Men's Gymnastics Year in Review

NORMAN, Okla. -- Coming into the 2006 season, OU head coach Mark Williams had no idea how the season would play out. One year after winning the program's sixth national title, Williams was faced with the daunting task of replacing half of last year's team with seven freshmen.

With a core of returning gymnasts led by captains Jamie Henderson and Jonathan Horton, Williams plugged the freshmen into the right spots in the Sooner lineup and came away with program's seventh national title.

Williams and the Sooner team began the year with an annual trip to Colorado Springs, Colo., for the Rocky Mountain Open. The Oklahoma team won every event except for the vault en route to its seventh consecutive RMO title with a score of 208.85.

The following day, 11 gymnasts were responsible for 12 top-three finishes including Horton, who placed on all five events that he was competing on and won individual titles in the all-around and on the floor exercise. Henderson took the still rings title while Joseph Weaver and Chris Brooks took titles on the parallel bars and high bar, respectively.

OU returned home one week later and opened its 2006 home season by defeating Air Force 210.150-171.650. Junior Brian Carr, sophomore Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons and freshman Russell Czeschin each had two individual event titles on the night. Abdullah-Simmons took both the rings (9.4) and the parallel bars (8.55) titles, while Brian Carr posted marks of 8.7 and 9.15 on the pommel horse and high bar, respectively. Czeschin tied Brooks for the floor title (9.05) and captured the vault title (9.25).

The Sooners remained at home one week later posting the nation's then-highest score and avenging last season's loss to Michigan when it defeated the Wolverines 216.2-203.9. Not only did OU beat the Wolverines on every event, but the Sooners swept the individual honors on the floor exercise, still rings, parallel bars and high bar.

A trip to Iowa was on tap next for the Sooners, where they continued their perfect season in knocking off Iowa 212.0-206.65. The Sooners took four events (floor exercise, still rings, parallel bars and high bar) from the Hawkeyes and improved their record to 6-0 on the year.

Brooks continued his impressive year on the high bar posting a season-high 9.6 to take first on the apparatus. Messina finished second behind his teammate with a career-high 9.25.

Horton also took first on the floor exercise with a 9.55.

Oklahoma stayed in Big Ten country one week later and continued its winning ways. The team posted a 216.55 to defeat Ohio State (215.9) and California (210.7) in Columbus, Ohio. In what has become a yearly battle between two of the nation's heavyweights in men's gymnastics, the Sooners topped the Buckeyes for the eighth consecutive time.

Oklahoma defeated the Buckeyes and Golden Bears on the floor exercise (36.45), still rings (38.0) and high bar (36.9). Individually, the Sooners were led by Horton who finished first on the still rings with a career-high 9.85 and tied OSU's Willie Ito for first on the high bar with a 9.6. Horton also finished second on the floor exercise with a 9.4.

OU then headed west for the Pacific Coast Classic in Oakland, Calif. The No. 1 Sooners successfully defeated the field of seven top-10 teams with a score of 217.3. Individually the Sooners were led by Horton who took first in the all-around with a 55.5, first on the still rings (9.75), second on the vault (9.2) and high bar (9.55) and third on the floor. Czeschin and Reed Pitts also secured individual titles, on the vault (9.25) and floor exercise (9.7), respectively.

One week later the OU team passed its final regular-season road test and improved to 15-0 on the year after defeating Nebraska 214.65-208.65. The Sooners won every event except for the pommel horse. Abdullah-Simmons took the all-around title with a score of 52.95.

The Sooners returned home one week to later to face Stanford and Nebraska in their final regular-season meet of the year. OU ended its regular season undefeated with a record of 17-0 after topping the two teams. The Sooners score of 217.8 bested the Cardinal's 216.9 and the Huskers' 201.1.

OU took the team titles on the pommel horse, parallel bars and the high bar while Horton was the top individual taking the all-around title with a score of 54.5.

