OU Ranked No. 10 in Preseason Poll

NORMAN, Okla. The University of Oklahoma women's gymnastics team is ranked No. 10 in the 2007 preseason GymInfo Coaches Poll. The top-10 ranking ties the Sooners' highest preseason poll position of the last 10 years. OU was also ranked 10th in the 2006 preseason poll.

The Sooners are in their first year under head coach K.J. Kindler. Before coming to Norman in June, the 2005 NACGCW Coach of the Year and three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year led Iowa State to the Big 12 title in 2006 and an appearance in the NCAA Super Six.

“OU is honored to be placed amongst the top 10 teams in the country,” Kindler said. “We have strong leadership in our two seniors and will rely heavily on their guidance of a fairly young squad. We're looking forward to getting the season started."

Oklahoma returns several key pieces from a team that won the Central Regional en route to the NCAA Championships in 2006. Last season's championship appearance was OU's third consecutive trip to the NCAA finals.

Oklahoma finished the 2006 season ranked 10th nationally, tying for the second-best final poll position in school history.

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Returning All-Americans are 2006 Big 12 all-around champion Brittney Koncak-Schumann, Kiara Redmond and Stephanie LoPiccolo. Koncak-Schumann and Redmond both earned second team honors on floor and in the all-around, while LoPiccolo was a first-teamer on bars.

The 2007 team also returns senior Lori Winn, juniors Ashley Cooney, Caitlin Hinkis and Jessica Kinder, and sophomores Haley DeProspero, Ashley Jackson and Gina Lesko.

The Sooners also welcome a quartet of talented freshmen in Jackie Flanery, Mary Mantle, Kristin Smith and Hollie Vise.

Oklahoma opens the 2007 season with a trip to perennial power Alabama on Jan. 12, and will open the home season against Missouri and Central Michigan, Jan. 19, at the Howard McCasland Field House.

2007 GymInfo Preseason Coaches Poll
(First place votes in parentheses)
1. Georgia (28)
2. Utah (7)
3. Florida
4. Alabama
5. UCLA
6. Michigan
7. Nebraska
8. Stanford
9. LSU
10. OKLAHOMA
11. Arizona State
12. Oregon State
13. Iowa State
14. Penn State
15. Arkansas
16. Arizona
17. Denver
18. Missouri
19. North Carolina
20. Auburn
21. Minnesota
22. Kentucky
Michigan State
24. West Virginia
25. Boise State

Receiving votes: BYU, North Carolina State, Ohio State, New Hampshire, Iowa, Southern Utah, Maryland, Utah State, Cal State Fullerton, Washington, Cal, San Jose State, Sacramento State, Pittsburgh, Illinois-Chicago, Ball State, Central Michigan

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