Sooners Win Kindler's Home Opener

NORMAN, Okla. -- The No. 13 OU women's gymnastics team improved to 2-1 with a pair of victories on Friday night inside the McCasland Field House. The Sooners topped visiting Missouri and Central Michigan during the home opener in front of 729 fans in head coach K.J. Kindler's home debut.

After dropping a heartbreaking loss at No. 4 Alabama last weekend, OU rebounded to post a team total of 196.125 to best Missouri (193.825) and Central Michigan (191.025).

Brittney Koncak-Schumann led the Sooners with a career-high 9.95 on the beam and a 39.325 all-around score, both meet highs. OU's Kiara Redmond was second in the all-around with a 39.125 total.

Final Results | Schedule | 2007 Stats

The Sooners swept every event and had the top three finishers on every apparatus. Redmond took the vault (9.875) and floor (9.875) titles, while Koncak-Schumann swept the bars (9.875) and balance beam with a career high 9.95.

"I'm very pleased with our performance," Kindler said. "Vault and bars seem to be our strenghths right now, so it was great to start on those events and hit them the way we did."

The Sooners stuck their landings on all six routines on the uneven bars for the second consecutive meet, earning a team total of 48.70.

"We still have a ways to go, but it's very encouraging," Kindler said.

Despite forecasts of more wintery weather in Norman, the Sooners performed for a lively crowd that included several Oklahoma gymnastics dignitaries. Former OU gymnastics coaches Paul Ziert and Becky Switzer were on hand, as was two-time Olympic gold medalist Bart Conner. Switzer's husband, OU football coaching legend Barry Switzer was also in attendance.

"I thought the crowd was great," Kindler said. "I'm very excited about the possibilities of building our home crowd into one that can raise the roof."

The Sooners will return to action on Jan. 27 in Denton, Texas where they will face TWU, Centenary and George Washington. Oklahoma's next home meet is scheduled for March 3 against Texas Woman's at the McCasland Field House.

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