OU Set for Home Opener with Air Force

NORMAN, Okla. -- The No. 3 University of Oklahoma men's gymnastics team will open its home season at 7 p.m. this Friday, Jan. 20, when it hosts the United States Air Force Academy inside the Howard McCasland Field House. The Sooners are coming off a successful opening weekend that saw them take the Rocky Mountain Open team title and 12 top-three finishes in the RMO event finals.

The Sooners will be without two stars and captains, Jamie Henderson and Jonathan Horton, who will be at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., participating in an U.S. Senior National Team camp. The U.S. team will be training with the defending Olympic gold medal team, Japan.

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“It's a great opportunity for the two (Henderson and Horton),” said OU head coach Mark Williams. “They have the chance to learn more than they would here. It will be a good learning experience on a different level of gymnastics. It also gives me an opportunity to use some of our newcomers on different events.”

The 2006 season signals a new era for the Air Force program, as Kip Simons takes over the helm for the Falcons after long-time head coach Lou Burkel retired last summer. Burkel stepped down after 25 years of service to the Air Force Academy and collegiate gymnastics.

The Falcons, who didn't qualify for the 2005 NCAA Championships, return 12 letterwinners led by senior Brian Moore and sophomore Brian Boardman.

Air Force was one of three teams that OU defeated at last week's RMO, Nebraska and Arizona State's club team being the others. OU topped Air Force on every apparatus en route to scoring a team total of 208.850 to the Falcon's 170.050. Nebraska finished second with a score of 196.100 while ASU finished third with an 171.900.

Boardman was the only Air Force gymnast to qualify for the Rocky Mountain Open event finals. The Naperville, Ill., native finished ninth on the floor exercise.

In 2005, the Sooners opened up their home season on Jan. 28 by defeating Air Force 218.700-188.000. Oklahoma not only dominated the team competition, but the individual competition as well, sweeping the top spots in every event. Then-No. 4 Oklahoma outpaced Air Force in each of the six team events and set a school record on the parallel bars with a score of 37.400, topping the previous mark of 37.000 set on April 12, 2003.

The two teams will meet up again this season, along with California, Nebraska and Stanford, in the MPSF Championships on March 25, hosted by Air Force in Colorado Springs, Colo.

TICKETS:   General Public $5
                   Faculty/Staff $5
                   Youth $3
                   Group* $3
*A group is considered 10 or more people and tickets must be purchased at least 24 hours in advance through the OU Ticket Office, (405) 325-2424 or (800) 456-4668.

SEATING: Seating will be restricted to the upper section of the McCasland Field House. All seating will be general admission. Doors open at 6 p.m.

LIVE SCORING: Following each rotation, scores will be posted on Soonersports.com.

Sooners Open Season with Rocky Mountain Open Team Title
The No. 1 Oklahoma men's gymnastics team began its NCAA title defense in successful fashion with a victory at the Rocky Mountain Open on Friday, Jan. 13. OU opened the 2006 season with score of 208.85 to top Nebraska, ranked No. 10 in the coaches' preseason poll, (196.1), Arizona State (171.900) and Air Force (170.05).

OU won every team event, except for vault, en route to the seventh consecutive victory for the Sooners at the 20th-annual event hosted by the Air Force Academy.

“I thought we had a good start to the season,” said OU head coach Mark Williams. “I think we competed better in the first half of the competition, probably because of our high energy level. Towards the end of the competition our intensity level started to drop off and we struggled a bit, but I saw some good things and this meet gives us a good base to work with.

“It's always good to win an invitational, but with that we recognize that we have a lot of work to do to get better. We have to correct our mistakes and go from there.”

Sophomore Jonathan Horton led the way for the Sooners by taking first place in the all-around with a 52.6. Freshman Wesley Aderhold was solid in his first collegiate event, finishing second behind Horton with a 49.0 in the all-around.

OU began the night on the still rings where senior captain Jamie Henderson led the way with a 9.45. Horton and fellow sophomore Jacob Messina posted scores of 8.9 and 8.65, respectively.

The Sooners then moved to vault, an event predicted by Williams as one of OU's strongest this year. Oklahoma was led by Horton (9.25) and freshmen Russell Czeschin (9.05) and Kyle McNamara (9.15).

The following rotation saw Oklahoma post a 33.45 on parallel bars. Sophomore Joseph Weaver picked up a career-high with a mark of 8.4.

Following the parallel bars, OU moved to high bar. Freshman Chris Brooks started the rotation with an 8.9 and junior Brian Carr followed up with a 9.1. Horton concluded Oklahoma's turn on the apparatus with a 9.05.

The Sooners moved to the floor exercise following the high bar and Czeschin posted an impressive score of 9.0. Senior James Myers and freshman Reed Pitts then posted identical score of 8.7 before Horton followed with a 9.05.

Oklahoma ended the night on the pommel horse where Henderson (8.2) and Messina (8.3) led the way.