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

The Sooners defeated Stanford (217.075), Cal (216.45), Nebraska (209.725) and Air Force (184.725). The Oklahoma team took team titles on the still rings (38.15), high bar (37.525) and floor exercise (37.3).

Following the competition Horton was named MPSF Gymnast of the Year and 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.

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 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).

In the NCAA Championship's second qualifying session, top-seeded Oklahoma (217.225) had the high score and moved on along with Illinois (214.775) and California (213.9).

The following night saw OU claim its seventh national title and fourth in the last five years. Horton had the best scores of his career on the parallel bars and the high bar to win the all-around title and lead Oklahoma.

The Sooners got career-bests from Abdullah-Simmons (9.525), Czeschin (9.575) and Pitts (9.250) for a school-record 37.85 points on the vault to clinch the title in the final rotation.

Oklahoma, which completed an undefeated season, has won four of the last five national championships - the best run since Nebraska won five in a row from 1979 to 1983.

14 All-Americans
For the third straight year, the University of Oklahoma led all schools in total All-America honors. After OU received eight AA honors in 2004 and 13 in 2005, six Sooners were responsible for upping the ante to 14 in 2006. Leading the way was sophomore sensation Jonathan Horton who single-handedly accumulated five honors. Horton also picked up NCAA Individual Titles in the all-around and on the floor exercise and still rings.

Jamie Henderson Pommel Horse & Still Rings
Prior to the 2006 NCAA Championships, Jamie Henderson had collected All-America honors on the still rings every year. At this year's championships, the senior continued that streak while adding an additional honor on the pommel horse. While Henderson entered the NCAA Finals ranked No. 3 on the still rings, the Houston, Texas, native was not ranked in the top-25 on the pommel horse.

Brian Carr Pommel Horse
After posting a season-high 8.75 on the pommel horse in Friday night's NCAA Team Finals, Brian Carr came back the next day to collect his first All-America honor in his career. Carr entered the NCAA Championships ranked No. 15 on the apparatus. Throughout the season, Carr won one title on the apparatus and finished in the top three on three different occasions.

Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons All-Around, Vault & Parallel Bars
After setting the school record on the parallel bars (9.6) at the 2005 NCAA Team Finals, Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons one-upped himself, posting a 9.675 in this year's team finals. The next day, Abdullah-Simmons finished fifth (8.887) on the apparatus to garner All-America honors on the event for the second straight year. Despite only competing in the all-around twice this year, the sophomore managed to finish sixth (53.85) for All-America honors and also took honors on the vault with an 8.950 in the event finals, one day after hitting a career-high 9.525 to help Oklahoma clinch the 2006 NCAA Title.

Jonathan Horton All-Around, Floor Exercise, Still Rings, Parallel Bars & High Bar
Jonathan Horton entered the NCAA Championships ranked No. 1 in the all-around and proved why he has held that ranking for most of the 2006 season. After hitting career highs on the vault (9.5), parallel bars (9.525) and high bar (9.6) in the NCAA Team Finals, Horton took the all-around title with a score of 56.0. The sophomore followed that up the next day in the event finals, taking individual titles on the floor exercise (9.575) and still rings (9.637). Horton also collected All-America honors on the parallel bars (9.087) and high bar (9.675).

Chris Brooks High Bar
Chris Brooks has shown flashes of brilliance throughout the season on the high bar, including his first collegiate meet of his career when he won the high bar title (9.1) at the Rocky Mountain Open. Brooks followed that up with another high bar title (9.6) in OU's Feb. 10 win over Iowa. Sidelined by injuries, Brooks did not compete again until March 25, but on March 25 won the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation high bar title (9.525). In the NCAA Event Finals, the freshman finished sixth (9.362) to rake in his first collegiate All-America honor.

Reed Pitts Floor Exercise & Vault
From walk-on to two-time All-American, freshman Reed Pitts has made quite a name for himself. Pitts, who didn't even make the team picture before joining the team as walk-on, has provided OU with consistent scores on the floor exercise and vault all year long. Pitts continued his streak of consistency in the NCAA Championships, including the event finals where he finished fourth on the floor exercise with a 9.412 and vault with a third-place 9.475.

