Sooners Set to Face No. 1 Michigan

NORMAN, Okla. After cruising through the first two meets of the season, the third-ranked Oklahoma men's gymnastics team faces its toughest test thus far when it travels to Ann Arbor, Mich. on Saturday, Jan. 27 to take on the top-ranked Wolverines. The meet is scheduled for a 6 p.m. (CST) start inside the Cliff Keen Arena.

The Sooners have won 37 consecutive matches dating back to the 2005 NCAA Championship Qualifier, the team's longest streak since winning 52 straight from 2003-2004. Michigan was the last team to beat OU in the regular season, defeating the seventh-ranked Sooners in Ann Arbor on Jan. 22, 2005.

“It's certainly going to be our biggest test thus far,” OU head coach Mark WIlliams said. “We're going into a hornets nest. Right now Michigan has the top score in the country and they're competing very well. We've got a huge bull's eye on our backs and I know they would love to knock off the defending NCAA champions.”

Live Scoring | Meet Notes | 2007 Media Guide

Oklahoma is 5-0 on the season having defeated Air Force and No. 11 Nebraska twice in back-to-back weeks. The Sooners first defeated the Falcons and Huskers at the Rocky Mountain Open on Jan. 12, and again on Jan. 20 when both teams visited Norman.

Eight Sooner gymnasts either set of tied career highs in the home opener last week, a trend Williams would like to continue throughout the season.

Michigan is No. 1 for the first time since 2001. Head coach Kurt Golder's team is 6-0 on the year with an average team score of 215.275. The Wolverines defeated Illinois, Ohio State, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois-Chicago in the Windy City Invitational on Jan. 13.

Last week U-M opened its home season on Jan. 20 against then-No. 7 Iowa. Led by senior Justin Laury and junior Andrew Elkind, the Wolverines scored an easy 217.800 - 208.000 victory.

Oklahoma has a history of knocking off the No. 1 team on the road under Williams. Coming into Saturday's matchup with the Wolverines, OU has faced the No. 1 team on the road three times since 2004, and each time the Sooners have emerged victorious.

Feb. 13, 2004
No. 4 Oklahoma - 219.600
No. 2 California - 218.175
No. 1 Ohio State - 217.400

March 6, 2004
No. 4 Oklahoma - 225.200
No. 1 Illinois - 221.975

March 5, 2005
No. 3 Oklahoma - 222.825
No. 1 Ohio State - 222.675

SETTING THE SCENE
What: No. 3 OU (5-0) vs. No. 1 Michigan (6-0)
Where: Ann Arbor, Mich. at Cliff Keen Arena (1,800)
When: Jan. 27, 2007 at 6 p.m. (CST)
Live Scores: Scores will be posted on SoonerSports.com after each rotation.
What 2 Watch 4: The Sooners last faced Michigan exactly one year ago in Norman. OU, ranked second at the time, won handily, recording a 216.200 - 203.900 victory over the No. 7 Wolverines.

The last time OU faced Michigan in a road dual meet was Jan. 22, 2005. The seventh-ranked Sooners fell to the No. 3 Wolverines 222.275 - 219.050. It was Oklahoma's only loss of the regular season.

Jonathan Horton, Oklahoma's 2006 NCAA all-around champion, should return to his usual place as the Sooners' top all-arounder on Saturday. Horton missed OU's season opener at the Rocky Mountain Open while with the U.S. Senior National Team at a training camp in Japan. Horton did not compete in the all-around last week against Air Force and Nebraska as he was still in the process of readjusting from being overseas.

COMING UP NEXT...
Following the matchup with No. 1 Michigan, OU stays on the road to face 11th-ranked Nebraska on Feb. 2 in Lincoln. Select members of the OU squad will also participate in the Winter Cup USA re-ranking events in Las Vegas, Nev., Feb. 9-10.

OU's next home meet is Feb. 16 against club teams from the University of Washington and the University of Texas.

