The Sooners extended their lead with a 59.600 on vault behind career highs from senior conference tri-meet in Berkeley, Calif., on Feb. 12, 351.600-343.700. Mike Heredia (14.950) and Akers (14.600). Dalton, the 2011 NCAA vault champion, Chris Stehl nailed a 15.750 on rings, the highest score in the event by a Sooner this claimed the event title with a season-high 15.350. season, to lead OU to a 60.750. Stehl was one of four Sooners to set a personal best on rings. Oklahoma also saw high scores from junior Troy Nitzky with a 15.350 and Dalton’s Picking up on the momentum headed into the final two rotations, the Sooners scored 15.000. their highest parallel bars score of the season with a 59.650. Dalton led the way for OU with a season-high 15.550 to take his third event title of the night while sophomore Oklahoma totaled a 59.100 on vault, just .05 points shy of its season best. Dalton, the Preseten Ellsworth set a career-high on parallel bars for the second week in a row with a 2011 NCAA vault champion, took the event title with a 15.250. Heredia hit his vault for a 14.750. 14.900, a career-best after calculating the scoring change from this offseason. In the final rotation, the Sooners sealed the victory with a 58.950 on high bar behind Presten Ellsworth, Dylan Akers, Rubin and Berardini all posted career-high scores of over Dalton’s 15.000 and Rubin’s 14.950. 14.700, including a 14.950 from Berardini. The Sooners were able to set the season-high score on parallel bars without Dalton competing in the event lineup. Dalton holds OU’s “Ending the meet on high bar was great,” said Williams. “It was so exciting for the crowd two highest individual scores on p-bars this season. and for the team. We stuck five out of six dismounts.”

Oklahoma concluded the night on high bar, notching a 57.800 behind Rubin’s career-best Dalton agreed that the Sooners performance is right on track to compete for a national 15.250. title.

The Sooners saw a lot of high scores from their freshman-filled lineup in their home “I think we’re definitely going to be in contention for the national championship,” said debut. Dalton. “This meet helped prove it because we came out here and did our job, although we still made mistakes. Scoring over a 357 and still having mistakes is proof that we’re “I think the younger guys really got a feel for what our team is about,” said Dalton, one of the three captains. “They learned how to get on a roll and keep that roll going the whole here to compete for that No. 1 spot. We’re going to go back in the gym and work hard to meet. It’s a little hard to do that at other competitions. We’ve done it here and there but keep the ball rolling the rest of the season. We’re not giving up and we’re going to keep I think tonight was the best because we started, got on a roll and kept it going. They’re starting to click and starting to get experience. That’s exactly what we need.”

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 77 2012 Meet-by-meet results March 10 ● Lloyd Noble Center ● Norman, Okla. March 17 ● McCasland Fieldhouse ● Norman, Okla. oklahoma 355.500 oklahoma 352.400 michigan 348.950 nebraska 341.550

NORMAN, Okla. -- The top-ranked Oklahoma men’s gymnastics team continued its hot streak with a 355.500-348.950 win over No. 8 Michigan at the Lloyd Noble Center on air force 327.950 Saturday. NORMAN, Okla. -- The top-ranked Oklahoma men’s gymnastics team closed out its The Sooners (11-1, 4-0 MPSF) totaled over a 355 for the third consecutive meet and four-meet homestand with a tri-meet win over No. 9 Nebraska and No. 11 Air Force on swept all six events in their win over the eighth-ranked Wolverines (6-6, 4-3 Big Ten). Saturday at the McCasland Field House. Oklahoma, who normally competes at the McCasland Field House, hosted the meet at the The Sooners (13-1, 5-0 MPSF) posted a 352.400 to top the Huskers (341.550) and Falcons Lloyd Noble Center to preview the venue for the 2012 NCAA Championships, held at the (327.950) without the contribution of the nation’s top all-around gymnast, Jake Dalton. LNC on April 19-21. The OU junior is competing for Team USA this weekend at the Kellogg’s Pacific Rim Championships in Everett, Wash. “We’re on track,” said OU Head Coach Mark Williams. “There are still a few little mistakes that we made and need to fix, but overall I have to be pleased with this dry-run Without Dalton, Oklahoma still managed to sweep all six event titles with six Sooners performance before we come in here to compete in the NCAA Championships. The guys winning individual titles - Raymond White (floor), Troy Nitzky (pommel horse), Chris handled the new environment well.” Stehl (rings), Michael Heredia (vault), Jacoby Rubin (parallel bars) and Dylan Akers (high bar). Junior Jake Dalton claimed three individual event titles on floor, vault and a shared title on parallel bars but barely fell to Michigan’s Sam Mikulak in the all-around, 90.300- “I think it was a great way to send our seniors out,” said OU Head Coach Mark Williams. 90.000. Mikulak, who tied Dalton for the p-bars crown, also took event titles on pommel “We were without Jake Dalton, our biggest scorer for a lot of our events, so we gave horse and high bar. opportunities to some different guys and they responded really well. We had a great hit percentage and energy throughout the meet. Overall, I was very pleased with everyone’s Dalton and Mikulak, both members of the U.S. National Team, will compete as performance.” teammates next week at the 2012 Kellogg’s Pacific Rim Championships in Everett, Wash., as part of Team USA’s three-man lineup. The meet served as the final home event at the McCasland Field House for seniors Mike Heredia, Patrick Piscitelli and Chad Crumley. The three Sooners never lost a meet at the The Sooners began the meet on floor exercise, totaling a 61.250 behind Dalton’s 16.050 McCasland Field House during their time in a Sooner uniform. and senior Michael Heredia’s career-best 15.150. Oklahoma began the meet by topping a 60 on floor for the fourth-straight meet and Oklahoma, the top-ranked team on floor, has scored over a 60 in the event in five of its sixth time this season with a 60.200. OU, the nation’s No. 1 team on floor, claimed the past six meets. The Sooners have won the floor title in each of its last 25 regular-season event’s title for the 26th consecutive regular-season meet. meets. Sophomore Raymond White (15.350) and seniors Mike Heredia (15.050) and Patrick In the second rotation, OU posted a 56.750 on pommel horse, its lowest score on the Piscitelli (15.000) led the Sooners with a trio of scores of 15 or higher. apparatus since Jan. 28 at Illinois. Freshmen Jacoby Rubin (14.450) and Michael Reid (14.350) earned the Sooners’ top scores. The Sooners put up a 56.500 on pommel horse behind Troy Nitzky’s 14.600 and Jacoby Rubin’s 14.450. After two rotations, the Sooners led the second-place Huskers by a Chris Stehl (15.400), Troy Nitzky (15.200) and Dalton (15.100) led the Sooners to a 60.350 margin of 1.450 points, 116.700-115.250. on rings, topping a 60 on rings for the third-straight meet. Nitzky, an All-American on rings, has scored a 15.350 or higher during that streak. Stehl picked up his third rings title Oklahoma quickly began to pull away in the next rotation by posting a 58.900 on rings. of the season. Stehl took the event title with a 15.000 followed by a career-high 14.800 by Presten Ellsworth. In the fourth rotation, the Sooners scored a season-high 59.600 on vault for the second- straight week. Dalton led the way with a season-high 15.550 followed by Heredia’s On vault, the Sooners totaled a season-best 59.800 behind Heredia’s 15.100 and 14.900. Piscitelli’s 15.050. Oklahoma topped a 59 on vault for the fifth consecutive meet. On parallel bars, Dalton took the event title with a 15.350 to lead the Sooners to a 58.600 The Sooners pieced together a 58.900 on parallel bars in the fifth rotation behind career total. Danny Berardini collected a 14.500 and Nitzky scored a career-high 14.450. highs from Rubin (14.950) and Ellsworth (14.900). Oklahoma closed the meet on high bar with a 58.100 to seal the victory. Freshman Dylan The Sooners clinched the victory with a 58.950 on high bar in the final rotation behind Akers led the meet with a 14.650 on the apparatus to take the event title. Dalton’s 14.900. Freshmen Dylan Akers (14.800) and William Clement (14.700) each scored career highs. The meet marked the fourth-straight and final home event of the regular season. During the stretch, Oklahoma has rolled to victories over Iowa (356.250-334.400), Stanford (357.050-351.400), Michigan (355.500-348.950) and now Nebraska and Air Force, averaging 355.300 points a meet. Out of 24 events from the four meets, the Sooners claimed titles in 23, failing to top an opponent only once (pommel horse vs. Stanford).