NCAA Team Recap
Jonathan Horton had the best scores of his career on the parallel bars and the high bar to win the all-around title and lead Oklahoma to its second straight NCAA men's gymnastics championship on April 7.

The Sooners got career-bests from Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons (9.525), Russell Czeschin (9.575) and Reed Pitts (9.250) for a school-record 37.85 points on the vault to clinch the title in the final rotation.

Oklahoma, which completed an undefeated season, has won four of the last five national championships - the best run since Nebraska won five in a row from 1979 to 1983.

``I've been nervous for two weeks,'' Oklahoma coach Mark Williams said. ``I'm so glad the team responded to this challenge. We were better than any vaulting team I've ever seen.''

The Sooners finished with a season-high 221.4 points. Illinois was second with 220.975 and was followed by Stanford (218.375), Penn State (215.125), California (215.0) and Iowa (211.8)

Horton, who won the American Cup in March, scored a 9.525 on the parallel bars and a 9.8 on the high bar in his first two events. He stumbled in the fourth rotation with a 7.95 on the pommel horse but then finished strong with a 9.7 on the rings and a 9.5 on the vault.

``When you make a mistake, it fuels your fury and I couldn't have felt more powerful heading into the still rings,'' Horton said.

Horton fell twice on the pommel horse in the previous night's qualifying round and fell once on the apparatus in the finals.

``He was unbelievable,'' Williams said. ``At one point I thought pommel horse would be too much to overcome. He responded and it was amazing.''

Horton finished with 56.0 points to edge Illinois' Justin Spring for the all-around title. Spring, who won the Nissen-Emery Award two days earlier as the nation's top senior gymnast, scored 55.6.

Oklahoma was the runner-up to Penn State in 2004, the only time in the past five years it didn't win the title. Individual event championships will be held Saturday.

Nation's Best Coaches
For the fourth time in his career, OU head coach Mark Williams was named the National Coach of the Year after leading his team to its fourth NCAA title in five years. Prior to the 2006 award, Williams was honored in 2002, 2003 and 2005.

Along with Williams taking his honor, OU assistant coaches Rustam Sharipov and Daniel Furney were named National Co-Assistant Coaches of the Year. The award for the two first-year coaches marked the first time since 1994, when Williams received the honor, that an OU coach has been named the nation's top assistant.

The Williams Legacy
In 78 years of NCAA men's gymnastics, only six other coaches have won four or more team titles. Mark Williams joined the elite company this year after winning his fourth national title with the Sooners. Among those on the elite list include Illinois' Hartley Price (six titles) and Charley Pond (four), Penn State's Gene Wettstone (nine), Nebraska's Francis Allen (eight), Michigan's Newton Loken (four) and Southern Illinois' Bill Meade (four).

Back-to-Back OU
The 2006 title along with OU's title in 2005 marked the third time in program history that OU has won back-to back-titles. On two previous occasions in the program's history, the Oklahoma gymnastics team accomplished the task. The first feat was accomplished in 1978 after the Sooners won their first national title in program history in 1977 under head coach Paul Ziert. Mark Williams was the next coach in Sooner history to add the feat to his resume, winning consecutive titles in 2002 and 2003.

Three, Tres, Trois, Tre, Drei
Besides collecting five All-America honors, sophomore phenom Jonathan Horton collected three NCAA Individual Titles in the all-around and on the floor exercise and still rings. The three individual titles is a school record for most titles in a season and ties Bart Conner's OU record for most in a career.

Gone, But Not Forgotten
The closing of the 2006 season marks the coming to an end of the successful gymnastics careers of Jamie Henderson and James Myers. Henderson, a co-captain in 2006, will be sorely missed in 2007. A big-time contributor on the pommel horse, still rings, parallel bars and high bar, Henderson picked up his fourth and fifth All-America honors in his career on the pommel horse and still rings. Henderson also had this year's top-five highest scores on the pommel horse and finished first on the still rings on four different occasions.

