Sooners Face Iowa Friday

NORMAN, Okla. -- The No. 2 University of Oklahoma men's gymnastics team returns to action this Friday, Feb. 10, when it travels to Iowa City, Iowa, to take on No. 5 Iowa (3-3). Both teams were off last week and had athletes competing in the 2006 Winter Cup in Las Vegas, Nev.

In Winter Cup action, OU's Jonathan Horton was named to the U.S. National Team after finishing second in the all-around. Horton also finished third on the floor exercise, still rings and high bar. Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons and Jamie Henderson also competed in the event, finishing eighth and 24th, respectively (See page three of the release for a full recap).

Weekly Release (PDF) | 2006 NCAA Championships in Norman

The Oklahoma team last saw action on Jan. 27, when it defeated then-No. 6 Michigan 216.200-203.900. 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.

“Iowa is right up there in the rankings,” said OU head coach Mark Williams. “We expect this to be a very tough competition following the Winter Cup. Our guys will definitely be fired up and motivated as this will be our first real road challenge. Iowa is one of the top teams in the nation on the pommel horse and we will have to step it up on that event so that we don't fall behind early.”

Iowa is coached by Tom Dunn, who is in his 27th year with the program. He has led the Hawkeyes to 17 top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships. The Hawkeyes are led by senior Michael Reavis and sophomore Curtis Kleffman. At last week's Winter Cup, Reavis was named to the U.S. Senior National Team after winning the floor exercise and finishing sixth in the all-around. Reavis, the 2005 NCAA vault champion, holds Iowa records on the floor exercise, vault and in the all-around.

The Hawkeyes enter Friday night's competition with a record of 3-3 after defeating Illinois-Chicago on Jan. 21, and finishing fourth in the Windy City Invitational (Jan. 14), losing to Ohio State, Illinois and Michigan and beating Minnesota and Illinois-Chicago.

The two teams met in 2005 in Norman with OU prevailing 223.575-219.025 on senior night. Oklahoma's team score was the 11th best on the NCAA All-Time Team high scores list (under the old scoring system). The Sooners led throughout the meet winning every event except for the high bar.

Horton Named to U.S. National Team
In action last Saturday, OU's Jonathan Horton was named to the U.S. Senior National Team after finishing second in the all-around (177.5) at the Winter Cup finals in Las Vegas, Nev. Horton finished just two-tenths of a point behind champion David Durante's 177.7. The appointment marks Horton's third straight stint with the national team.

With Horton's finish in the all-around, the Houston, Texas, native was invited to represent the U.S. in the prestigious American Cup on March 4, in Philadelphia, Pa. The sophomore also finished third on the floor exercise, still rings and high bar with two-day combined scores of 30.05, 30.55 and 30.35, respectively.

Oklahoma's Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons and Jamie Henderson also competed in Saturday night's Winter Cup finals. Abdullah-Simmons finished eighth and Henderson 24th, despite not competing on the floor exercise or vault in Saturday night's competition. Abdullah-Simmons also finished fifth on the parallel bars with a two-day combined score of 29.55. Henderson finished sixth on the still rings (29.25).

The three qualified for Saturday finals after their performance in Thursday's two qualifying sessions. Horton finished second in the all-around, Abdullah-Simmons fourth and Henderson 19th.

Sooners Qualify for Winter Cup Finals
In action last Thursday, all three Sooners participating in the 2006 Winter Cup qualified for the prestigious event's finals. Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons, Jamie Henderson and Jonathan Horton all moved into Saturday final session in Las Vegas.

After Thursday's two sessions were combined Horton was in second place, Abdullah-Simmons in fourth and Henderson at 19th.

Based on the competition's results, the top six from the all-around finals automatically qualify for the 2006 senior national team. Six more gymnasts will qualify based on a points system established by the U.S.A. Men's Program Committee. That committee will then select the remaining two gymnasts. The top four gymnasts in the competition will comprise the U.S. delegation in the American Cup on Saturday, March 4, in Philadelphia, Pa.

This year's Winter Cup Challenge is the first U.S. men's event to use the new scoring system adopted by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) last year.

Henderson, competing in Thursday's afternoon session, qualified for the Saturday finals by finishing eighth in the all-around (83.000). The Crosby, Texas senior also took third on the pommel horse (14.75) and the still rings (14.6).

In Thursday night's second session Horton took the all-around title with an 88.35 and Abdullah-Simmons finished third with an 86.15. Horton finished second on the still rings (15.1) and high bar (15.2) and third on the vault (16.15). Abdullah-Simmons finished second on the parallel bars with a 15.1.