78 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 2012 Meet-by-Meet resuLts

March 24 ● Sports Pavilion ● Minneapolis, Minn. April 7 ● Cadet West Gymnasium ● Colorado Springs, Colo. oklahoma 353.100 oklahoma 355.600 Minnesota 350.600 California 352.100 Ohio State 344.500 stanford 345.950 MINNEAPOLIS – The No. 1 Oklahoma men’s gymnastics team capped another dominant regular season by taking down No. 5 Minnesota and No. 6 Ohio State on Saturday night air force 335.950 in Minneapolis. COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The eighth conference championship in the last 10 years While Oklahoma improved to 15-1 overall, it wasn’t easy. After going back and forth all came on Saturday for the second-ranked Oklahoma men’s gymnastics team behind a meet, the Sooners totaled a 353.100 to edge the Gophers’ season-best 350.600, while dominating performance by junior Jake Dalton, who collected four individual titles. the Buckeyes (344.500) took third. OU won its 19th conference title after posting a 356.600 at the Mountain Pacific Sports The meet came down to the wire with Oklahoma and Minnesota tied at 294.900 heading Federation (MPSF) Championship at the Air Force Academy. Since head coach Mark into the final rotation before the Sooners posted a 58.200 on high bar to seal the victory. Williams took over the program in 2000, the Sooners have claimed 10 MPSF team titles. “We did a decent job,” said OU Head Coach Mark Williams. “Being on the road was an Defending MPSF champion No. 3 Stanford took second with a 352.100 followed by No. 7 adjustment after having our last four meets at home. We definitely left the door open in California (345.950) and No. 12 Air Force (335.950). The MPSF is a hybrid conference for terms of not having the best performance I thought we could’ve had. Our hit percentage school’s that belong to conferences which don’t sponsor men’s gymnastics. was down, our sticking of landings was down. We just didn’t improve from the past two meets we’ve had.” “We’re really excited,” said OU Head Coach Mark Williams. “The guys stringed together a great competition and really stepped it up to put together a fantastic performance, from The Sooners claimed event titles on floor, pommel horse, rings and high bar with Jake the first guy that went to the very end. We’re going to enjoy this one through tonight and Dalton taking event titles on parallel bars and high bar and Raymond White claiming the start thinking about the NCAA Championship tomorrow.” floor title. Dylan Akers took the all-around title with an 83.100. Following the meet, Williams was named the MPSF’s Coach of the Year. With the nation-best 15-1 record, the Sooners finished the season with one or less loss for the 11th time in the past 12 years. Dalton, who was crowned the conference’s Gymnast of the Year, claimed his second- straight MPSF all-around title with a 89.250 in a dominant performance. Dalton placed in Oklahoma’s one loss of the season came to then-No. 2 Illinois on Jan. 28 in Champaign, the top-two in all five of the events he counted, with conference titles on rings, parallel Ill. Since the lone loss, OU has gone 9-0 over a stretch of six meets, defeating seven top- bars and high bar and second-place finishes on floor and vault. 10 opponents, including three in the top five. With Dalton’s four conference titles, the Sooners now have 111 individual conference Oklahoma started the meet off strong with four Sooners posting career highs on titles, including 42 under Williams. floor exercise to total a 61.100, its third-highest score of the season. Dalton, the nation’s top gymnast on floor and gold medalist in the event at last week’s Pacific Rim “Today went really,” said Dalton. “Today was all about the team, with everybody going Championships, did not compete in OU’s floor lineup. in there and doing our job. I tried to make myself a part of that, doing my job. Everybody backed me up and I backed them up, just like our team is supposed to do.” The Sooners were led by White’s career-high-tying 15.500 along with career bests by Dylan Akers (15.300), Presten Ellsworth (15.000) and Chris Stehl (14.900). Senior Patrick “The season isn’t over though,” added Dalton. “We have one more meet and it’s the big Piscitelli scored a season-high 15.100. one. We still have work to do.” Oklahoma, the nation’s top-ranked team on floor, won the event title in all nine of its Oklahoma took an early lead in the first rotation by posting a 59.950 on rings behind regular-season meets, scoring over a 60 in seven meets. The Sooners have claimed the Dalton’s 15.300 and Troy Nitzky’s 15.150. The Sooners kept it rolling in the second floor title in 27 straight regular-season meets, dating back to 2009. rotation with a 59.200 on vault. Dalton led the Sooners with a 15.150 followed by Patrick Piscitelli’s 14.950 and Raymond White’s 14.600. After struggling to surpass a 57 on pommel horse for two consecutive meets, the Sooners scored a 57.300 in their weakest event. Rubin scored a 14.800 followed by Michael Reid’s OU posted its second-best parallel bars score of the season (59.200) behind Dalton’s 14.400 and Troy Nitzky’s 14.300. 15.300 and Danny Berardini’s career-high 15.050. After two rotations, the Golden Gophers narrowly led Oklahoma 118.700-118.400. Oklahoma scored its second-best high bar score of the year in the fourth rotation with a 58.750. Dalton led the Sooners with a 15.200 along with Akers’ 14.800. Dalton then Oklahoma’s woes continued in third rotation with a 58.600 on rings, an event it normally nailed a 15.800 on floor exercise to lead the Sooners to a 60.950 event total. scores over a 59 in. Nitzky posted a team-best 15.100 and Stehl scored a 14.600. Carrying a 297.850-292.800 lead over Stanford into the final rotation, the Sooners Minnesota posted a 58.700 on parallel bars to extend its lead to four-tenths of a point, needed a big night on its weakest event, pommel horse, to hold off the defending MPSF 177.400-177.000. and NCAA champs. The Sooners picked it up on vault with a 59.400 to retake the lead, 236.400-235.000. Oklahoma stepped up and totaled a 57.750 on horse behind Nitzky’s career-high 14.650 Piscitelli led Oklahoma with a season-best 15.200 followed by William Clement’s career- to seal the conference title. high 14.800. Through four rotations, the Sooners hadn’t seen action from Dalton, the nation’s top all-around gymnast. The junior captain sat out on four events to help rest before the start of the postseason.