Myers always provided consistent scores on the floor exercise, still rings, vault and high bar. The Norman, Okla., native finished in the top-three of events on five occasions this year and posted a career-high 9.275 on the vault in the NCAA prelims.

What More Can You Say?
After just two seasons at OU, Jonathan Horton has quickly established himself as the most dominant gymnast in OU history. His three NCAA Individual Titles in his sophomore year alone matched Bart Conner's school record for individual titles in a career.

This year Horton tied his own school record for All-America honors in a year (five) and broke Conner's school record for AA honors in a career with 10. Conner collected nine All-America honors in his four years competing at OU.

No. 1 Sooners Cruise to MPSF Title
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., on March 25.

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).

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).

Horton Named MPSF Gymnast of the Year
One of the main forces behind OU winning its seventh MPSF title was the accomplishments of sophomore co-captain Jonathan Horton. Following this year's championships, the Houston, Texas, native was rewarded by the conference and named the MPSF Gymnast of the Year.

The award comes after a successful regular-season which saw Horton take 11 first-place finishes (four-still rings, three-all-around, three-still rings and one-high bar) and 29 top-three finishes in just seven competitions. Horton also won the Tyson American Cup on March 4 in Philadelphia, Pa., and finished second in the Feb. 4 Winter Cup in Las Vegas, Nev.

Williams Named Co-MPSF Coach of the Year
For the second consecutive year and sixth time in his career, OU head coach Mark Williams was named the Co-MPSF Coach of the Year on March 25 following OU's first-place finish in the conference's championships. Williams shared the honor with Air Force's first-year head coach Kip Simons.

Prior to this year's award, Williams took the honor four years straight from 2000 to 2003 and won the award again in 2005. Williams' Oklahoma team won the MPSF conference title each year and complied an overall record of 114-9.

The Air Up There
While it is very uncommon to see a gymnast top the six-foot mark, the University of Oklahoma gymnastics team has three different gymnasts that accomplish the feat. Junior Brian Carr and freshmen Wesley Aderhold and Russell Czeschin all top the mark with Czeschin registering as the tallest gymnast at OU, measuring in at 6'3”.

While Aderhold has seen action in the all-around, Carr and Czeschin focus on individual events. Czeschin is on the Sooners top gymnasts on the floor exercise and vault, while Carr routinely contributes solid scores on the pommel horse, parallel bars and high bar.

Holding On To That No. 1 Ranking
Since reclaiming the No. 1 spot in the rankings on Feb. 14, the OU men's gymnastics team refused to give up its billing as the nation's top team. After receiving the top spot, OU rattled off 25 straight wins while recording no losses. Despite the Sooners recent success, it was the first time for the program to be ranked No. 1 in a regular-season poll since March 7, 2003.

OU began the 2006 season ranked No. 1 in the GymInfo pre-season coaches poll and then slipped to No. 3 after posting a season-low 208.85 at the Rocky Mountain Open. After defeating the Air Force Academy 210.15-171.65, OU moved up a spot to No. 2 before reaching its current status by defeating then-No. 5 Iowa, 212.0-206.65, in Iowa City, Iowa.

Leading by Example
With the exception of head coach Mark Williams, this year's OU coaching staff had no previous collegiate coaching experience entering the 2006 season. However, the staff consisting of Williams and assistant coaches Rustam Sharipov and Daniel Furney, has had their share of success in collegiate and international competition.

During his collegiate career at Nebraska Williams was received All-America honors on the high bar in 1978 after winning the Big Eight individual title on the apparatus. Williams was also a member of two Husker national-title teams in 1979 and 1980.

Sharipov, a former parallel bars specialist, took gold on the event at the 1996 Olympics and also won top honors on the apparatus at the World and European Championships that same year. Sharipov garnered another Olympic gold medal as a member of the Unified Team in 1992.

