White Over Red in Gymnastics

Dec. 6, 2008

NORMAN, Okla. - The University of Oklahoma men's gymnastics team, ranked No. 2 in the preseason coaches' poll, continued preparations for the 2009 season Saturday afternoon with the annual Red-White intrasquad scrimmage. The meet, held at the Sam Viersen Gymnastics Center, saw team co-captain Chris Brooks' White team defeat fellow co-captain Jacob Messina's Red team.

Each squad sent at least four gymnasts to compete on each apparatus and the top three scores counting towards the team's total.

"I was really impressed with the consistency of our routines and I thought that we had some good energy in front of a decent crowd," said head coach Mark Williams.

This was the Sooners' first time this season to compete in front of judges.

Brooks (White Team), a senior from Houston, Texas, took the all-around title with a score of 88.80 while also taking the floor (15.7), parallel bars (14.8) and high bar (15.3) titles.

"I was impressed with the progress that Chris has made in the off-season and some of our freshmen as well," added Williams. "I think we are on a good track for the rest of the season."

Junior Ian Jackson (White Team) had a good outing as well, claiming the vault (16.25) and still rings (14.9) titles while finishing second in the all-around.

"It's always good to compete and have the crowd behind you when you are starting a new season," said Brooks. "We looked good as a team but we still have some work to do."

Sophomore Steven Legendre (Red Team) was solid and finished in the top two in floor, vault and parallel bars. Legendre was third in the all-around.

"I think that both teams did well individually and as a whole," said Messina. "I'm really happy with the way the event went but we still have to keep working hard towards our first meet."

Messina had a solid meet, tying for first on pommel horse and finishing in the top three on parallel bars and high bar.

The Sooners open the season Jan. 10 when they travel to Colorado Springs, Colo., to participate in the Rocky Mountain Open. OU will return to Norman for its first home meet on Jan. 31 when it hosts the University of Texas at the McCasland Field House.

All-Around
1. Chris Brooks (W) 88.8
2. Ian Jackson (W) 86.25
3. Steven Legendre (R) 85.8

Floor Exercise
1. Chris Brooks (W) 15.7
2. Steven Legendre (R) 15.4
3. Bobby Shortle (W) 15.35

Pommell Horse
1T. Jason Laughton (W) 13.8
1T. Jacob Messina (R) 13.8
3T. Kyle McNamara (W) 13.35
3T. Corey English (R) 13.35

Still Rings
1. Ian Jackson (W) 14.9
2. Kyle McNamara (W) 14.3
3. Troy Nitzky (R) 14.15

Vault
1. Ian Jackson (W) 16.25
2. Steven Legendre (R) 16.150
3T. Chris Brooks (W) 16.00
3T. Bobby Shortle (W) 16.00

Parallel Bars
1. Chris Brooks (W) 14.8
2. Steven Legendre (R) 14.2
3T. Corey English (R) 14.05
3T. Jacob Messina (R) 14.05

High Bar
1. Chris Brooks (W) 15.3
2. Ian Jackson (W) 14.8
3. Jacob Messina (R) 14.5

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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