Looking Ahead
The OU gymnastics team will return to action next Friday, Jan. 27, at 7 p.m. when they host the University of Michigan Wolverines in the Howard McCasland Field House. In 2005, Michigan ended the Sooners' regular season win streak of 28 meets when they defeated OU in Ann Arbor, Mich., 222.275-219.050.

During the offseason, former Oklahoma assistant coach Yuan Xiao left OU to take a similar position at Michigan under head coach Kurt Golder. Prior to that, Xiao was a part of OU head coach Mark Williams' staff for five years and helped OU to three NCAA team titles.

OU Dominates Rocky Mountain Open Event Finals
The University of Oklahoma men's gymnastics team not only took the team title at last Friday night's Rocky Mountain Open, but placed 11 gymnasts in Saturday's event finals.

On Jan. 14, the 11 gymnasts were responsible for 12 top-three finishes including sophomore Jonathan Horton, who placed on all five events that he was competing on.

“It's exciting that we had so many gymnasts in the event finals,” said OU head coach Mark Williams. “We had a sweep on the still rings and the high bar, so that's a nice accomplishment and it caps off a great opening weekend for this team.”

To qualify for the event finals, an individual had to finish in the top 10 on an apparatus in Friday night's competition. No more than three athletes per team could qualify on the same event. The Sooners placed the maximum three gymnasts on each event.

Freshman Russell Czeschin opened the day for Oklahoma on the floor exercise, the event he posted an impressive 9.0 in his first action as a Sooner Friday night. The Independence, Mo., native was given the score of 8.85, good for third place.

Next, Jonathan Horton, one day removed from taking the all-around title (52.6), took to the floor and defended his 2005 Rocky Mountain Open title on the event with the exact score that he posted in 2005, a 9.4.

“I felt pretty good today,” said Horton, a sophomore captain. “I was a little tired, the thin air affects you a little bit, but I was happy with what I did and with how everybody else did.”

Brian Carr was the first OU gymnast to compete on the pommel horse and he improved his previous night's score of 7.9 by posting an 8.5. Jamie Henderson was up shortly after his teammate and scored an 8.75 to finish second, picking up Oklahoma's lone medal on the apparatus.

On the still rings, it was a Sooner sweep as third-place finisher Jacob Messina opened up the OU scoring with an 8.7 before runner-up Horton followed with an 8.95. Henderson finished the event by successfully defending his 2005 RMO still rings title with a 9.0.

Horton was Oklahoma's lone medalist on the vault after posting a score of 9.2. Freshman Kyle McNamara finished fourth with an 8.95 mark.

Joseph Weaver picked up OU's third event title when he posted an 8.35 on the parallel bars to share the event title with Nebraska's Derric Wood. Horton followed for his fourth medal of the day by finishing third on the p-bars with a score of 8.3

The final event of the night, the high bar was another sweep for the Sooners. The third and final freshman in Saturday's competition, Chris Brooks finished his first weekend of collegiate competition by taking the title on the high bar with a mark of 9.1. After posting the top score on the apparatus Friday night (9.1), Brian Carr's score dropped a bit (8.85), but the junior still managed to finish second behind his Oklahoma teammate. Horton completed the sweep with a score of 8.1 and a third-place finish.

40 Years
The beginning of the 2006 season marks the 40th anniversary for the University of Oklahoma men's gymnastics program. During that time period, the Sooners have excelled by winning six NCAA Championships, 18 NCAA Individual Championships, 141 All-America honors, 14 conference championships (7 in MPSF and 7 in Big Eight), 94 individual conference champions and five Nissen Emery awards.

Additionally, four coaches (Russ Porterfield, Paul Ziert, Greg Buwick and Mark Williams) accumulated an all-time record 436-160-1, a winning percentage of 73.1 percent in those 40 years. The Oklahoma program has been responsible for placing 15 gymnasts on the U.S. Senior National Team and sent two members of its program to the Olympics on four different occasions.

Oklahoma No. 1 in Preseason Poll
The Oklahoma men's gymnastics team, coming off its third national title in four years, was voted No. 1 in the GymInfo Coaches' poll.

The Sooners received five first place votes followed by Illinois (4), Ohio State (4) and Stanford (1). OU has been the preseason No. 1 team in each of the last five seasons and ranked in the top five of the preseason poll over each of the last nine seasons.

OU was voted No. 1 prior to last season and went on to win the program's sixth national title in West Point, N.Y.

“As always we're extremely proud to be considered among the top teams and recognized by our fellow coaches,” said OU head coach Mark Williams. “We have a lot to do to live up to this ranking, but I'm sure that the team will work hard to fulfill these expectations.”

Williams Announces Captains
University of Oklahoma men's gymnastics coach Mark Williams has named Jamie Henderson and Jonathan Horton captains for the upcoming 2006 season. The two represent six of the nine All-America honors returning from the 2005 season in which the Sooners captured their third national title in four years.

Henderson enters his senior season for the Oklahoma club after garnering All-America honors on the still rings and capturing an individual championship on the pommel horse at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships. Henderson, who was recently named to the U.S. Senior National Team and was the U.S. team's alternate at the Pan American Championships, also picked up All-America honors on the still rings in 2003 and 2004.