Furney, a 2004 graduate of Oklahoma, was a member of two NCAA Championship teams (2002 & 2003) and was named the Nissen-Emery winner in 2003 after taking NCAA titles in the all-around and on the parallel bars. During his career at OU, Furney accumulated nine All-America honors, including four during the 2003 season.

Horton Named MPSF Gymnast Of The Week for Third Time
For the third time this season, University of Oklahoma gymnast Jonathan Horton was named the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Gymnast of the Week for the week of March 13. The award comes after the sophomore gymnast won the all-around title (54.5) against No. 2 Stanford and No. 9 Nebraska. Horton also placed second on the floor exercise (9.25) and still rings (9.65) while finishing third on the parallel bars (9.0) and high bar (9.2).

The award marked the third weekly honor that Horton has received from the MPSF this season. Horton received the award for the week of Feb. 20 after finishing first on the still rings with a career-high 9.85 and tied for first on the high bar (9.6) in Oklahoma's wins over No. 2 Ohio State and No. 7 Cal. Horton also placed second on the floor exercise (9.4) in OU's win. The sophomore also took the honor the week of Feb. 6 after finishing second in the Winter Cup.

Horton Named National Gymnast Of The Week for Third Time
For the third time this season, University of Oklahoma gymnast Jonathan Horton was named the College Gymnastics Association National Gymnast of the Week on March 9.

Horton was the unanimous choice after taking first in the all-around to claim the championship at the 2006 Tyson American Cup in Philadelphia, Pa., on Saturday, March 3. The sophomore's 92.5 in the all-around edged out second-place Hisashi Mizutori of Japan's 92.250.

Horton also took first on the still rings with a score of 15.6 and second on the floor exercise (15.5) and vault (16.4). The Houston, Texas native did not finish lower than fourth on any event at the competition held at Temple University.

Horton Wins American Cup
University of Oklahoma gymnast Jonathan Horton finished first in the all-around to claim the championship at the 2006 Tyson American Cup in Philadelphia, Pa., Saturday March 4. The sophomore's 92.5 in the all-around edged out second-place Hisashi Mizutori of Japan's 92.250.

Taking It Higher
After posting a season high at the MPSF Championships, Oklahoma jumped conference rival Stanford for the No. 1 ranking on the high bar. OU's 37.575 was the competition's highest score on the apparatus and improved the team's average to 37.090 to top the Cardinal's 36.700.

The Sooners followed that by posting a 37.7 in the NCAA prelims before topping the mark with a season-high 38.2 in the NCAA Team Finals to help clinch the program's seventh national title. OU had four gymnasts finish in the top 12 of the team finals including Jonathan Horton who had the night's highest score of 9.8. Freshman Chris Brooks had the fifth-highest score, a 9.6, while sophomores Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons and Jacob Messina tied for 12th with a score of 9.4.

In the NCAA Event Finals, Horton finished fourth on the apparatus with a 9.675 while Brooks came in at sixth with a 9.362.

Brooks (9.525) and Messina (9.45) finished one-two on the apparatus at the MPSF Championships. It was the third time that Brooks has taken first on the event and the fourth time for Messina to finish in the top three on the apparatus.

From the Pitts To The Top
Prior to the 2006 season not too many sources around the Sooner program would say that Reed Pitts would help OU to a record of 31-0 and another national title. In fact, the walk-on was given a roster spot so late that Pitts doesn't even appear in the 2006 team picture.

After a season which saw him win two individual floor titles, including the Pacific Coast Classic with a team season-high 9.7, Pitts qualified for the NCAA Event Finals on both the floor and vault. On the floor, Pitts finished fourth with a 9.412 while taking third place on the vault with a 9.475.

Rhymes With Machine
One of the reasons that the OU floor and vault team have excelled in 2006 is the addition of freshman Russell Czeschin. The Independence, Mo., native is a power tumbling specialist who had placed on the floor or vault in every competition that he has competed in for the head coach Mark Williams prior to OU's competition with Stanford and Nebraska. The freshman just missed out placing on the floor exercise at the March 11 competition, finishing fourth with a 8.9.