FOR THE RECORD
Eight Oklahoma gymnasts either set or tied career highs during the Jan. 20 meet against Air Force and Nebraska. The Sooners also established a school record on the floor exercise with a 38.050. The previous OU floor record was 37.300 set at last season's MPSF Championships.

The following gymnasts had career days against the Huskers and Falcons:
Ian Jackson (8.65/FX, 9.0/V, 8.75/HB)
Jason Laughton (8.4/PH, 8.85/SR)
Russell Czeschin (9.5/FX)
Chris Brooks (9.65/FX)
Wes Aderhold (9.3/FX, 8.75/PB)
Joseph Weaver (8.85/SR)
Corey English (8.75/PB)
Garrett Carr (8.25/HB)

MICHIGAN MAN
Former OU assistant coach Yuan Xiao is in his second season as a Wolverines assisitant. Xiao helped guide the Sooners to national titles in 2002, 2003 and 2005 and also helped coach 2004 U.S. Olympic silver medalist Guard Young while Young trained at Oklahoma.

SOONERS THIRD IN LATEST GYMINFO RANKINGS
Ranked first in the preseason coaches poll, Oklahoma fell two spots in the GymInfo rankings when the Jan. 22, 2007 results came out. OU had been No. 1 in the last eight polls including the 2007 preseason coaches poll.

The last time OU was ranked below the top spot was Feb. 6, 2006 when the Sooners came in at No. 2. The last time Mark Williams' squad was third in the GymInfo poll was on Jan. 16, 2006.

Michigan has not held the No. 1 ranking since Jan. 29, 2001.

WE'RE COMING FOR THAT NO. 1 SPOT
Coming in to Saturday's matchup with the Wolverines, Oklahoma has faced the No. 1 team on the road only three times since 2004, and each time the Sooners have emerged victorious.

OU took on No. 1 Ohio State in Columbus in Feb. 2004, defeating the top-ranked Buckeyes and No. 2 California by a 219.600 - 217.400 - 218.175 count.

Oklahoma then defeated new No. 1 Illinois by a 225.200 - 221.975 margin on March 6.

The Sooners also faced a top-ranked Buckeyes squad in March of 2005. OU trailed by two points going into the final rotation, but rallied with a 37.950 on the high bar while Ohio State faltered on the parallel bars giving the Sooners a 222.825 - 222.675 victory.

MESSINA EARNS MPSF HONORS FOR JAN. 15
Junior Jacob Messina was named the conference's first Gymnast of the Week on Jan. 15 for his performance at the Rocky Mountain Open. He won the all-around and rings titles and was second on the pommel horse and high bar in the event finals.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGHS
Seven Sooners set or tied career highs at the Rocky Mountain Open in Colorado Springs.

Competing for the first time on parallel bars and high bar, sophomore Garrett Carr recorded scores of 8.4 and 8.25, respectively. Fellow sophomore Jason Laughton, in his first collegiate competition on the still rings, scored an 8.5.

Jacob Messina set a new personal mark on p-bars with an 8.9, while Wes Aderhold bested his previous floor exercise mark with a 9.1 in the team finals.

Sophomore Chris Brooks blew away his old career best of 8.85 on the p-bars with a 9.3 in the team finals.

IT WAS THE BEST OF TIMES, IT WAS THE WORST OF TIMES
The Rocky Mountain Open represented both the high and low points of Jacob Messina's season.

The Matthews, N.C. native took the all-around title and advanced to the individual finals on three events (PH, SR, HB). He finished second on the pommel horse and high bar and claimed the still rings title with a 9.1.

On his dismount from the high bar, his final event of the night, Messina fell to the mat, clutching his right knee. Team doctors diagnosed the injury as a torn anterior cruciate ligament, effectively ending his season.

“Jacob was having a great competition, from winning the all-around and rings and finishing strong on the horse. He was looking better than he has ever looked.”

Messina's injury is the second notable loss for a Sooner squad looking for its third straight national title. Sophomore Reed Pitts, an All-American on floor and vault as a freshman, tore his Achilles tendon prior to the start of the season and was forced to redshirt.