Top That
Besides defeating then-No. 6 Michigan, the OU men's gymnastics team posted the nation's highest score of the 2006 season. The 216.2 tops the second-highest score (213.35) set by Ohio State. The Sooners and the Buckeyes will meet on Feb. 18, in Columbus, Ohio in a re-match of last year's No. 1 versus No 2 meeting that the Sooners won in Norman 222.825-222.675.

Currently, the OU program has posted eight of the top-20 NCAA all-time high scores (under the old scoring system). Six of the eight scores were posted in the 2005 season including the national title-clinching 225.675 on April 8, 2005, in West Point, N.Y. A complete listing of the top-20 scores can be found on page five.

Sooners Exercise the Right to be No. 1
Following a season-high 36.8 performance against Michigan, the OU floor exercise team jumped to the top spot in the event's rankings. Prior to its current ranking, Oklahoma began the season at No. 4 before stepping up to No. 2. It's no question that having four of the top 12 gymnasts on the event helped OU reach the lofty status.

The floor exercise is arguably the event that this year's freshman class has had the biggest impact on with three freshman being ranked in the top 12; Russell Czeschin at No. 7, Chris Brooks at No. 10 and Reed Pitts at No. 12. Add the three with two returning floor exercise All-Americans, Jonathan Horton (currently ranked No. 2) and Jacob Messina, and Mark Williams has a potent event to begin competitions with.

Viva Las Vegas
Last Saturday's performance was not the first time Jonathan Horton has excelled in the city of lights. In 2005, as a freshman, Horton qualified for the U.S. National Team after finishing first on the floor (8.95) and fourth on the vault (8.975). The Houston, Texas native also finished eighth in the all-around with a score of 51.181. Following both occasions, Horton was named MPSF Gymnast of the Week.

Looking Ahead
After facing Iowa, the No. 2 Sooners will stay in Big Ten country as they travel to Columbus, Ohio, to take on No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday, Feb. 18. It will be a rematch between the two teams after then-No. 2 OU knocked off the then-No. 1 Buckeyes, 222.825-222.675, on March 5, 2005, in Norman, Okla.

Henderson and Czeschin Receive MPSF Honors
Senior Jamie Henderson and freshman Russell Czeschin were named Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Gymnasts of the Week on Tuesday when the conference announced the honor for the first three weeks of the 2006 season.

Henderson received this week's honor (Jan. 30) after posting season highs and taking first place honors on still rings (9.65) and high bar (9.5) in OU's win over then-No. 6 Michigan. Henderson helped the Sooner team post the nation's highest score of the 2006 season, 216.2, in its defeat of the Wolverines.

Czeschin received his honor for the week of January 23 after the Air Force meet in which he won the vault title with a career-high 9.25 and tied for first place on the floor exercise (9.05). That performance came one week after the Independence, Mo., native captured the floor exercise championship (8.85) at the Rocky Mountain Open in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Taking it Higher
While ranked No. 2 behind Ohio State on the high bar, individually, Oklahoma is the nation's best with seven gymnasts in the top 25 of the apparatus' individual rankings. Leading the way are two upperclassmen, senior Jamie Henderson (No. 5) and junior Brian Carr (No. 6).

Jonathan Horton (No. 14) and Chris Brooks (No. 15) are next in line while Wesley Aderhold and James Myers are tied at No. 17. Freshman Jason Laughton (No. 25) rounds out the group.

Sooner Notes
Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons- Finished eighth in the all-around at Winter Cup
Wesley Aderhold- Saw action on pommel horse, parallel bars and high bar against Michigan
Chris Brooks- Took second straight floor exercise title (9.4) in Michigan win
Brian Carr- Finished second on pommel (8.4) and vault (9.15) and third on the p-bars (8.55) and h-bar (9.2) vs. Michigan
Garrett Carr- Did not see action against Michigan
Russell Czeschin- Tied for second on the vault (9.15) and finished third on floor (9.1) versus Michigan
Jamie Henderson- Finished sixth on the still rings at Winter Cup
Jonathan Horton- Named to U.S. National Team after finishing second in the all-around at Winter Cup
Jason Laughton- Saw action on pommel horse against Michigan
Kyle McNamara- Saw action on still rings in win over Michigan
Jacob Messina- Sat out Michigan meet with shoulder injury
James Myers- Finished second on the vault (9.15) against Michigan
Reed Pitts- Tied classmate Russell Czeschin for third on the floor exercise (9.1) in win over Michigan
Joseph Weaver- Competed on the floor, pommel horse, still rings and parallel bars in Michigan win.

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.

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.

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.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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