Gymnastics to Host Scrimmage

Dec. 1, 2008

NORMAN, Okla. -- The University of Oklahoma Men's Gymnastics team will host its annual Red-White scrimmage on Saturday, Dec. 6.

The competition is set to begin at 1:00 p.m. inside the Sam Viersen Gymnastics Center on the Oklahoma campus and the meet is free open to the public.

The Red Team will be led by co-captain Jacob Messina opposite the White Team led by fellow co-captain Chris Brooks. The competition marks the first time the Sooners will be in front of judges in a team competition this year.

Oklahoma begins the 2009 slate on Jan. 10 with its annual trip to the Rocky Mountain Open hosted by the Air Force Academy.

The Sooners were voted second in the preseason GymInfo Coaches Poll, receiving two first-place votes, after winning the program's eighth National title last season.

Roster | Schedule | Season Review

The Oklahoma men's gymnastics team has now won five of the last seven NCAA team crowns, (2008), (2006), (2005), (2003), and (2002), all under current head coach Mark Williams. With eight national championships, the men's gymnastics team now owns the most titles of any OU athletics program, breaking a tie with the football and wrestling squads.

Since taking over the program in 2000, Williams' teams have finished runner-up three times, (2007), (2004), (2001), and lower than second at the NCAA Championships only once, a fourth-place showing in his first season, (2000).

ALL-AMERICANS BACK
The Sooners roster is filled with five All-Americans from last year's squad. In total, Oklahoma gymnasts earned 11 All-America honors in 2008, the second-highest total in the nation. Seniors Russell Czeschin (FX), Chris Brooks (PB, HB), Jason Laughton (PH), Reed Pitts (FX) and sophomore Steven Legendre (FX, V, HB), received national distinction.

MEN'S GYMNASTICS RECEIVES RINGS
Oklahoma men's gymnastics team was honored during halftime of the home football game against Cincinnati at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. The Sooner gymnasts received their 2008 championship rings on the field with OU President David Boren and VP/Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione.

LEGENDRE COMPETES AS SENIOR NATIONAL TEAM MEMBER
In October, Steven Legendre was selected to the U.S. Senior National team as announced by USA Gymnastics. Legendre was successful in his first meet as a member of the squad, winning the bronze medal on vault at the Toyota Cup.

JONATHAN HORTON HONORED AT HALFTIME
Former University of Oklahoma gymnast and Olympic medalist, Jonathan Horton was honored at halftime of the Texas Tech football game on Nov. 22, 2008.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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