CONFERENCE DOMINANCE
Under head coach Mark Williams the Sooners have ruled the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF). Since 2000, Williams first season at the helm, Oklahoma has claimed six conference titles and lost only twice to conference rivals.

The Sooners finished as runner-up to Cal at the 2004 MPSF Championships, the only time under Williams that OU has not worn the conference crown.

OU also lost a road dual to Stanford on March 9, 2002.

SOONERS DEBUT AT NO. 1, AGAIN
For the fourth time in the last five years, the Oklahoma men's gymnastics team was ranked No. 1 in the GymInfo Preseason Coaches Poll.

The defending NCAA Champion Sooners received nine of a possible 14 first-place votes.

CAL TO HOST 2007 MPSF CHAMPIONSHIPS
The 2007 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Championships for men's gymnastics will be hosted by California on Saturday, March 31 at Haas Pavilion. The MPSF meet will feature five teams Air Force, California, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Stanford. At last year's national meet, three of the top five teams came from the MPSF. Oklahoma won the NCAA title, Stanford finished third and Cal was fifth.

WILLIAMS NAMES CAPTAINS
Jonathan Horton and Brian Carr were named co-captains of the 2007 Sooner squad by head coach Mark WIlliams.

Horton's leadership and contributions to the team are well-documented. The 2006 NCAA all-around champion tied Bart Conner's school record of three individual event national titles. He is serving his second stint as a team captain.

The lone senior on the team, Carr is expected to provide Williams with consistent scores on four events. Carr is one of the top scorers returning on the pommel horse and high bar and looks to excel on both events in 2007.

IN WITH THE NEWCOMERS
Once again the Sooners have brought in a talented freshman recruiting class under Coach Williams. Joining the OU squad for 2007 are Ian Jackson from Harrisburg, Pa., and Corey English from Covington, La.

Last season, Williams plugged a number of freshmen into the OU lineup and their contributions helped lead the Sooners to a national title.

This year's freshmen will also be counted on to solidify the OU lineup with the loss of All-Americans Jamie Henderson (graduation) and Reed Pitts (injury) as well as replacing the consistent scores of departed senior James Myers.

A NOTE ON THE RANKINGS
The GymInfo rankings are based on the following criteria:
Jan. 23 - February 13: Ranking by Total Season Average (average of all scores)
February 20 - March 13: Ranking by Three Score Average
March 20 - March 27: Ranking by Modified Three Score Average (Select the four highest scores, counting no more than two home meet, and drop the highest score. Average the three remaining scores.)
April 3 - Ranking by National Qualifying Average

SOONERS LOOKING FOR NCAA TRIFECTA
Having won four of the last five NCAA championships, the 2007 OU squad will be seeking the program's first three-peat.

Since the creation of collegiate men's gymnastics (1953), only seven current teams have won consecutive national championships. Oklahoma is the only men's gymnastics program to have won two straight or more on three separate occasions. Penn State and Nebraska are the only schools to win three or more straight titles. After winning back-to-back titles in 1953 and 1954, Penn State won three in a row from 1959 to 1961. Nebraska ran an impressive string of four straight titles from 1979-1982. OU's seven national championships ranks fourth all-time behind Penn State (11), Illinois (9) and Nebraska (8).

The Sooners' 2006 title, along with OU's 2005 crown, marked the third time in program history that Oklahoma has won back-to back-titles. OU accomplished the task on two previous occasions in the program's history. 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. Williams was the next coach in Sooner history to add the feat to his resume, winning consecutive titles in 2002-03 and 2005-06.

OU SENDS SIX TO VISA U.S. CHAMPIONSHIPS
All six University of Oklahoma gymnasts who competed in the July U.S. Men's Qualifier at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., advanced to the Visa U.S. Championships in August.

Jonathan Horton, Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons, Chris Brooks, Jacob Messina, Jason Laughton and Jamie Henderson each scored well enough to compete for the U.S. Championships.

The six Sooner qualifiers were the most from any school, as well as the most in school history.