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 79 2012 Meet-by-meet results April 19 ● Lloyd Noble Center ● Norman, Okla. April 20 ● Lloyd Noble Center ● Norman, Okla. illinois 356.25 illinois 358.85 oklahoma 356.20 oklahoma 357.45 california 351.15 Penn State 354.80 minnesota 343.35 California 353.00 Temple 339.45 Stanford 352.65 air force 333.75 Michigan 351.05

NORMAN, Okla. - No. 1 Oklahoma advanced to the team finals of the NCAA Men’s Gym- NORMAN, Okla. - The Oklahoma men’s gymnastics team captured second place at the nastics Championship after posting a 356.20 in the national qualifier on Thursday night 2012 NCAA Championship, narrowly falling to Illinois, 358.85-357.45 Friday night. at the Lloyd Noble Center. Since 2001, the Sooners have finished in the top two of the NCAA Championship 10 Oklahoma (22-2) finished second and will compete for its ninth national title on Friday times. night at 7 p.m. on its home floor. The Sooners have won five national championships since 2002, all under current head coach Mark Williams. Oklahoma junior Jake Dalton claimed the all-around title with a score of 91.00. Dalton has won three individual NCAA titles during his three seasons at OU, claiming both floor “I was pleased with the performance tonight,” said Williams. “Our goal was to qualify and and vault in 2011. be in the top three teams. Some events, we exceeded our expectations for tonight. I was real happy with the pommel horse, as a team. We still have room to get better. I held out Oklahoma and Illinois went back and forth the entire meet, but thanks largely to a Jake Dalton on a couple things and Dylan Akers, so I think we can do better tomorrow Fighting Illini pommel horse score of 60.75 in the fifth rotation, Illinois pulled off the night.” comeback on the Sooners’ home floor. The Sooners will be joined in the finals by Illinois (356.25) and California (351.15), who Given the option of where to begin the meet, Oklahoma head coach Mark Williams and finished in first and third, respectively in the second qualifier. his team captains chose to start with their strongest event - floor exercise. OU entered the meet as the top floor team in the nation, and it didn’t disappoint. OU posted the evening’s top scores on floor exercise, pommel horse and still rings while Illinois recorded the meet’s top scores on vault, parallel bars and high bar. Presten Ellsworth kicked off the meet with a 15.05 and was followed by a 15.00 from Alec Robin. The rest of the Sooner floor lineup followed suit. Led by Dalton -- the 2011 NCAA In Thursday’s afternoon session, No. 2 Penn State (353.00), No. 3 Stanford (348.50) and floor champion -- and his 15.75, OU posted a 60.95 team score. No. 6 Michigan (353.450) qualified for the finals by finishing in the top three. Following the first rotation, the Sooners narrowly led second-place Penn State, 60.95-60.60. Oklahoma started the meet strong by topping 60 points on parallel bars for the first time this season. Dalton led Oklahoma with a 15.400 followed by a career-best 15.150 from Considered to be their weakest event, the Sooners scrapped together a 58.350 on Danny Berardini. Dalton’s posted the night’s top parallel bars’ score. pommel horse with top scores coming from Michael Reid (14.70) and Ellsworth (14.50). After a slow start on high bar, Dalton boosted the Sooners’ top score with a 15.250 to Penn State and Illinois passed the Sooners in the team standings, although all three total a 57.550. The Fighting Illini countered with a season-high 60.150 on p-bars to take squads were within 0.85 points of each other. a 119.700-117.600 lead after two rotations. The Sooners began their rings set with a pair of sub-14.50 scores before the Both Oklahoma and Illinois competed on its best events in the third rotation with the upperclassman trio of Chris Stehl (15.300), Troy Nitzky (15.000) and Dalton (15.200) Sooners scoring a 60.150 on floor and the Illini earning a 60.100 on high bar. Dalton, stepped up to boost OU’s score to a 60.20. the 2011 NCAA champion and the nation’s top gymnast on floor, did not compete in the event to rest for Friday’s finals. Preston Ellsworth was tied for the meet’s top score on Oklahoma’s rings total was enough to retake the lead halfway through the meet, a floor with a 15.100. 179.50-178.65 advantage over Illinois. After failing to score over a 59 on pommel horse all season, the Sooners collected a The Sooners took their momentum into the fourth rotation and posted their highest vault 59.100 on the apparatus behind Dylan Akers’ 14.900 and Troy Nitzky’s 14.850. Oklahoma’s score of the season. Oklahoma’s 61.20 topped a previous high of 60.10. previous season-best was a 58.650. All six OU gymnasts topped a 14.70 on vault, including team-high scores from Dalton Dalton scored a 15.150 to lead the Sooners on rings to a 59.250 in the sixth rotation. (15.55) and seniors Mike Heredia and Patrick Piscitelli (15.250 each). Trailing by exactly two points heading into the final rotation, the Sooners stepped up and Dalton’s 15.50 led to a 59.60 on parallel bars for Oklahoma. On the other side of the floor, posted a season-best vault score of 60.100 behind Patrick Piscitelli’s meet-high 15.350. however, Illinois put together a 60.75 on pommel horse to reduce OU’s lead. The Sooners will start Friday’s championship meet on the floor exercise. Heading into the final rotation, the Sooners led the Fighting Illini, 300.30-299.40. The Sooners put together a 57.15 on high bar, but it wasn’t enough to counter the Fighting Illini’s 59.45 on rings. Jacoby Rubin, one of the Sooners’ top scorers on high bar, was unable to compete due to a recent diagnosis of mononucleosis.

80 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 2012 Meet-by-Meet resuLts

April 21 ● Lloyd Noble Center ● Norman, Okla. iNDIVIDUAL RESULTS

NORMAN, Okla. - Oklahoma junior Jake Dalton proved that he is the nation’s top all- around gymnast by claiming the parallel bars title and All-America honors on five of the six events at the NCAA Championship on Saturday night.

Dalton, who claimed the NCAA all-around title and All-America status last night, is the first gymnast in OU history to earn All-America honors on six events (all-around, floor, rings, vault, parallel bars, high bar) in one season.

Through his three years at Oklahoma, Dalton boasts 13 All-America honors and four individual national titles.

As a team, the Sooners racked up 12 total All-America honors between Friday and Saturday, the most of any school.

In addition to Dalton, the NCAA bestowed All-America status to Troy Nitzky and Chris Stehl on rings, Danny Berardini on parallel bars and Presten Ellsworth, Patrick Piscitelli and Mike Heredia on vault.

OU’s 12 All-America honors are the most since the Sooners claimed 14 in 2006 behind 2008 Olympian Jonathan Horton. Oklahoma has claimed 11 or more All-America honors every year since 2005.

Oklahoma’s history now claims 231 All-Americans and 37 individual titles in addition to eight national championships.

In addition to his p-bars and all-around titles, Dalton finished second on floor and third on rings and high bar.

Ellsworth and Berardini also claimed top-three finishes with Ellsworth taking third on vault and Berardini tying for third on parallel bars.

Berardini is the first OU freshman to earn All-America status since 2010.

The Sooners impressive showing in the event finals came one night after taking second place in the team finals, narrowly falling to Illinois, 358.85-357.45 on Friday.

Since 2001, the Sooners have finished in the top two of the NCAA Championship 10 times.

