Sooners Sign Class of Three

NORMAN, Okla. First-year head coach K.J. Kindler announced her first Oklahoma recruiting class Friday, signing three gymnasts to National Letters of Intent. Taylor Zondervan, Natalie Ratcliff and Melanie Root will join the Sooners in 2007.

“We are energized about the signing of Natalie, Taylor and Melanie,” Kindler said. “All three have extensive experience at the national level and will be key factors to the success of the OU program. Most importantly, they have expressed an excitement about OU and the goals we share for the gymnastics program.”

Taylor Zondervan

Zondervan, a Level 10 from Schoolcraft High School in Kalamazoo, Mich., trains at Geddert's Twistars, the former club of current OU gymnast Ashley Jackson. Zondervan was a member of the 2006 Junior Olympic National Team and finished fifth in the all-around, third on bars, fifth on beam and sixth on floor in the Senior B Division at the 2006 J.O. Nationals. She also captured the bars and floor titles at the 2006 Region 5 Regionals in Senior B and took 10th in the all-around at the 2005 J.O. Nationals. Zondervan plans on majoring in Zoology/Pre-Med at OU.

“OU was Taylor's top priority and we know that her commitment and loyalty to the university will only grow during her time here,” Kindler said. “She has been a National Team member and has improved her results each year on the national Level. She has beautiful lines on bars and floor and is one of only a few athletes in the country to perform a full twisting salto on beam. Taylor is also an amazing and gifted student.”

A native of Overland Park, Kan., Ratcliff is a member of Great American Gymnastics Express where she is coached by Al and Armine Fong and Rodney Gust. The Blue Valley Northwest High School senior and Level 10 gymnast is an eight-time Missouri State Champion and a former member of the U.S. National Team. An honor roll student at Blue Valley, Ratcliff intends to major in Elementary Education.

Natalie Ratcliff

“Natalie has an impressive background in the sport and is a member of one of the most respected gymnastics programs in the country,” Kindler said. “She is a true competitor and is hungry to have success at the NCAA level. Her excitement about OU is contagious. Her resume of gymnastics skills is extensive and she is versatile on all four events. She is a diligent worker in and out of the gym and displays obvious leadership qualities.”

Root attends Cartersville High School in Cartersville, Ga., and trains at Cartersville Twisters. She is a three-time State Champion (2003, 2004 and 2006) and finished 15th in the all-around and 10th on beam at the 2006 Junior Olympic Nationals. She also qualified for Nationals is 2005 and was an alternate in 2003 and 2004. A Level 10, Root went pre-elite for a year in 2004. She plans to major in Management at OU.

“Melanie exhibits amazing qualities that will make her an awesome teammate,” Kindler said. “She is conscientious and supportive of others and shows great leadership potential. Mel is an extremely talented athlete with great presence on the competition floor. We believe that she has huge potential as an all-arounder. She has shown the ability to continue to improve year after year and we look forward to helping her progress during her four years at OU.”

Oklahoma opens the 2007 season, the first under Kindler, against Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Jan. 12.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Related News

Related Videos

Sponsors