Sooner Gymnasts Stomp Minnesota

March 1, 2003

NORMAN, Okla. - The No. 3 Oklahoma men's gymnastics team easily defeated No. 11 Minnesota, Saturday night at the Sports Pavilion on the Minneapolis campus. OU scored a season-high of 220.075, which is the second highest team score in the country this season, while the Gophers scored 213.950. OU remains perfect at 9-0 on the season, upping its two score average to 219.475, while Minnesota drops to 2-7. OU extended the nation's longest winning streak to 25.

"Getting a season-high score on the road... I'll take that any day," said OU Head Coach Mark Williams. " I was absolutely pleased with the outcome but I still feel like we struggled. We only hit on 66 percent of the routines. I told the team that we will have to be better to beat Ohio State next weekend. We still haven't gotten on a roll in any particular meet. Considering the talent we have on this team, I think we can compete with anyone in the country when we get on a roll."

OU senior Daniel Furney broke two of his own school records with 55.500 in the all-around and 9.500 on the parallel bars. Furney is currently ranked No. 1 in the all-around and he solidified his standing by breaking his old school record of 55.225. He took first place in both of the aforementioned events, while also taking top honors on pommel horse with a career-high 9.550 and vault with a 9.450.

"There were a couple times that we needed Daniel to hit on his routines," said Williams. "He was the pro that he has been up to this point in his career. He was solid all the way across. He's a great leader. Some of the guys are still a bit tentative and they need to follow his lead."

OU recorded three season high team scores on pommel horse (36.600), still rings (38.300) and high bar (36.925). The Sooners, who are ranked No. 1 on rings, were exceptional on the event where they dropped Daniel Furney's low score of 9.500. OU claimed the top five finishes on the event, with Brett Covey in first (9.625), and David Henderson and Shannon Carrion tied for second (9.550).

"David Henderson had an excellent meet," said Williams. "He really came through in the clutch for us on still rings and parallel bars. We need guys who have struggled, like David had been, to step and regain their confidence."

OU took the top spot on five of the six events. Senior Shannon Carrion snagged first on high bar (9.350) and was joined in the top three by Heath Mueller and Josh Gore, who scored 9.275 and 9.200 respectively. David Henderson finished second on parallel bars with a score of 9.050.

The victory sets up what will likely be a meeting of the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the country, when the Ohio State Buckeyes visit the Lloyd Noble Center on Senior Night, Friday, March 7, at 7 p.m. No. 8 Stanford will join the field that includes the last two national champions. OU won the title in 2002, while OSU took it in 2001 and neither team has finished outside the top two during either season. Admission to the meet is $5 for adults and $2 for children. For more information on tickets, call (800) 456-GoOU.

For more information on OU men's gymnastics, visit www.soonersports.com.

Final Results

FXPHSRVPBHBFinal No. 3 Oklahoma35.05036.60038.30036.70035.50036.925220.075
No. 11 Minnesota36.57535.30035.35037.50034.95034.225213.950

Top Three Event FInishers and OU Results
Floor

1. G. Alvarez Minn.9.425 2. Clay StrotherMinn.9.200 3. Ryan Fleming Minn.9.150 4. Michael GehartOU9.100 5. Josh Gore OU9.050 6. Shannon CarrionOU9.000 7. Josh Landis OU8.900 9. Daniel FurneyOU8.400 12. Heath MuellerOU8.000

Pommel Horse

1. Daniel FurneyOU9.550 (tie) G. AlvarezMinn.9.550 3. Jamie HendersonOU9.150 (tie) Josh Gore OU9.150 (tie) Clay StrotherMinn.9.150 6. Josh Landis OU8.750 8. Brian Trause OU8.250 10. Heath MuellerOU7.850

Still Rings

1. Brett Covey OU9.625 2. David HendersonOU9.550 (tie) Shannon CarrionOU9.550 4. Jamie HendersonOU9.525 5. Daniel FurneyOU9.500 10. Heath MuellerOU8.650

Vault

1.Daniel Furney OU9.450 (tie) Clay StrotherMinn.9.450 7. Michael GehartOU9.200 8. Heath MuellerOU9.100 9. David HendersonOU8.950 10. Shannon CarrionOU8.850 12. Josh Gore OU8.400

Parallel Bars

1. Daniel FurneyOU9.500 2. David HendersonOU9.050 3. Mitch GriffinMinn.8.950 5. Josh Gore OU8.650 9. Brian Trause OU8.300 10. Quinn RowellOU8.200 11. Josh Landis OU8.150

Horizontal Bar

1. Shannon CarrionOU9.350 2. Heath MuellerOU9.275 4. Josh Gore OU9.200 5. Daniel FurneryOU9.100 6. Josh Landis OU8.850 11. Jamie HendersonOU 7.600

All-Around

1. Daniel FurneyOU55.500 2. G. Alvarez Minn.54.750 3. Clay StrotherMinn.53.275