No. 2 Sooners Power Past No. 6 Michigan

NORMAN, Okla. The No. 2 University of Oklahoma men's gymnastics team improved to 5-0 on the season, posted the nation's highest score and avenged last season's loss to Michigan when it defeated the No. 6 Wolverines 216.2-203.9 Friday night in Norman.

Not only did Oklahoma hit its highest score of the year, but it topped the Wolverines on all six events and posted season highs on every event except for the pommel horse. Additionally, The Sooners swept the individual honors on the floor exercise, still rings, parallel bars and high bar.

“I'm extremely proud of this team,” said OU head coach Mark Williams. “In just a short period of time this team has really gelled into a championship caliber team. We had a great crowd tonight with a lot of intensity and our score reflected that. We expect that tonight's score will let us reclaim the No. 1 ranking.

“If we can keep going at this pace, I believe we have a good road in front of us. This is a great group of guys and they are great to work with. I am excited about our possibilities in the future.”

Complete Results | 2006 Statistics

The Sooners began the meet on the floor exercise where freshman Chris Brooks took the floor title and tied Jonathan Horton's OU individual season high record with a 9.4. Brooks' classmates, Reed Pitts and Russell Czeschin, followed with identical scores of 9.1, both career highs. Horton capped the event with a second-place 9.2 as the team totaled a season-high floor score of 36.8 to Michigan's 34.15.

The Sooners won their second straight event over UM when they moved to pommel horse. Junior Brian Carr and Horton led the way, tying for second on the apparatus with a score of 8.4.

Following the pommel horse, the Oklahoma took over on the still rings by posting its highest score of the year on the event, 37.05. Individually, the Sooners swept the top three spots with senior Jamie Henderson finishing first with a season-high 9.65. Horton and sophomore Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons tied for second with a 9.3.

The night of event season highs continued for the Oklahoma team as it posted a 36.55 on the vault. James Myers, Brian Carr and Czeschin and Michigan's Daniel Rais were part of a four-way tie for second place with a score of 9.15.

Next OU took its turn on the parallel bars, posting yet another team high, with a 35.4. Leading the way were Horton and Abdullah-Simmons as they became the first the Sooners of the 2006 season to top the 9.0 mark, posting scores of 9.2 and 9.3, respectively.

Oklahoma ended the night on the high bar where four Sooners posted above a 9.0. Myers (9.15), Brian Carr (9.2), Horton (9.45) and Henderson (9.5) all topped the mark and helped OU reach yet another season high, 37.3.

The Oklahoma team will take off next week as Abdullah-Simmons, Henderson, Horton and former OU gymnast David Henderson travel to Las Vegas, Nev., to compete in the 2006 Winter Cup. The prestigious competition determines spots on the U.S. Senior National Team.

No. 2 Sooners Power Past No. 6 Michigan

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No. 2 Sooners Power Past No. 6 Michigan

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