No. 1 Sooners Cruise to MPSF Title

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. The No.1 University of Oklahoma men's gymnastics team rolled to its second consecutive and seventh overall Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championship with a season-high score of 219.175 at the MPSF Championships in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The Sooners defeated No. 2 Stanford (217.075), No. 5 Cal (216.45), No. 11 Nebraska (209.725) and No. 17 Air Force (184.725). The Oklahoma team posted season highs and took team titles on the still rings (38.15), high bar (37.525) and floor exercise (37.3).

Following the competition sophomore Jonathan Horton was named MPSF Gymnast of the Year and OU head coach Mark Williams was named co-MPSF Coach of the Year along with Air Force's Kip Simons. For Williams, it was his second consecutive honor and sixth overall.

Individual Results | 2006 NCAA Championships in Norman

“I was comfortable through out the competition,” said Williams. “It was difficult to end on the pommel horse. It was an event that we have been inconsistent on and we just didn't get it done tonight. We know what we have to work on and improve on for the NCAA Championships. Overall though, I'm pleased with our score tonight and ready for the NCAA competition.”

The Sooners also picked up three individual MPSF titles. Horton picked up individual titles on the floor exercise (9.6) and the still rings (9.65) while freshman Chris Brooks earned the high bar title with a 9.525. Horton also finished second on the parallel bars (9.5) and in the all-around (54.1).

“I had a new routine on the parallel bars and I felt pretty good about it tonight,” said Horton. “That being said, I'm a little disappointed with myself tonight. I had four good events and two disasters. My 8.3 on the pommel horse was not good at all and the 7.7 on the high bar is not like me at all. I missed on some stupid things and paid for it.”

Oklahoma began the night on still rings where it entered the night's competition ranked No. 1 in the nation. The team did not disappoint, posting a season-high 38.15, topping its previous of 38.0. Horton, the nation's top gymnast on the apparatus, hit a team-high 9.65 followed by Jamie Henderson's 9.625. Sophomore Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons had a score of 9.425 while his classmate Jacob Messina had a career-high 9.45.

The second rotation saw the Sooners on the vault and saw the team post yet another solid score, 36.95. The score tied OU's second-highest score of the season which was set on Feb. 18 against Ohio State and Cal. Horton led the way again for the Sooners with a 9.3 while freshmen Garrett Carr and Russell Czeschin both posted a 9.25. Abdullah-Simmons rounded out Oklahoma's scoring with a 9.15.

From there OU moved to the parallel bars and posted a 35.225. Horton led the team again, this time posting a season-high 9.3. Messina added an 8.8 for the Sooners while Joseph Weaver and Wesley Aderhold contributed with scores of 8.6 and 8.525, respectively.

The Sooner team then saw action on the high bar where it posted another season high, 37.525, topping the previous high of 37.3 set against Michigan on Jan. 27. Brooks saw action on the high bar for the first time since Feb. 10 and came through with a team-high 9.525. Messina hit a career-high 9.45 while Brian Carr tied his career-high with a 9.25. Henderson followed with a 9.35 to help OU to its season high.

“My routine was solid tonight,” said Brooks. “It was my lone event and I wanted to take care of business and help the team as much as I could. Even with the lay off from the event, I was pretty comfortable because everyday in the gym is like a competition.”

Oklahoma moved to the floor exercise and expanded its lead on the field with another season high when it notched a 37.3. Freshman Wesley Aderhold led off for the Sooners, posting a career-high 9.0. The career high string continued when Abdullah-Simmons topped Aderhold with a 9.25, beating his previous high of 9.15. Freshman Reed Pitts followed with a 9.45 before Horton scored a season-high 9.6.

OU ended the night on the pommel horse and used a 33.775 to wrap up the MPSF title. Brian Carr tied a season high on the apparatus when hit an 8.7 while Messina came in with a 8.675. Horton and Abdullah-Simmons contributed scores of 8.3 and 8.1, respectively.

No. 1 OU ends the season as host of the 2006 NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championships in the Lloyd Noble Center on April 6-8. The Sooners will be competing for their fourth national title in five years and seventh overall. For tickets please call the OU Athletics Ticket Office at (405) 325-2424 or toll-free at (800) 456-4668.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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