Sooners Ready For Rocky Mountain Open

Jan. 22, 2003

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One Down, Ten To Go
The Oklahoma men's gymnastics team began the season with an easy defeat of No. 6 Michigan, 214.275-208.650. The Sooners started slowly on pommel horse and were forced to count four falls but came on late and beat the Wolverines by nearly six points. Up this weekend (Jan 24-25) is OU's annual trip to the Rocky Mountain Open hosted by the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

"It has been a tradition of our program to be a part of the Rocky Mountain Open," said OU Head Coach Mark Williams. "There is a certain amount of pride in coming home with one of the Falcon trophies for an individual event title. Traditionally it has been our first meet of the season, so having a competition under our belt should be to our advantage. Competing with members of US National team will provide a serious challenge for our team."

Oklahoma's toughest collegiate competition this weekend will likely be No. 9 Nebraska, who joins the field with No. 17 Air Force and club squads Washington and Arizona State. Also joining the field will be a team from the nearby US Training Center. The team is composed of current and former Olympic and national team members. The meet will be the first of the season for Air Force, Washington and Arizona State.

Nebraska fell to No.4 Iowa this past weekend by a score of 211.075-204.725 in Iowa City. Freshman Derric Wood finished second in the all-around with a score of 51.75. Individual event winners were senior co-captain Ryan Sneed on the vault (9.20, junior Steven Friedman and sophomore Mace Patterson (tie) on the parallel bars (8.850). The Huskers lead the all-time series with OU 28-22-1, although OU defeated Nebraska three separate times in 2002. The victories came at the Rocky Mountain Open, MPSF Championships and in tri-meet at the Lloyd Noble Center with Michigan.

Covey Receives Early Honors

Senior Brett Covey received early accolades for his performance on the still rings at Michigan. Covey who posted the nation's highest individual event score with a 9.850, was awarded the Newt Loken Award (most outstanding gymnast) at Michigan. Covey, who competed in the World Championships for Canada this past November, specializes on rings but will compete on parallel bars and high bar this season.

"It was the perfect way to start my senior season, especially because we had been struggling leading into that rotation," said Covey. "I just nailed my routine, stuck the landing and was high fiving my teammates afterwards. When the score came up, everyone went crazy. This was the second time that OU has received the Loken award at a Michigan hosted meet. That is something we as a team take great pride in."

A Closer Look At The Rocky Mountain Open

-OU heads into the Rocky Mountain Open riding a four meet winning streak during which it has defeated 16 consecutive opponents.
- OU defeated Nebraska three times last season, in the Rocky Mountain Open, MPSF Championship and a tri-meet at the Lloyd Noble Center.
- Competing for the US Training Center squad will be some of Assistant Coach Guard Young's teammates from the World Championships and Chunichi Cup.
- OU has won the Rocky Mountain Open the last three seasons.
- Rookies James Myers and Jamie Henderson made their collegiate debuts at Michigan last weekend.
- OU begins the week as the No. 2 ranked team in the country, behind Penn State, which scored a 217.250 at the Navy Open.
- The Sooner upperclassmen set six career highs at Michigan, led by Michael Gehart who collected two.
- OU will face Nebraska two weekends in a row, heading to Lincoln for the MPSF opener Feb. 1, in a dual meet with Oklahoma's women's gymnastics squad.

Sooner Notes

Shannon Carrion - Competed on five events at Michigan with high of 9.150 on vault.

Brett Covey - Posted the nation's highest individual score of 2003 with 9.850 on still rings.

Daniel Furney - Won the parallel bars (9.300) and high bar (9.250) at Michigan.

Michael Gehart - Scored two career-highs with 8.150 on floor and 9.350 on vault.

Josh Gore - Set a career-high on parallel bars with 9.050 score.

David Henderson - Competed in the all-around (50.575) for the first time in collegiate career.

Jamie Henderson - In collegiate debut, rookie finished second on still rings with OU's highest individual score at 9.550.

Josh Landis - Two time All-American took floor title with 9.200.

Heath Mueller - Did not compete at Michigan.

James Myers - Collegiate debut produced 8.200 on the floor exercise.

Curtis O'Rorke - Freshman didn't travel to Michigan.

Quinn Rowell - All-American struggled on high bar, scoring 7.300.

Jock Stevens - Posted identical 9.100's on floor and vault against Wolverines.

Brian Trause - Impressive in season debut with second place finish and 9.000 on parallel bars.

Coach's Points
Coach Williams recapping the Michigan meet: "I was a little surprised to see the team start so poorly. I think that we were a bit anxious and the team felt like they had to be perfect from the very start. I saw a good amount of our championship spirit as we battled back and overcame our early deficit. Brett (Covey) was the key for us tonight. He had a great routine and stuck his landing. Brett, along with the rest of the senior class led this team to the victory tonight. This is something I expect them to do all season."

On the Rocky Mountain Open: "It has been a tradition of our program to be a part of the Rocky Mountain Open. There is a certain amount of pride in coming home with one of the Falcon trophies for an individual event title. Traditionally it has been our first meet of the season, so having a competition under our belt should be to our advantage. Competing with members of US National team will provide a serious challenge for our team."

On Senior Brett Covey's Michigan performance: "Brett posted one of the highest scores of his career. His score and performance were tremendous for a season opening meet. He has been extremely motivated since competing in World Championships. He is hoping to develop into a strong gymnast on three events for OU this season and Canada in the future. I know that with his work ethic he can do it."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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