NCAA Champs Ink Juco Transfer

April 18, 2003

NORMAN, Okla. - The Oklahoma men's gymnastics program announced the signing of Mubarak Abdullah-Simmons to a national letter of intent Thursday afternoon. Abdullah trains at the Houston Gymnastics Academy under coach Kevin Mazeika and attends San Jacinto Junior College in Houston, Texas.

"Coming in as a junior, I expect that Mubarak will bring some leadership qualities to our squad next season," said OU head coach Mark Williams. "He has been competing as an all-arounder for Houston Gymanstics Academy and will likely help us on three to five events. He is talented and strong on all of the apparatuses."

Abdullah-Simmons competed for HGA at the last regional championships and is a member of the USA Gymnastics club program. Current Sooners David and Jamie Henderson trained with Abdullah-Simmons at HGA, where current assistant coach Yuan Xiao was an instructor before joining OU's staff.

Abdullah-Simmons grew up in Philadelphia and attended George Washington High School before moving to Houston to train under Mazeika. In Philadelphia he competed for Macy's Gymnastics Club.

"I have seen him compete quite a bit," said Williams. "He has worked very hard to earn a D-1 opportunity and the Oklahoma gymnastics family is happy to welcome him in."

OU also signed prepster Brian Carr of Mandaville, La., who trains at the American Center for Elite Sports during the early signing period.

Pronunciation- Mubarak (Moo - bar- ik) Abdullah (ab - do - la) Simmons.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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