Men's Gymnastics Claims Two More MPSF Titles

March 29, 2003

NORMAN, Okla.-The Oklahoma men's gymnastics team topped off a team conference title with two individual titles Saturday night at the MPSF Event Finals in Lincoln, Neb. All totaled, the Sooners brought home 10 individual trophies and now have a two week layoff before NCAA Championships in Philadelphia, Pa., April 11-13.

"We did a good job tonight," said OU Head Coach Mark Williams. "Finals gives the guys their own opportunity to shine. The pressures are different in these meets. They performed well and we were in the hunt on every event. I congratulate Josh Landis and Jock Stevens for their first place efforts."

Senior Josh Landis led the Sooners with a school-record of 9.725 on pommel horse, good enough for a second consecutive conference title. 2003 All-Around MPSF Champion Daniel Furney wasn't far behind with a score of 9.35, which landed him in third. Josh Gore ended up fourth with a 9.250.

On floor exercise, Landis again led OU finishing in second place with a score of 9.650, just .05 away from his second OU record of the night. Jock Stevens landed in fifth place (9.200), while Michael Gehart finished seventh (8.300).

"Today was a good preparation for (NCAA) team finals more than anything," said Landis. "It is tough to go two days in a row and we'll have to do that in Philadelphia. With that in mind, hopefully we'll be a little more prepared. I have no regrets about how this weekend went. Taking the conference title as a team and finishing first on pommels and second on floor was a great way for me to go out."

OU, who set a school record of 38.700 on the still rings during the event finals, continued to show why it is the ranked No. 1 on the event. Senior Brett Covey claimed second place with a 9.700, while sophomore David Henderson finished second with a 9.650. Furney, a Nissen Emery Award Finalist, finished fourth with a 9.600.

Sophomore Jock Stevens claimed his second career MPSF title with a 9.450 on vault, which he shared with California's Graham Ackerman. David Henderson brought home his second trophy of the night with a 9.300 and third place finish, while Heath Mueller just missed placing in fourth place (9.300).

Daniel Furney, ranked No. 2 on p-bars, finished second on the event (9.300) with Mueller right behind in third place (9.200).

Furney would end up in the second place again on high bar with a score of 9.300, while fellow senior Quinn Rowell posted a 9.050 and finished in sixth. Furney collected two second place finishes and one third to go along with his conference all-around title.

OU claimed four individual conference titles in 2002.

Tonight was the final meet before the NCAA Championships for Oklahoma. The Sooners are looking to defend their national title from 2002 and claim the fifth in OU gymnastics history.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Men's Gymnastics Claims Two More MPSF Titles

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