“Jamie Henderson has been with this program as long as anybody else on this team,” said Williams. “That, combined with being a three-time All-American, a senior and a member of the U.S. Senior National Team, led me to my decision to select him as one of this season's captains.

“He has always been a role model as far as the amount of time he spends working in the gym. This season we will rely on him to help guide the team, not only with his actions, but by being a vocal leader as well.”

Horton returns for his sophomore season after picking up a school-record five All-America honors on the floor exercise, vault, still rings, high bar and in the all-around. The Houston, Texas native also won the MPSF championship on the still rings. Currently, Horton is a member of the U.S. Senior National Team for the second time in his career and recently led the U.S. team to gold at the Pan American Championships by finishing a team-best fifth in the all-around.

“Jonathan Horton was probably our most valuable gymnast last year,” added Williams. “He picked up five All-America honors, returned to the U.S. Senior National Team, was a member of the NCAA's top team as a freshman and has now competed internationally. That is quite a list of accomplishments for somebody who is only in their second year of college.

“I feel like he is somebody who has earned a leadership role as a sophomore and will be a huge part of this team's success. I can see him leading this team for three straight years.”

Williams Signs English
Oklahoma men's gymnastics coach Mark Williams announced the signing of Corey English on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2005. The Covington, La., native is a former club teammate of current Sooners Brian and Garrett Carr.

“We are excited to announce the addition of Corey English to the Oklahoma men's gymnastics program,” said Williams. “We feel like he'll be a good fit for our system and will be someone who can contribute to our recent success.”

English, who trains at the Mandeville Sports Complex under Alexandre Shostak, finished second in the all-around at the 2005 Louisiana Gymnastics State Championships. In 2004, English took the all-around title at the Louisiana State Championships. The past three years, English has qualified for the U.S. Junior Nationals Championships.

English attends St. Paul's High School and is the son of Wayne and Sandra English.

Horton Leads U.S. to Pan-Am Gold
University of Oklahoma sophomore gymnast Jonathan Horton finished a team-best fifth in the all-around, with a score of 52.650, and helped lead the U.S. team to a gold medal in the 2005 Pan American Championships in the October 8th competition in Rio de Janeiro.

Along with helping the U.S. team establish the top team score of 159.825, Horton posted the night's top score on the vault with a 9.525.

The U.S. team, led by OU head coach Mark Williams and University of Minnesota coach Mike Burns, consisted of Horton, David Durante, Joseph Hagerty and Guillermo Alvarez. OU senior Jamie Henderson was the team's alternate.

In the following day's event finals, Horton placed eighth on the vault and high bar with scores of 8.675 and 8.175, respectively. Alvarez took silver on the floor exercise and Hagerty took bronze on the high bar.

The Pan Am Championships is a qualifying tournament for the 2007 Pan American Games, slated for July 13-29, in Rio de Janeiro. In 2003, Horton tied for fourth in the all-around and was a member of the U.S. team that finished third at the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Horton Named to U.S. National Team
One day after finishing fifth in the all-around at the 2005 Visa U.S. Championships, University of Oklahoma gymnast Jonathan Horton was named to the 2005-06 U.S. Men's Gymnastics Senior National Team. The appointment, which was announced on August 13, marks Horton's second stint on the U.S. Senior National Team, having been a member of the 2004-05 team.

The sophomore from Houston, Texas entered the second round in 12th place after a disappointing score of 50.250 in the first round. Horton bounced back on the second night and posted the second-highest all-around score, 53.375. The score was just .25 points off eventual champion Todd Thornton's 54.000.

Horton also managed to place fifth on the floor exercise (two-day combined total of 17.750) and fifth on the vault (18.800).

“Jonathan performed like a true champion,” said OU head coach Mark Williams. “He kind of rose from the dead in the second day of competition. On the first day, he competed with intentions of making the team that will compete at the World Championships. He had new routines that he wasn't fully prepared for.

“On the second night, we made some adjustments and Jonathan hit all six routines and his score reflected that. I think that performance made the statement that he deserves to be on the U.S. National Team.”

Horton continues to build an impressive resume in the sport of gymnastics. In addition to his accomplishments on the USA scene, Horton, in his first year as a Sooner, helped OU to the program's sixth NCAA Championship in 2005 and added a program best five All-America honors.

Henderson Named to U.S. National Team
On August 30 the U.S. Men's Gymnastics Senior National Team has selected another University of Oklahoma gymnast to represent the nation in international competition. Jamie Henderson was selected to the team after finishing seventh in the 2005 Visa U.S. Men's Gymnastics Championships on August 10-12 in Indianapolis, Ind.

“I feel great about being named to the U.S. team,” said Henderson. “It's a great honor for all my hard work to be rewarded with a spot on the national team. I was a little disappointed by my finish in the Visa Championships, but it all worked out in the end.”

After finishing sixth on the first night of competition, Henderson posted a score of 51.375 in the all-around on the second night, giving him a two-day total of 102.475 and a seventh place finish.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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