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 81 2012 individual awards and honors

Jake Dalton Danny Berardini Presten Ellsworth NCAA National Champion (AA, PB) All-American (PB) All-American (V) All-American (AA, FX, SR, V, PB, HB) MPSF Conference Champions (AA, HB, PB, SR) MPSF Gymnast of the Year

Mike Heredia Troy Nitzky Patrick Piscitelli All-American (V) All-American (SR) All-American (V)

Chris Stehl All-American (SR)

82 2012 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History history • • •

program• • • • • • • • • • • • • historTwo years after the first student started at the last in its Big Eighty debut. But Porterfield persisted, and University of Oklahoma, David C. Hall, a former Brown in 1971 the Sooners notched their first winning season. University gymnast, came to the campus to teach When he departed in 1973, Porterfield had given OU physical education. Hall would become Oklahoma’s first its first national champion, Odess Lovin, who won floor gymnastics coach. Few formal records remain, but Hall’s titles in 1972 and ’73. program lasted 15 years. Sooner yearbooks from 1902- 1917 feature faded pictures of young men who were Porterfield’s successor was Illinois native Paul Ziert, a Russ Porterfield, members of Hall’s “Gymnasium Squads.” successful high school coach. Ziert turned Oklahoma OU HEad Coach 1966-1973 gymnastics into one of the nation’s most respected In 1965 Ken Farris, then an associate athletics director, programs. His early teams were led by Illinois State Ziert’s Sooners repeated as champions in 1978, while journeyed to the NCAA National Championships in hopes transfer Greg Buwick, a two-time conference floor all-around honors were claimed by Conner for the second of re-establishing gymnastics at Oklahoma. Soon after, champ. Buwick would stay on at OU as Ziert’s assistant straight year. Though he sat out the 1980 season with Russ Porterfield, a former University of Iowa gymnast, and eventually become the Sooners’ third head coach. injury, Conner came back in 1981 and became the first was hired as the Sooners’ first competitive gymnastics Oklahoma gymnast to claim the Nissen Emery Award. coach. In 1977, just four years after Ziert took over, Oklahoma In 1980 Conner and teammate Mike Wilson (alternate) had its first national title, tying Indiana State for the earned spots on the 1980 U.S. Olympic team, but Porterfield’s program sprung from beginnings almost national crown. (It remains the only tie in NCAA team couldn’t compete because of the U.S. boycott. Conner got as humble as Hall’s efforts in the early 1900s. Later, championship history.) The Sooners also claimed their his third shot at the Games in 1984, where he earned Porterfield would admit he had to beg students to try first national all-around champion when 1976 Olympian two gold medals. out for OU’s first season in 1966 and the squad finished Bart Conner earned the first of two NCAA titles. oklahoma

84 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts program history

That same year, Buwick took over the reins as head coach, leading his team to the first of Oklahoma also claimed its 10th conference title out of the last 12 years in the Mountain many conference championships. Pacific Sports Federation Championship.

In 1991, Buwick added the program’s third national title. Under Buwick’s leadership, OU The Sooners recorded an undefeated regular season in 2011 before taking second place at also produced three Nissen Award winners: Jarrod Hanks (1991), Dan Fink (1998), Todd both the MPSF Championship and the NCAA Team Finals. Naddour picked up his second- Bishop (1999). straight title on the pommel horse while Jake Dalton won individual national titles on floor and vault. In 2000, Mark Williams, who served as Buwick’s assistant for 12 seasons, took over as head coach, leading his team to the conference title and a fourth-place NCAA Legendre became OU’s latest Nissen winner in 2011. With seven winners, OU has produced more Nissen Award winners than any other university and is the only school to claim finish.Williams won his second consecutive conference Coach of the Year honor in 2001 back-to-back honorees. and led the Sooners to a second-place finish nationally. In 2012, the Sooners won their 19th conference championship, and 11th MPSF crown The 2002 season was about redemption as the Sooners claimed the fourth national since 1999. OU would host the NCAA Championships and finish in second place for title in the program’s history. With most of the team intact from 2002, OU repeated as the second year in a row. The national finish marked the 13th straight year in which champions in 2003, going undefeated at 26-0. Daniel Furney, OU’s fifth honoree, won the Oklahoma finished in the top four at the championship meet, all under Williams. Nissen Emery Award as Oklahoma recorded its fifth NCAA national championship.

In 2004, OU’s run of national championships ended with a second-place finish. The 2004 season saw the men’s gymnastics program extend a winning streak to 52 straight before it ended at the 2004 MPSF Championships. Still, the Sooners broke the school record for most consecutive wins by an athletic team, topping the old mark held by the football team, which won 47 straight from 1953-1957.

In 2005, the Sooners got back to what has been a constant under Williams, winning their sixth national title behind a school-record 13 All-Americans.

The 2006 campaign was an even greater success as Williams’ squad completed a perfect Mark williams, OU HEad Coach 2000-Present 31-0 season by capturing back-to-back NCAA titles for the third time in OU history. Sophomore Jonathan Horton claimed the all-around title and the 2006 team broke the previous season’s school record with 14 All-Americans.

The Sooners finished as the national runner-up in 2007, while Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons earned the NCAA all-around championship, giving OU back-to-back NCAA champions. The duo were the first teammates to win consecutive all-around crowns since Ohio State’s Jamie Natalie and Raj Bhavsar in 2001-2002.

Horton made history of his own at the 2007 NCAA Championships, claiming individual titles on high bar and floor exercise and earning All-America honors in the all-around and on floor, high bar, vault and rings. With five career NCAA titles as just a junior, Horton broke the school record (3), held by Conner, and also broke Conner’s OU mark for career All-America awards with 15.

The Sooners finished with an eighth national title and ninth MPSF conference championship in 2008. OU claimed 11 All-America honors while Horton won a national title (rings) and Steven Legendre claimed two titles (floor, vault). Horton also became OU’s sixth Nissen winner.

In 2009, Legendre won the all-around, floor exercise and vault National Championships, while the Sooners claimed 11 All-America for the second consecutive year. Oklahoma finished third at the NCAA Championships and second at the MPSF conference championship.

The 2010 campaign saw Steven Legendre took one step closer to breaking Jonathan Horton’s OU program record six national titles by capturing one more individual National Championship on floor. Legendre’s third National Championship on floor marks the fifth straight year the Sooners have claimed the title. Horton won the title on the same event in 2006 and 2007.

Also collecting an NCAA Individual Championship in his freshman year was Alex Naddour on pommel horse. The last time Oklahoma claimed the individual title on pommel horse was Josh Landis in 2003.

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 85 eight national championships

1977 NCAA National Champions 1978 NCAA National Champions Head Coach - Paul Ziert Head Coach - Paul Ziert

The Sooners: Garry Beasley, Paul Black, Bart Conner, George Howell, The Sooners: Garry Beasley, Paul Black, Bart Conner, George Howell, Dale Craig Martin, Leslie Moore, Steve Rutledge, Bernard Van Wie, Kerr, Jeff Martin, Leslie Moore, Steve Rutledge, Mike Wilson Mike Wilson the championship (hosted by the university of oregon): the championship (hosted by Arizona State University): Head Coach Paul Ziert and the Sooners won their second straight national Four years into the Paul Ziert era, OU won its first national title. The Sooners title with a 10-1 season. OU was led by All-American Bart Conner who won (7-1) tied Indiana State for the national crown. It remains the only tie in his second straight all-around title. NCAA team championship history.

