Sooner Gymnasts Head For Winter Cup

Feb. 6, 2003

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Vegas Bound
After easily defeating No. 12 Nebraska, a number of Sooners will travel with head coach Mark Williams to Las Vegas, Nev., for the annual Winter Cup, Feb. 7-8. The competition is for individuals only and will feature some of the nation's elite gymnasts in the collegiate, national and international ranks. Representing OU in the competition will be David Henderson, Jamie Henderson, Josh Landis, Daniel Furney and Shannon Carrion.

"The Winter Cup is basically an opportunity to fill a few open spots on the US National Team," said Mark Williams. "It is really an invite only competition. They will add the all-around winner and most likely the second place finisher to the US team. I would expect that they will pick up a third and fourth gymnast as well. Daniel Furney made the US Senior National Team at this meet last year and will be hoping for a good showing again. David and Jamie Henderson are on the same track as Furney and are working towards being among the nations top guys."

Oklahoma opened the MPSF Conference season Feb. 1 by defeating the Huskers and in the process extending their winning streak against NU to 11 straight. OU also holds the nation's longest consecutive win streak against collegiate teams which now stands at 22.

OU hosts its first home meet of the season Feb. 14, against No. 5 Iowa at 7p.m. inside the Lloyd Noble Center. The meet is a coed dual and will also feature the women's gymnastics squad against the Hawkeyes women's team. 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.

Rewritin' The Record Books (2)

After setting two OU records and tying another at the Rocky Mountain Open the weekend prior, Oklahoma returned from Nebraska with another school record on vault, six career-highs and 10 season-high scores. Leading the pack was Senior Daniel Furney who tied teammate Jock Stevens school vault record with a 9.700. Furney also collected season-high scores on floor, rings and in the all-around. Sophomore Josh Gore set two personal-highs on pommel horse and parallel bars with scores of 9.100 and 8.850 respectively. Michael Gehart set a career high on vault at the RMO with a 9.350, only to break it at Nebraska with a 9.400 performance. Rounding out the record breaking where Curtis O'Rorke and David Henderson who collected career bests on floor (9..100) and parallel bars (9.000), respectively.

Weekly Notes
- OU extended its winning steak against Nebraska to 11.

mOU also extended its winning streak against collegiate opponents to 22, which is the longest current streak in the sport.

- OU has defeated Nebraska five times since the start of 2002 and will matchup with the Huskers again on Feb. 21 and in March at the MPSF Championships, with a possibility of a final meeting at this season's NCAA Championships in Philadelphia, Pa.

- Penn State had the weekend off and will remain in the No. 1 spot with a season- high of 219.400 but the Sooner inched closer with a score of 217.250, which matches Penn State's highest road score. The rankings for the NCAA Championships are based on an average of highest home score, road score and conference championship score.

- Sophomore Heath Mueller made his season debut for OU by competing in the all-around and recorded a 52.250. He was one of two MPSF athletes considered for the Gymnasts of the Week Award.

- OU Head Coach Mark Williams competed and coached under Nebraska Head Coach Francis Allen. Allen has been at the Husker helm for 34 years and has won the second most NCAA Championships of any coach (8).

Sooner Notes

Shannon Carrion- Collected a high of 9.000 on vault at Nebraska.

Brett Covey- Owns the NCAA's top two scores this season with 9.850 and 9.700 (tied with Daniel Furney).

Daniel Furney- Posted the weekend's top score in all-around (54.800) and vault (9.700).

Michael Gehart- Gathered one of the nation's top vault scores with career-high of 9.400.

Josh Gore- Collected two career-highs on high bar (9.125) and p-bars (8.625) at RMO.

David Henderson- Scored above 9.000 on all three events he competed in at Nebraska.

Jamie Henderson- Competed in RMO all-around and totaled a 51.200.

Josh Landis- Holds the nation's highest pommel horse score with a 9.600.

Heath Mueller- Competed for the first time this season and scored 52.250 in his first ever all-around performance.

Jamie Myers- Did not compete at Nebraska.

Curtis O'Rorke- Solid 9.100 earned freshman second place on floor at Nebraska.

Quinn Rowell- Was held out of Nebraska meet due to nagging wrist injury.

Jock Stevens- All-American did not compete at Nebraska.

Brian Trause- Injured his left knee on parallel bars during RMO team finals.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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