OU Posts Record Score to Win

March 21, 2009

Norman, Okla. – Another win over a top 10 team resulted in another undefeated regular season for the top-ranked University of Oklahoma men's gymnastics team on Saturday. The Sooners completed their 2009 regular season with a win over No. 8 Penn State at the Howard McCasland Field House and improved to 12-0 on the season.

The Sooners won the senior night match after posting a NCAA scoring record with a 366.850, while the Nittany Lions posted a final score of 356.300 to finish second on the night.

“It was a great meet for us tonight. Any time you set the NCAA scoring record you know you did something right and that is what happens when everything comes together,” said head coach Mark Williams.

Oklahoma swept all event titles by scoring team event highs on the night on floor (62.150), pommel horse (59.250), rings (60.850), vault (64.650), parallel bars (59.950) and high bar (60.000).

“I am really excited for the team finishing the season undefeated. Having a meet like this solidifies us as a contender for the national championship,” added Williams

Sophomore Steven Legendre captured the floor, vault, parallel bars and all-around on the night with a score of 92.250, senior co-captain Chris Brooks claimed the high bar title and senior co-captain won the rings event title.

OU started the night off in dominating fashion scoring a team high 62.150 to win the event title over PSU, while Legendre captured the individual title with a 16.000.

On pommel horse senior co-captain Chris Brooks broke a career high scoring a 14.400. The Sooners scored their highest total of the season posting a score of 59.250.

“It is a family atmosphere that we have as a team, wherever we go you can hear people yelling a loud as they can,” said senior Chris Brooks. “It is really a big family and that is what I am going to miss.”

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Oklahoma received another career high on rings when senior co-captain Jacob Messina posted a 15.450.

OU finished off the night by having career marks come from junior Corey English on parallel bars with a score of 14.950 and Brooks with a score of 15.550 on high bar.

“Everyone had a great night and we have to remember to keep pushing and not let up,” added Brooks. “We hit 90 percent of our routines tonight but we have to go back in the gym and get even better.”

Oklahoma will take a week off to recuperate before beginning postseason competition at the 2009 MPSF Championships, April 5 in Palo Alto, Calif.

The Sooners are the four-time defending conference champions and have won nine MPSF titles in the last ten years, including eight under Williams.

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