1991 NCAA National Champions 2002 NCAA National Champions Head Coach - greg buwick Head Coach - mark williams

The Sooners: Ricky Armstrong, Laurence Chavez, Brian Halstead, Jarrod The Sooners: Everette Bierker, Shannon Carrion, Brett Covey, Daniel Hanks, Marcus Jordan, Jeff Lutz, Tom Meadows, Vince Pagano, Orson Sykes, Furney, Michael Gehart, Josh Gore, David Henderson, Ryan Hillyer, David Ric Sweezy, Greg Zeiders Johnston, Josh Landis, Jim Lovelady, Heath Mueller, John Payton, Quinn Rowell, Jock Stevens, Brian Trause the championship (hosted by penn State University): Head coach Greg Buwick produced OU’s third national title and his first of the championship (hosted by the university of oklahoma): three Nissen Award winners with Jarrod Hanks in 1991. Buwick’s Sooners OU won its fourth national championship on its home floor after suffering went 15-1 and also won the Big Eight title. just one defeat in the 2002 season. The Sooners, guided by Mark Williams, went 28-1 one year after finishing as NCAA runners-up.

86 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History85 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts eight national championships

2003 NCAA National Champions 2005 NCAA National Champions Head Coach - mark williams Head Coach - mark williams

The Sooners: Shannon Carrion, Brett Covey, Daniel Furney, Michael The Sooners: Mubarak Abdullah-Simmons, Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons, Gehart, Josh Gore, David Henderson, Jamie Henderson, Josh Landis, David Iammatteo, Brian Carr, Kyle Fernandez, Michael Gehart, Josh Gore, Heath Mueller, James Myers, Curtis O’Rorke, Quinn Rowell, Jock Stevens, Jacob Messina, Joseph Weaver, David Henderson, Jonathan Horton, Jamie Brian Trause Henderson, James Myers, Brian Trause the championship (hosted by temple University): the championship (hosted by the u.s. military academy): The Sooners won their second straight title in 2003 under Mark Williams The Sooners won their third title in four years under Mark Williams, finishing with a perfect 26-0 record. Daniel Furney (Nissen Award winner) was the 21-2 on the season and leading the nation with 13 All-America honors. David all-around and parallel bars champion. Josh Landis won titles on the floor Henderson was the still rings champion and Jonathan Horton brought home and pommel horse. five All-America honors.

2006 NCAA National Champions 2008 NCAA National Champions Head Coach - mark williams Head Coach - mark williams

The Sooners: Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons, Wesley Aderhold, Chris Brooks, The Sooners: Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons, Chris Brooks, Garrett Carr, Russell Brian Carr, Garrett Carr, Russell Czeschin, Jamie Henderson, Jonathan Horton, Czeschin, Corey English, C.J. Grimes, Jonathan Horton, Ian Jackson, Jason Laughton, Kyle McNamara, Jacob Messina, James Myers, Jason Laughton, Steven Legendre, Kyle McNamara, Jacob Messina, Reed Reed Pitts, Joseph Weaver Pitts, Bobby Shortle, Joseph Weaver the championship (hosted by the university of oklahoma): the championship (hosted by stanford university): OU won its fourth NCAA crown in five years while compiling a perfect 31-0 The Sooners won their fifth title in the last seven seasons while finishing the record. Jonathan Horton captured the all-around, as well as individual titles season 28-1. Senior Jonathan Horton won the still rings title while freshmen on the parallel bars and high bar. The Sooners again led the nation in All- Steven Legendre captured the floor and vault titles. The Sooners rounded out America honors, setting a school record with 14 honorees. the 2008 season with 11 All-America honors, second highest in the nation.

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 87 37 individual national titles

jake dalton aLEX nADDOUR steven legendre jonathan horton Taqiy abdullah- All-Around...... 2012 Pommel Horse...... 2011 Floor Exercise...... 2010 Still Rings...... 2008 Simmons Parallel Bars...... 2012 Pommel Horse...... 2010 All-Around...... 2009 Floor Exercise...... 2007 All-Around...... 2007 Floor Exercise...... 2011 Floor Exercise...... 2009 High Bar...... 2007 Vault...... 2011 Vault...... 2009 All-Around...... 2006 Floor Exercise...... 2008 Floor Exercise...... 2006 Vault...... 2008 Still Rings...... 2006

david henderson josh landis daniel furney TODD BISHOP dan fink Still Rings...... 2005 Pommel Horse...... 2003 All-Around...... 2003 High Bar...... 1999 Still Rings...... 1998 Floor Exercise...... 2003 Parallel Bars...... 2003 High Bar...... 1998

jeremy killen mark oates mike wilson leslie moore bart conner Floor Exercise...... 1997 Vault...... 1983 Floor Exercise...... 1979 Vault...... 1979 Floor Exercise...... 1979 All-Around...... 1978 All-Around...... 1977

greg goodhue odess Lovin Vault...... 1974 Floor Exercise...... 1973 Floor Exercise...... 1972