At the U.S. Championships, Horton won the floor exercise and earned top five finishes on the high bar and still rings to take second in the all-around competition. Brooks won the high bar title and also finished 10th on the floor exercise to land in eighth place in the all-around standings.

Jacob Messina finished ninth in the all-around and recorded a tie for eighth on the pommel horse (28.250).

Several other Sooners scored top-10 event finishes including Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons, who tied for fifth on the parallel bars, and Jamie Henderson,who was 10th on the pommel horse.

EXCELLENCE IN THE GYM AND THE CLASSROOM
Nine members of the Oklahoma men's gymnastics team were named All-America Scholar-Athletes by the College Gymnastics Association in July.

As a team, Oklahoma placed sixth in the nation with a team grade point average of 3.137.

“We're very pleased with the overall GPA of our team throughout the season to add to the success of being national champions in 2006,” OU head coach Mark Williams said.

“I feel confident that we can now clearly be called champions both in and out of the classroom and I congratulate all our student-athletes who were All-Americans.”

Earning first team honors for the Sooners were Wes Aderhold (3.875), Russell Czeschin (3.872), Reed Pitts (3.786), and Chris Brooks (3.50).

Second team honorees included Brian Carr (3.37), James Myers (3.354), Jonathan Horton (3.28), Jamie Henderson (3.222) and Jacob Messina (3.222).

The CGA honored 55 gymnasts as 2006 first team All-America Scholar-Athletes for attaining a GPA of at least 3.50, and 56 second-team members with GPAs between 3.20 and 3.499.

CRIMSON & CREAM ON THE U.S. NATIONAL TEAM
Oklahoma has always had a noticeable presence in USA Gymnastics. Over the program's history, OU has placed 15 athletes on the U.S. Senior National Team.

The Sooners have had two Olympians, four World Championships participants and sent three athletes to the Pan American Games, Pan American Championships and World University Games.

Since taking over in 2000, Coach Williams has placed four gymnasts on the Senior National Team, including current OU standouts Jonathan Horton and Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons. Assistant coach Daniel Furney and recent graduate Jamie Henderson have also been a part of the U.S. Team.

HORTON AND WILLIAMS AT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
In October 2006, two Sooners represented the university and the nation as members of the U.S. Team at the 2006 World Championships in Aarhus, Denmark. Oklahoma's Mark Williams was appointed head coach of the U.S. team, while Jonathan Horton was selected to the American squad after a strong showing at the Visa U.S. Championships.

Williams had previously served as a personal coach at the World Championships and Olympics and as an assistant coach on the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team. Most recently he coached former OU assistant coach Guard Young to a silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

At the 2006 Visa U.S. Championships, Williams was honored as the USA Gymnastics Coach of the Year, and Horton was named Sportsman of the Year by the Junior and Senior U.S. National Team.

Horton was selected to the squad based on his finish at the U.S. Championships in August. The Houston, Texas, native won a gold medal on the floor exercise and finished second in the all-around standings.

Horton's selection added to an already impressive gymnastics resume. In addition to his NCAA accolades, the 5-1 junior has been a member of the U.S. Men's Senior National Team since 2003. He was a member of the American squad at the 2003 and 2005 Pan American Games and led the U.S. to victory at the 2006 France/USA/Switzerland tri-meet, finishing second in the all-around.

The highlight of his budding international career came at the 2006 Tyson American Cup where he took gold on the still rings and finished second on the floor exercise and vault to claim the all-around title over Japan's Hisashi Mizutori.

Despite his considerable list of accomplishments, the World Championships represented a new challenge and opportunity for Horton.

“It doesn't really compare to anything,” Horton said. “It's so huge the World Championships. You really can't compare it to any other international meet except for the Olympics.”

Over 100 countries participated in the 2006 World Championships with the top 12 teams qualifying for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

The U.S squad finished third in its preliminary session and did not advance to the team finals. Horton finished first on the floor exercise but did not qualify for the all-around competition.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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