OU Dominates RMO Ind. Finals

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. Continuing its strong showing from the previous night, the No. 1 ranked Oklahoma men's gymnastics team won five of six individual event finals Saturday afternoon at the Rocky Mountain Open on the campus of the Air Force Academy. The event ended on a somber note as last night's all-around champion Jacob Messina appears to be out for the season with a knee injury.

“I thought it was a very nice performance for our team but our thoughts are with Messina as it appears we have lost him for the season due to an ACL injury,” said men's gymnastics head coach Mark Williams. “Jacob was having a great competition, from last night's all-around, to winning the rings and finishing strong on the horse. He was looking better than he has ever looked.”

OU quickly displayed why it is the top contender for a third-straight national championship. Starting the afternoon on the still rings, the Sooners swept the event. Improving on yesterday's 8.900, Messina won the event with a score of 9.100. Freshman Ian Jackson finished second at 8.850 in the first individual event finals of his collegiate career. Jason Laughton sealed the sweep with his 8.400.

To qualify for the event finals, an individual had to finish in the top eight on an apparatus in Friday night's competition. No more than three athletes per school could qualify on the same event. The Sooners placed the maximum three gymnasts on each event.

RMO Team Results (PDF) | Meet Notes | 2007 Media Guide

Moving to the floor exercise, Chris Brooks led off with a solid 9.200, a mark no one would upend. Wes Adherhold placed second after a 9.00. Joseph Weaver finished fourth at 7.900.

Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons started the Sooners off on the pommel with a fourth-place 7.500. Corey English followed and matched Taqiy's 7.500. Messina finished second with a score of 8.500 in the only event OU didn't win.

On the parallel bars, sophomore Wes Aderhold won the event with a score of 8.650. Fellow Sooner Chris Brooks finished fourth after a 8.050.

Picking up its second sweep of the afternoon, Oklahoma's Kyle McNamara, Garrett Carr and Russ Czeschin posted respective scores of 8.650, 8.400 and 8.200 on the vault.

As everything appeared to be going Oklahoma's way, Messina fell to the mat at the conclusion of his high bar routine, clutching his right knee. Messina's performance was still strong enough for a second place showing with a score of 8.700. Brian Carr, the lone senior on the team, sealed OU's dominating third sweep with a winning 9.150. Jackson took third with a score of 8.550. The Harrisburg, Pa., freshman had two top-three finishes on the afternoon.

“We are going to have to rally as a team and have some guys step up,” said Williams. “They did it this weekend with the absence of Jonathan (Horton) and I have the confidence they can do it again. From the vault, to the rings, to the high bar, having half our team represented on the podium in those three events alone is a testament to the work that these guys have put in during the offseason.”

Oklahoma returns to Norman this Saturday, Jan. 20 at 1 p.m., for its home opener against Nebraska and Air Force inside the Howard McCasland Field House.

Event Finals Results (Top 3 and OU Finalists)

FLOOR EXERCISE
1. Chris Brooks, 9.200
2. Wes Aderhold, 9.00
3. B. Woldford (Air Force), 8.200
5. Joseph Weaver, 7.900

STILL RINGS
1. Jacob Messina, 9.100
2. Ian Jackson, 8.850
3. Jason Laughton, 8.400

VAULT
1. Kyle McNamara, 8.650
2. Garrett Carr, 8.400
3. Russ Czeschin, 8.200

POMMEL HORSE
1. T J Schmidt (Nebraska), 8.550
2. Jacob Messina, 8.500
3. Garrett Canter (Air Force), 7.600
4. Corey English, 7.500
4. Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons, 7.500

PARALLEL BARS
1. Wes Aderhold, 8.650
2. T.J. Schmidt (Nebraska), 8.300
3. Jason Wassung (Nebraska), 8.150
4. Chris Brooks, 8.050

HIGH BAR
1. Brian Carr, 9.150
2. Jacob Messina, 8.700
3. Ian Jackson, 8.550