88 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 231 all-america honors

RUSS PORTERFIELD ERA 1988 (1) MARK WILLIAMS ERA 2007 (11) 1968 (1) Jeff Lutz (V) 2000 (5) Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons (AA, V, SR, HB) Tom Sexton (PB) David Johnston (SR) Chris Brooks (HB) 1989 (1) Josh Landis (PH) Russell Czeschin (FX) 1972 (1) Brian Halstead (V) Brendan O’Neil (FX, PB) Jonathan Horton (AA, FX, V, SR, HB) Odess Lovin (FX) Steve Van Etten (HB) 1990 (3) 2008 (11) 1973 (1) Jim Endres (V) 2001 (10) Chris Brooks (PB, HB) Odess Lovin (FX) Brian Halstead (V) Brett Covey (SR) Russell Czeschin (FX) Jarrod Hanks (FX) Daniel Furney (PH, PB) Jonathan Horton (AA, SR, PB) PAUL ZIERT ERA Ryan Hillyer (HB) Jason Laughton (PH) 1974 (2) 1991 (10) Josh Landis (PH, FX) Steven Legendre (FX, V, HB) Rich Bova (HB) Brian Halstead (V, HB) Brendan O’Neil (FX) Reed Pitts (FX) Greg Goodhue (V) Jarrod Hanks (AA, FX, SR, HB) Steve Van Etten (PH, HB, FX) Jeff Lutz (AA, SR, PB, HB) 2009 (11) 1976 (1) 2002 (9) Chris Brooks (AA, FX, V) Greg Buwick (FX) 1992 (1) Everette Bierker (PB, HB) Russell Czeschin (FX, V) Tom Meadows (FX) Shannon Carrion (SR) Steven Legendre (AA, FX, V) 1977 (3) Daniel Furney (V, HB, AA) Kyle McNamara (HB) Bart Conner (AA) 1993 (2) David Henderson (SR) Jacob Messina (PH) Mike Wilson (AA, PB) Marcus Jordan (AA, HB) Quinn Rowell (HB) Bobby Shortle (FX) Jock Stevens (V) 1978 (5) 1994 (3) 2010 (11) Bart Conner (AA, SR, PB, HB) Jeremy Killen (FX) 2003 (11) Steven Legendre (AA, FX, V) Mike Wilson (AA) Daniel Stover (FX, V) Daniel Furney (AA, V, PB, HB) Alex Naddour (AA, PH) Josh Landis (FX, PH, PB) Corey English (PH, PB) 1979 (7) 1995 (6) Brett Covey (SR) Jacob Dalton (AA, FX, V) Bart Conner (AA, FX, PB, HB) Aaron Basham (AA) Jamie Henderson (SR) Jeremy Adams (PH) Leslie Moore (V) Casey Bryan (HB) Heath Mueller (PB) Mike Wilson (AA, FX) Jeremy Killen (AA, FX, V) Jock Stevens (V) 2011 (12) Daniel Stover (FX) Jake Dalton (FX, V, PB, HB) 1980 (2) 2004 (8) Steven Legendre (AA, FX, HB) Leslie Moore (FX) 1996 (4) Josh Gore (PB) Alex Naddour (AA, PH, V) Peter Stout (PB) Casey Bryan (AA, PH) David Henderson (AA, SR) Troy Nitzky (SR) Jeremy Killen (FX, V) Jamie Henderson (SR) Bobby Shortle (FX) 1981 (5) Heath Mueller (AA) Bart Conner (AA, FX, SR, PB, HB) 1997 (10) Quinn Rowell (HB) 2012 (12) Todd Bishop (PB) Jock Stevens (FX) Jake Dalton (AA, FX, SR, V, PB, HB) 1983 (1) Casey Bryan (AA, FX, PH, V) Brian Trause (PB) Danny Berardini (PB) Mark Oates (V) Dan Fink (AA, SR) Presten Ellsworth (V) Andy Howard (FX) 2005 (13) Mike Heredia (V) GREG BUWICK ERA Jeremy Killen (FX) Josh Gore (PH, PB) Troy Nitzky (SR) 1984 (2) Garon Rowland (PB) David Henderson (SR, V) Patrick Piscitelli (V) Mark Oates (FX) Jamie Henderson (SR) Chris Stehl (SR) Scott Wilbanks (V) 1998 (7) Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons (AA, PB) Todd Bishop (PH, PB, HB) Jonathan Horton (AA, FX, V, SR, HB) 1985 (2) Dan Fink (AA, SR) Jacob Messina (FX) Mark Oates (V) Andy Howard (FX, V) Mark Rice (FX) 2006 (14) 1999 (4) Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons (AA, V, PB) 1986 (3) Todd Bishop (PH, PB, HB) Chris Brooks (HB) Mark Rice (FX, SR) Steve Van Etten (FX) Brian Carr (PH) Tom Vaughn (HB) Jamie Henderson (PH, SR) Jonathan Horton (AA, FX, SR, PB, HB) 1987 (5) Reed Pitts (FX, V) Mark Rice (AA, FX, PB) Carlo Sabino (PB) Tom Vaugh (HB)

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 89 19 conference titles

Year Score 1999...... 228.775 2000...... 230.675 Year Score 2001...... 217.725 1977...... 427.550 2002...... 219.225 1978...... 434.900 2003...... 223.500 1979...... 443.200 2005...... 225.650 1981...... 551.650 2006...... 219.175 1984...... 279.650 2007...... 217.950 1987...... 285.200 2008...... 359.150 1991...... 283.800 2010...... 358.350 1996...... N/A 2012...... 355.600 111 Individual Conference Titles 1968 1984 1994 2004 Rich Carr (Trampoline) Rob Mahurin (PB) Aaron Basham (HB) Josh Gore (PB) Tom Sexton (HB) Scott Wilbanks (FX) Daniel Stover (FX, V) Quinn Rowell (HB) Mike Rice (SR) 1972 Mike Sims (PH, HB) 1995 2005 Odess Lovin (FX) Dan Fink (SR) David Henderson (V) 1985 Jamie Henderson (PH) 1973 Mark Oates (PB) 1996 Jonathan Horton (AA, SR) Odess Lovin (FX) Casey Bryan (AA) 1986 Dan Fink (SR) 2006 1974 Mike Rice (AA, PB, PH) Jeremy Killen (V) Chris Brooks (HB) Rich Bova (HB) Carlo Sabino (FX) Kyle Johnson (FX) Jonathan Horton (FX, SR) Mark Steves (V) 1975 1997 2007 Greg Buwick (FX) 1987 Jeremy Killen (FX, V) Jonathan Horton (AA, FX, SR, HB) Mike Rice (AA, FX) 1976 Carlo Sabino (PH) 1998 2008 Greg Buwick (FX) Mark Steves (HB) Todd Bishop (PB) Jonathan Horton (AA, SR) Mike Wilson (PB) Dan Fink (SR) Steven Legendre (FX) 1988 1977 Mark Steves (FX, HB) 1999 2009 Paul Black (PH, PB) Jeff Lutz (V) Todd Bishop (PH, PB, HB) Steven Legendre (V) Bart Conner (AA) Brendan O’Neil (FX) 1989 2010 1978 Brian Halstead (V, HB) 2000 Ian Jackson (V) Gary Beasley (PH) Everette Bierker (PB) Steven Legendre (FX) Bart Conner (AA) 1990 Daniel Furney (PH) Jarrod Hanks (SR) Robby Rome (HB) 2011 1979 Jake Dalton (AA, FX, V, PB) Bart Conner (AA, PB, HB) 1991 2001 Steven Legendre (FX) Leslie Moore (FX) Ricky Armstrong (HB) Brendan O’Neil (FX) Alex Naddour (PH) Brian Halstead (PB) Steve Van Etten (V) 1980 Jeff Lutz (SR) Brett Covey (SR) 2012 Peter Stout (PH) Jake Dalton (AA, HB, PB, SR) 1992 2002 1981 Tom Meadows (SR) Everette Bierker (HB) Mark Biespiel (FX) Orson Sykes (V) Brett Covey (SR) Bart Conner (AA, PB) Josh Landis (PH) Peter Stout (HB) 1993 Jock Stevens (FX) Aaron Basham (HB) 1982 Marcus Jordan (HB) 2003 Mike Sims (PB) Tom Meadows (SR) Daniel Furney (AA) Daniel Stover (FX, V) Josh Landis (PH) Jock Stevens (V)

