2007 Women's Gymnastics Preview

NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma enters the 2007 gymnastics season with a new coaching staff and a new energy. Head coach K.J. Kindler and assistants Lou Ball and Tom Haley have injected new enthusiasm into a team that returns a number of key members from a successful 2006 season.

Following a third consecutive trip to the NCAA Championships last year, OU brought back a solid nucleus of talent including returning All-Americans Brittney Koncak-Schumann, Kiara Redmond and Stephanie LoPiccolo. The Sooners also welcome a talented group of freshmen for 2007 -- Jackie Flanery, Mary Mantle, Kristin Smith and Hollie Vise -- and will look to plug them into the right spots to contribute.

The Oklahoma schedule features four home meets as well as road trips to Alabama, Texas Woman's, Nebraska, Arizona State, Iowa State, Iowa and Stanford. Three of the Sooners' 2007 opponents (Alabama, Nebraska and Iowa State) made it to the Super Six at the 2006 NCAA Championships.

2007 Roster | 2007 Schedule |

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VAULT
Top Returning Scores:
9.950 - Kiara Redmond, Brittney Koncak-Schumann
9.925- Haley DeProspero
Final 2006 Event Rank: Second

Vault will prove to be a difference maker for the OU squad during the 2007 season. The Sooners will have at least two new faces in the lineup after the loss of Kristin Cox and 2005 NCAA finalist Tiffany Willin.

New vaulters on the scene who will add depth to the already dynamic team include freshmen Mary Mantle and Jackie Flanery, juniors Jessica Kinder and Ashley Cooney, and senior Lori Winn. All five have 10.0 valued vaults and are new additions to the event lineup.

Brittney Koncak-Schumann, Haley DeProspero, Ashley Jackson and Kiara Redmond will provide excellent leadership and veteran experience to this event.

“Vault is an event that can set the pace for a competition,” Ball said. “It is an event that demands power and strength, yet control on the landings. The squad is very explosive. The vaults have impressive amplitude and the form is very tight. Sticking landings will be the key for us as the season progresses.”

UNEVEN BARS
Top Returning Scores:
9.950 - Stephanie LoPiccolo
9.900 - Haley DeProspero, Brittney Koncak-Schumann
Final 2006 Event Rank: 14th

The bar squad boasts a group of seasoned athletes who look to improve on their fourth-place finish on this event in last year's NCAA preliminaries.

The Sooners will be led by 2006 NCAA finalist Stephanie LoPiccolo, while Redmond, Winn, Schumann and DeProspero are all prepared to contribute. Newcomers to the bars team include Cooney, Jackson and Mantle.

Coaches are optimistic about the execution level and the number of E level dismounts on the event. The Sooners boast 8 “E” level dismounts while performing a variety of dynamic release moves including Geingers, piked Jaegers, Schupashnakovas, Schushunovas and Tkatchevs.

“Bars is a deep event for us,” Kindler said. “What I find so impressive is the variety of skills the team will be performing. You won't see cookie cutter routines from our team. Each athlete brings something very special and unique to the table.”

Look for contributions from Caitlin Hinkis and Kristin Smith, who both perform 10.0 valued routines. In addition, Kinder and Flanery are prepared to step in at a moment's notice.

BALANCE BEAM
Top Returning Scores:
9.925 - Brittney Koncak-Schumann
9.900 - Ashley Jackson, Lori Winn
Final 2006 Event Rank: Sixth

Beam is often the one event that determines a win or a loss, and Sooner coaches are excited about the potential of the Sooner lineup on this event.

“I believe balance beam is one of our strongest events and it's definitely our deepest in terms of competitor readiness,” Kindler said. “We have shown tremendous consistency in practice and we are mentally tough. I think this balance beam team can contend with the best the country has to offer.”

Schumann and Winn look to anchor a veteran squad and Redmond will start the Sooners off with solid performance and an “E” valued dismount. Jackson, LoPiccolo, Kinder, Cooney, and DeProspero will offer their experience to the squad, while freshmen Smith and Hollie Vise look to make an impact in 2007.

Smith brings with her a wealth of experience at the Junior Olympic level and boasts beam titles from gymnastics invitationals all over the country, while Vise, a former World Champion, adds invaluable international experience. Also look for Gina Lesko and Flanery to jump into the lineup.

FLOOR EXERCISE
Top Returning Scores:
9.975 - Brittney Koncak-Schumann
9.900 - Haley DeProspero, Kiara Redmond

The most entertaining of the events, floor is receiving a makeover for the 2007 season. All athletes will be performing newly choreographed routines and the same dynamic tumbling from years past will wow the crowd. The music styles vary greatly, from hip hop to Oscar winning soundtracks, and the focus is on performance quality.

“Floor is an event where you can sit back and enjoy every moment,” said assistant coach Tom Haley. “The fans will be engrossed in the performance of the routines and impressed with the athletic ability in our tumbling. This is an area where we are stepping it up a notch and the early indications are that we will be much improved on this event.”

Watch for veteran leadership from Winn, Koncak-Schumann, Jackson, Redmond and DeProspero. Newcomers looking to crack the top six include Cooney, Flanery, Smith, Mantle, and Hinkis.

ALL-AROUND
Top Returning Scores:
39.600 - Brittney Koncak-Schumann
39.425 - Haley DeProspero

Koncak-Schumann, the 2006 Big 12 all-around champion, will again be the Sooners' top all-around competitor.

Other all-around competitors capable of turning in winning results include DeProspero, Jackson, Redmond, Winn and Cooney.

All these athletes have potential to be all-around competitors for OU and will be depended upon heavily throughout the season.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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