OU Captures Titles to End Season

April 18, 2009

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – On the final night of the 2009 National Championships 2009 all-around National Champion Steven Legendre added to the previous night's honors by capturing two more individual championships on floor and vault Saturday night at Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis, Minn.

The Sooners finished the event with nine All-America honors as a team, the second-highest total in the nation, just two behind Stanford's 11 honorees. Gymnasts who finished in the top eight on their event were awarded All-America status.

“We put up a heck of a season, they guys fought hard all the way to the end and I am really proud of them,” said head coach Mark Williams. “Congratulations to all the guys that competed tonight.”

A two-time individual champion as a freshman in 2008, Legendre defended his title on floor and posted the nation's top score (15.625) when it mattered most for the second straight year. The Port Jefferson, N.Y., native also claimed the individual championship on vault with a 16.325, which puts him past Bart Conner (3) with five individual titles. Legendre's three individual titles is the highest amount won by a gymnast this year.

“Tonight was definitely fun because everybody did well,” said Steven Legendre. “It's great to end the season on a high note, it really gives us a boost into next year.”

Senior Jacob Messina earned his second career All-America honor, scoring a 14.300 on the pommel horse.

Continuing to defy the laws of physics and conventional wisdom, 6 foot 3 inch senior Russell Czeschin claimed a couple of All-American honors by posting scores a 15.500 on floor and 15.775 on vault. Czeschin earned his third-straight All-America honor on floor and first on vault.

Individual Results | Photo Gallery

Senior Chris Brooks was named an All-American on floor and vault for the first time in his career, finishing with a 15.575 on floor and a 16.075 on vault. The Houston, Texas, native finishes his career with six All-American honors.

Earning an All-American for the first time, sophomore Bobby Shortle scored a 15.375 on floor to tally four All-American honors for Oklahoma on the event.

Finishing an amazing championships run, senior Kyle McNamara continued his run by earning All-American honors on high bar with a score of 14.475.

Oklahoma now ranks fourth all time in individual NCAA championships passing conference foe California (28) and UCLA (28) with a total of 29 titles.

ESPN2 (Cox Channel 28, HD Channel 721 in OKC) will air the Team and All-Around Finals on April 23 at 2 p.m.

2009 Oklahoma All-America Gymnasts (11)
Chris Brooks (Sr.) – FX, V, AA
Russell Czeschin (Sr.) – FX, V,
Jacob Messina (Sr.) – PH
Kyle McNamara (Sr.) – HB
Steven Legendre (So.) – FX, V, AA
Bobby Shortle (So.) - FX

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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