90 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts all-time coaches russ Greg porterfield buwick 1966-1973 1984-1999 Record: 40-45 (.471) Record: 224-74-1 (.749) Year Record Conference Finish NCAA Finish Year Record Conference Finish NCAA Finish 1966 1-6 Fifth (Big Eight) N/A 1984 9-3 First (Big Eight) Seventh 1967 2-10 Fifth (Big Eight) N/A 1985 8-4 Second (Big Eight) Eighth 1968 6-7 Third (Big Eight) N/A 1986 10-3 Second (Big Eight) Fourth 1969 9-3 Second (Big Eight) N/A 1987 14-1 First (Big Eight) Fourth 1970 4-6 Fourth (Big Eight) N/A 1988 13-2 Second (Big Eight) Eighth 1971 7-4 Second (Big Eight) N/A 1989 1-2 Third (Big Eight) N/A 1972 7-4 Second (Big Eight) N/A 1990 8-4 Second (Big Eight) Sixth 1973 4-5 Third (Big Eight) N/A 1991 15-1 First (Big Eight) First 1992 8-4 Second (Big Eight) Fifth (Regionals) 1993 18-7 Second (Big Eight) Fourth 1994 13-3 Second (Big Eight) Fourth 1995 9-9 Second (Big Eight) Fourth 1996 15-11 First (Big Eight) Fifth paul 1997 21-5 Second (MPSF) Second 1998 39-8 Fifth (MPSF) Fourth ziert 1999 23-7-1 First (MPSF) N/A 1974-1983 Record: 62-28 (.702) mark Year Record Conference Finish NCAA Finish 1974 7-3 Second (Big Eight) N/A williams 1975 5-4 Third (Big Eight) N/A 1976 6-5 Third (Big Eight) N/A 2000-Present 1977 7-1 First (Big Eight) First 1978 10-1 First (Big Eight) First Record: 322-30 (.915) 1979 4-2 First (Big Eight) Second Year Record Conference Finish NCAA Finish 1980 10-3 Third (Big Eight) Fourth 2000 15-4 First (MPSF) Fourth 1981 4-2 First (Big Eight) Second 2001 24-2 First (MPSF) Second 1982 5-4 Third (Big Eight) N/A 2002 28-1 First (MPSF) First 1983 8-3 Third (Big Eight) Seventh 2003 26-0 First (MPSF) First 2004 24-4 Second (MPSF) Second 2005 21-2 First (MPSF) First 2006 31-0 First (MPSF) First 2007 26-4 First (MPSF) Second 2008 28-1 First (MPSF) First 2009 23-3 Second (MPSF) Third 2010 24-4 First (MPSF) Third 2011 24-2 Second (MPSF) Second 2012 26-3 First (MPSF) Second Coaching Honors 1987 Ncaa Coach of the Year...... Greg Buwick 2005 National Coach of the Year...... Mark Williams 2000 MPSF Coach of the Year...... Mark Williams 2006 MPSF Coach of the Year...... Mark Williams 2001 West Region NCAA Coach of the Year...... Mark Williams 2006 National Coach of the Year...... Mark Williams 2001 MPSF Coach of the Year...... Mark Williams 2006 USA Gymnastics Coach of the Year...... Mark Williams 2002 MPSF Coach of the Year...... Mark Williams 2007 MPSF Coach of the Year...... Mark Williams 2002 National Coach of the Year...... Mark Williams 2008 MPSF Coach of the Year...... Mark Williams 2003 MPSF Coach of the Year...... Mark Williams 2008 National Coach of the Year...... Mark Williams 2003 National Coach of the Year...... Mark Williams 2009 USA Gymnastics Coach of the Year...... Mark Williams 2005 MPSF Coach of the Year...... Mark Williams 2012 MPSF Coach of the Year...... Mark Williams

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 91 letterwinners

NOTE: According to university records, the following D J student-athletes earned varsity gymnastics letters Jacob Dalton...... 2010-2012 Ian Jackson...... 2007-11 during the years indicated. Corrections and Douglas Datillo...... 1968 James Johannesen...... 1968, 1970 additions are welcome and should be addressed to J.J. Davis...... 1993 Larry Johns...... 1993 the Oklahoma Athletics Communications Office. Mike Doke...... 1984 Bradley Johnson...... 1979-81 T.J. Dortch...... 1992-93 Kyle Johnson...... 1996 A Chad Duncan...... 1995-97 Matthew Johnson...... 1987 Jeremy Adams...... 2010-11 David Johnston...... 1999-2002 Mubarak Abdullah-Simmons...... 2004-05 e Alan Jones...... 1966-67 Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons...... 2005-08 Dale Eby...... 1976 Jeff Jones...... 1990-91 Wesley Aderhold...... 2006-07 Andrew Eddington...... 1996-97 Kevin Jordan...... 1985-88 Jose Aguero...... 1980-81 Presten Ellsworth...... 2012-Present Marcus Jordan...... 1990-93 Dylan Akers...... 2012-Present Jim Endres...... 1988-90 Tim Jordan...... 1984-87 Ricky Armstrong...... 1990-92 Corey English...... 2007-10 Ethan Jose...... 2012-Present David Arnoth...... 1972 Robert Atchison...... 1972 F Mark Farbin...... 1974 k Darren Keller...... 1984 Kyle Fernandez...... 2004-05 Jay Kemp...... 1982-85 B Dan Fink...... 1995-98 Scott Kerns...... 1974 Matt Bailey...... 1982-84 David Finning...... 2009 Dale Kerr...... 1978 Forrest Barker...... 1966 Mark Folger...... 1981-82 Jeremy Killen...... 1994-97 Aaron Basham...... 1992-95 Benjamin Fox...... 1980-83 Josh Kramb...... 1993-96 Jody Bayless...... 1978-80 Brian Funkhouser...... 1987 Gregory Krippel...... 1971-74 Garry Beasley...... 1975-78 Daniel Furney...... 2000-03 Danny Berardini...... 2012-Present Everette Bierker...... 1999-2002 L Matthew Biespiel...... 1979-81 G Larry Lain...... 1975 Todd Bishop...... 1996-99 Michael Gehart...... 2002-05 Josh Landis...... 2000-03 Paul Black...... 1976-79 Mike Glover...... 1967 Jason Laughton...... 2006-08 Greg Bond...... 1984-85 Charley Goicoechea...... 1998-99 Steven Legendre...... 2008-11 Richard Bova...... 1972-75 Greg Goodhue...... 1973-74 Roger Letourneau...... 1972-73 Tim Brassfield...... 1974-75 Josh Gore...... 2002-05 Kevin Lindsey...... 1971 Chris Brooks...... 2006-09 Mischa Gorkuscha...... 1960 Fulton Loebel...... 1971-74 Casey Bryan...... 1994-96 Stuart Gray...... 1985 Michael Lofland...... 1975 Dale Burrow...... 1975-76 H Carey Loomis...... 1976 Greg Buwick...... 1975-76 Brian Halstead...... 1988-91 Odess Lovin...... 1970-1973 Kent Hamilton...... 1989-90 Jeff Lutz...... 1987-88, 1991 C Anthony Hampton...... 1980 Huy Ly...... 1997-2000

Mike Cahill...... 1969-71 Jarrod Hanks...... 1988-91 Michael Caldwell...... 1970-71 Gabe Hansen...... 1999-2001 M Russell Campbell...... 1967 Pat Harbour...... 1969 John Maddox...... 1966 John Capozzoli...... 1972-74 David Henderson...... 2002-05 Robert Mahurin...... 1981-84 Brian Carr...... 2004-07 Jamie Henderson...... 2003-06 Craig Martin...... 1977 Garrett Carr...... 2006-07 Michael Henry...... 1973-74 Daniel Martin...... 1984-85 Richard Carr...... 1968 Michael Heredia...... 2012 Jeff Martin...... 1978-81 Shannon Carrion...... 2000-03 Anibal Hernandez...... 1982-83 Michael Maxie...... 1968 Laurence Chavez...... 1991-93 Matt Hervey...... 1986-88 Jeff McGuire...... 1973 William Clement...... 2012-Present Ryan Hillyer...... 1999-2002 Kyle McNamara...... 2006-09 Bruce Cole...... 1968 Jerry Hinkle...... 1973-75 Tom Meadows...... 1991-93 Bart Conner...... 1977-79, 1981 Jonathan Horton...... 2005-08 Jacob Messina...... 2005-06, 2008-2009 Brett Covey...... 2000-03 Andy Howard...... 1997-98 Michael Mihalco...... 1971-73 Skip Crawley...... 1986 George Howell...... 1975-78 Martin Miller...... 1976-77 William Crews...... 1966-67 Robert Miller...... 1975 Wayne Crockett...... 1970-72 I Leslie Moore...... 1977-80 Chad Crumley...... 2009-2012 David Iammatteo...... 2001, 200 Jake Moran...... 1998-99 Russell Czeschin...... 2006-09 Heath Mueller...... 2001-04 James Myers...... 2003, 2005-06

