Sooners Honored For Record-Breaking Performance

NORMAN, Okla. The University of Oklahoma men's gymnastics team was honored on Monday by Inside Gymnastics' Magazine for breaking its own NCAA scoring record Saturday night at McCasland Field House in Norman. The publication usually picks one gymnast across the nation as the gymnast of the week and this marks the first time they have chosen a team to be honored.

The No. 2 ranked Sooners posted a 225.200 to easily out-distance No. 1 Illinois, 221.875. It marked the second time this season that OU took down the nation's top-ranked team. Earlier, Oklahoma bested Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio, on Feb. 13.

Before Saturday's meet, OU came in with the nation's top three scores in NCAA history under the new scoring system implemented in 2001. Against No. 1 Illinois, OU topped their previous high of 223.500 set at the conference championships last season with an amazing 225.200. On top of owning the four highest scores in history under the new scoring system, OU also owns 12 of the top 25 tallies.

“I have to say again that my expectations have been blown away by this team,” Oklahoma head coach Mark Williams. “These guys definitely deserves this kind of recognition for the record they set on Saturday night. It was an amazing competition and now we must look to keep this momentum going and focus on our final meet and then the postseason to defend our conference and national titles.”

On senior night, the Sooners honored Jock Stevens and co-captains Heath Mueller and Quinn Rowell. OU never trailed throughout the meet and extended their overall winning streak to 50 straight. Stevens etched his name into the Sooner record books with a 9.725 on the floor exercise and now owns two school records, the other being his 9.700 on the vault. Rowell won first place on the high bar for the second consecutive week with his second highest high bar score (9.675) in his career. Mueller also recorded a couple new career highs, with a 9.35 on the floor exercise and a 55.175 in the all-around, both good for second place

Junior David Henderson stepped up for the Sooners scoring a career-high 55.275 in the all-around that gave him his second consecutive all-around title.. The Crosby, Texas native had a career night, taking first on the vault with a career-high 9.650, his second first place finish of the evening. He also took second on the still rings with a season-high 9.700 and fourth on the floor with a career-high 9.225.

Gymnastics rankings are based solely on average scores, so the Sooners will not know their new spot among the top 25 until Tuesday morning but it is possible they can take over the number one spot. They only trailed Illinois by 0.058 in overall team average before the meet.

The Sooners return to action next weekend to conclude the regular season at Nebraska on Friday, March 12 at 7 p.m.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Sooners Honored For Record-Breaking Performance

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