Czeschin opened the season with a third-place finish on the floor (8.85) at the Rocky Mountain Open. Then, after taking both the floor and vault title in OU's win over Air Force, he was named Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Gymnast of the Week. After receiving the MPSF honor, he picked up second the vault (9.15) and third on the floor (9.1) against Michigan before taking third on both the floor (9.2) and vault (9.35) against Ohio State and Cal. The freshman followed up that performance by taking the vault title (9.25) at the Pacific Coast Collegiate Classic and finishing third on the apparatus against Nebraska.

Czeschin ended the year by posting a career-high 9.575 on the vault to help OU clinch another national title

Sooner Notes
Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons- Broke own school record, 9.675, on the parallel bars at the NCAA Team Finals
Wesley Aderhold- Saw action on the floor exercise and pommel horse in the NCAA Team Finals
Chris Brooks- Tied career high on the high bar, posting a 9.6 during the NCAA Team Finals
Brian Carr- Picked up first career All-America honor on the pommel horse (9.0)
Garrett Carr- Saw action on the pommel horse and vault in the NCAA Team prelims
Russell Czeschin- Hit a career-high 9.575 on the vault during NCAA Team Finals
Jamie Henderson- Hit a career-high 9.05 on the parallel bars during the NCAA Team Finals
Jonathan Horton- Tied career high on the vault (9.5) during NCAA Team Finals
Jason Laughton- Did not see action at NCAA Championships
Kyle McNamara- Did not see action at the NCAA Championships
Jacob Messina- Posted a career-high 9.475 on the high bar in NCAA team prelims
James Myers- Posted a career-high 9.275 on the vault during NCAA team prelims
Reed Pitts- Hit a career-high 9.35 on the vault during NCAA team prelims
Joseph Weaver- Tied career high with an 8.8 on the parallel bars in NCAA Team Finals

Viva Las Vegas
Jonathan Horton's performance in the Winter Cup was not the first time that the sophomore 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.

Horton Receives National Honor
Just one day after being named Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Gymnast of the Week, University of Oklahoma gymnast Jonathan Horton garnered another honor when he was named the College Gymnastics Association National Gymnast of the Week on Feb. 8.

The award, which is a product of a national coaches poll, comes after a successful weekend that saw Horton being named to the U.S. Senior National Team after finishing second in the all-around at the 2006 Winter Cup.
The sophomore captain also finished third on the floor exercise, still rings and high bar at the event.

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.

Horton Named To U.S. National Team
On Feb. 4, 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).

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.

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 Adds Jackson to 2006 Class
Just six days after winning the program's seventh national title, University of Oklahoma men's gymnastics head coach Mark Williams announced the signing of Ian Jackson of Harrisburg, Pa. Jackson, who was named the 2006 Pennsylvania Senior Gymnastics Athlete of the Year, is a member of the 2006 Pennsylvania State Championship team and runner-up in the competition's all-around (53.7).

Jackson also won the high bar (8.8) and still rings (9.1) titles at the Pennsylvania State Championships, while finishing third on the pommel horse (8.8) and vault (9.9).

“Ian Jackson is an exciting and talented young gymnast,” said Williams. “He has proven to be a very solid all-around gymnast. We look forward to him joining our returning national champion gymnasts and we expect him to help us maintain our level of championship gymnastics.”

Jackson, who trains at the Artistic Sports Academy Plus under head coach Barry Mattern, took titles in the all-around (50.1) and on the vault (9.65) at the 2006 Blackjack Nationals in Henderson, Nev. Jackson has also had success at the Junior Olympic Nationals, finishing 12th in the all-around in 2005. That same year, Jackson finished fifth on the vault (9.25) and seventh on the pommel horse (9.4).

At the 2004 J.O. Nationals, Jackson took the vault (9.15) title in the 14-15 year old age group.

Jackson attends Central Dauphin High School and is the son of Derek Jackson and Theresa Simms.

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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