92 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts letterwinners

N Garon Rowland...... 1995-97 V Alex Naddour...... 2010 -11 Gavin Rowland...... 1996-99 Steve Van Etten...... 1998-2001 Anthony Naddour...... 2009-11 Jacoby Rubin...... 2012-Present Bernard Van Wie...... 1976-77 Troy Nitzky...... 2010-Present Anton Rupert...... 1975-75 Thomas Vaughan...... 1986-89 Stephen Rutledge...... 1977-80 S W O Carlo Sabino...... 1985-87, 1989 Monty Waldron...... 1987-90 Mark Oates...... 1982-85 Matt Shoen...... 1996-99 Eric Weaver...... 1992-95 Patrick O’Brien...... 1971-74 Dave Schultz...... 1986 Joseph Weaver...... 2005-07 Brendan O’Neil...... 1998-2002 Bernard Schwalbe...... 1966 Ronald Webb...... 1970-71 Curtis O’Rorke...... 2003 Tom Sexton...... 1967-68 Ed Wentzheimer...... 1997-2000 Richard Orna...... 1969 Mark Seyler...... 1992-95 Terry Wheelock...... 1983 P Bobby Shortle...... 2008-11 Lee White...... 1984 Vince Pagano...... 1990-93 Mike Sims...... 1981-84 Raymond White...... 2012-Present John Payton...... 1999-2002 Joe Smith...... 1967-68 Scott Wilbanks...... 1982-84 Patrick Piscitelli...... 2009-2012 Brad Snowden...... 1985 Scot Wilce...... 1979-81 Reed Pitts...... 2006, 2008 Michael Squires...... 2012-Present Mike Wilson ...... 1976-79 Donald Pollard...... 1975 Donald Steinbach...... 1975 Kelly Woner...... 1990-91 Chris Stehl...... 2010-Present David Wright...... 1979-80, 1982-83 R Jock Stevens...... 2001-04 Richard Ranier...... 1970 Mark Steves...... 1985-88 Peter Stout...... 1980-81 Y Stanton Rehkemper...... 2012-Present Tommy Yuen...... 1970-73 Michael Reid...... 2012-Present Daniel Stover...... 1992-95 Ramon Repp...... 1968 Ric Swezey...... 1991, 1993 Roy Rettberg...... 1968, 1970 Orson Sykes...... 1991-92 z Greg Zeiders...... 1990-91 Mike Rice...... 1983, 1985-87 T Dain Zinn...... 1966-68 Dave Riehl...... 1984-85 Jon Thibadeaux...... 1996-97 Alec Robin...... 2012-Present Alan Thomas...... 1987 Robby Rome...... 1997-2000 Michael Torrez...... 1970-71 BOLD indicates active student-athletes Quinn Rowell...... 2001-04 Brian Trause...... 2001-05

OU hosted the 2012 NCAA Championships at the Lloyd Noble Center

8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts 93 record book

Team: 2006-2012 Individual: 2006-2012

NOTE: Records set under current FIG Code scoring system updated prior to the NOTE: Records set under current FIG Code scoring system updated prior to the 2006 2006 gymnastics season. gymnastics season.

Event Score Date(s) Set Event Score...... Gymnast (Date Set) Floor Exercise...... 63.000...... 02.27.10 All-Around...... 92.450...... Jonathan Horton (03.15.08) Pommel Horse...... 60.300...... 02.12.12 Floor Exercise...... 16.250...... Jake Dalton (03.19.11 & 01.21.12) Still Rings...... 62.100...... 03.15.08 Pommel Horse...... 15.750...... Alex Naddour (03.05.11) Vault...... 65.350...... 04.02.11 Still Rings...... 16.125...... Jonathan Horton (04.19.08) Parallel Bars...... 61.200...... 03.15.08 Vault...... 16.800...... Jake Dalton (04.14.11) High Bar...... 60.000...... 03.21.09 Parallel Bars...... 15.650...... Jonathan Horton (03.15.08) Total...... 366.850...... 03.21.09 High Bar...... 15.650...... Steven Legendre (03.05.11)

Team: 2001-2005 Team: Through 2000

NOTE: Records set under Federation de Internationale Gymnastics (FIG) Code scor- NOTE: Records set under College Code scoring system in place through 2000. ing system in place from 2001-2005.

Event Record Date(s) Set EVENT SCORE yEAR Total...... 225.675...... 04.08.05 Total...... 232.725...... 1997 Floor Exercise...... 37.575...... 03.25.05 Floor Exercise...... 39.625...... 2000 Pommel Horse...... 38.500...... 01.20.02 Pommel Horse...... 39.050...... 2000 Still Rings...... 38.700...... 03.28.03 Still Rings...... 38.800...... 2000 Vault...... 37.750...... 03.13.04 Vault...... 38.850...... 1997 Parallel Bars...... 37.400...... 01.28.05 Parallel Bars...... 39.050...... 1997 High Bar...... 38.325...... 03.25.05 High Bar...... 39.000...... 2000

Individual: 2001-2005 Individual: Through 2000

NOTE: Records set under Federation de Internationale Gymnastics (FIG) Code NOTE: Records set under College Code scoring system in place through 2000. scoring system in place from 2001-2005. Event Record Record Holder (Year) Event Record Record Holder (Year) All-Around...... 58.60...... Casey Bryan (1997) All-Around...... 56.475...... Jonathan Horton (2005) Floor Exercise...... 9.95...... Brendan O’Neil (2000) Floor Exercise...... 9.825...... Jonathan Horton (2005) Shannon Carrion (2000) Pommel Horse...... 9.725...... Josh Landis (2003) Pommel Horse...... 9.95...... Daniel Furney (2000) Josh Gore (2005) Josh Landis (2000) Still Rings...... 9.900...... Brett Covey (2002) Still Rings...... 9.90...... Jeff Lutz (1991) Vault...... 9.700...... Jock Stevens (2002) Jarrod Hanks (1991) Daniel Furney (2003) Dan Fink (1998) Parallel Bars...... 9.675...... Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons (2005) David Johnston (2000) High Bar...... 9.850...... Quinn Rowell (2004) Vault...... 9.90...... Mark Oates (1983) Parallel Bars...... 9.90...... Jeff Lutz (1991) Todd Bishop (1999) High Bar...... 10.0...... Todd Bishop (1999)

94 2013 Oklahoma Men’s Gymnastics Media Guide Boomer Sooner Season Outlook Staff The Sooners Season Review History 8 National Championships • 19 Conference Championships • 231 All-Americans • 7 Nissen-Emery Awards SoonerSports.com | @SoonerGymnasts