University of Oklahoma Athletics
Saluting OU's Senior Student-Athletes
May 10, 2010 | Athletics
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| The women's gymnastics seniors led OU to its best finish ever in 2010. |
Over the last four years, we have had the pleasure of watching you compete, watching you laugh, cry, hurt, triumph, celebrate and pour your heart and soul into something much bigger than yourself. You have continued to raise the standard of excellence at Oklahoma, and for that we say "Thank you!"
Beyond the games won and lost, the banners raised and the individual honors collected, we have watched you grow as people. This weekend, you will walk across that stage with diploma in hand as your name is called, graduates of the University of Oklahoma. It is the culmination of four-plus years of hard work and dedication, all bottled up in one of the most gratifying moments of your life.
There is still a lot of season left for many of OU's sports teams, but 2009-10 already ranks as one of the most successful years in Oklahoma history. Women's gymnastics and men's cross country both turned in the their best finishes ever, women's basketball advanced to its second straight Final Four, men's gymnastics finished third in the country and wrestling fifth.
On top of that, Sooner student-athletes achieved a historic record academically in the last year, turning in an overall 3.01 grade-point average, the highest ever recorded by OU Athletics.
Your accomplishments truly are remarkable, and all the while you have done it the right way, representing this great University and the state of Oklahoma with grace and class.
For that, we cannot express how much we appreciate you. Thanks again seniors! Here's to you...
Jackie Flanery, Julie Kramer, Mary Mantle, Kristin Smith and Hollie Vise, for leading the OU women's gymnastics program to its first-ever No. 1 ranking during the regular season, then on to its first Super Six appearance and ultimately the best finish in program history, a second-place showing at the 2010 NCAA Championships.
Abi Olajuwon, Nyeshia Stevenson and Amanda Thompson, for being the first senior class in OU women's basketball history to go to back-to-back Final Fours. A week later, all three of you were selected in the WNBA Draft.
Corey English, the lone senior on the men's gymnastics team, who never knew anything less than a third-place showing at NCAAs during his four years at Oklahoma.
Eric Lapotsky, Chad Terry, Kyle Terry and Shane Vernon, for helping guide the wrestling program back to national prominence. This year's fifth-place finish at the national tournament was OU's highest in four years.
Tony Clement and Chris Sweeney, for pacing the men's cross country team to its best finish ever, a 12th place showing at the 2009 NCAA Championships. Ellen Dobbin and Lauren Watson set the tone for a very successful women's season as well.
Jackie Fotu and Bridget Laplante, the first seniors in Oklahoma volleyball history to make three NCAA Tournament appearances during their careers.
Tony Crocker, Beau Gerber and Ryan Wright, for representing the men's basketball program with class during a tough season. Gerber and Wright both earned academic all-conference honors.
Monique Gaines, Chelsea Moore, Katherine Rabe and Kelsey Witten, for continuing the rapid rise of an OU rowing program still in just its second season of existence.
Men's golfers Ben Blundell, Eric Durbin and Tyler Rody, and women's golfers Chelsey Collins, Ryanne Elmer and Andrea Sellmeyer, for leading their respective programs into new eras under first-year head coaches Ryan Hybl and Veronique Drouin.
Soccer's Ashley Farrand, for not missing a single game during your career, and fellow seniors Ashlee Coleman and Kate Marr, for setting the foundation for a promising future of Oklahoma soccer.
Football seniors Mike Balogun, Chris Brown, Matt Clapp, Keenan Clayton, Brody Eldridge, Auston English, Demarcus Granger, Jermaine Gresham, T.J. Hamilton, Ben Hampton, Brian Jackson, Tola Jimoh, Cordero Moore, Ryan Reynolds, Derek Shaw, Brian Simmons, Adron Tennell, Carter Whitson and Trent Williams, for withstanding a roller-coaster ride of a season and finishing it the right way with a Sun Bowl victory over Stanford. Ten of you are moving on to the next level, four selected in April's NFL Draft and six others who signed free agent contracts.
Men's track and field seniors Zach Dawson, Neelon Greenwood, Claye Mayes, Marco Moon, Chad Radgowski and Jarell Warren, for leading Oklahoma to the 2010 Big 12 Indoor title. Amy Backel, Ellen Dobbin, Latoya Heath, Scottesha Miller and Kelsey Poljansek also guided the women's team to its best Big 12 Indoor finish ever. Together, these seniors have combined to earn 28 All-Big 12 accolades, six All-America honors and one individual Big 12 title during the course of their careers with the 2010 outdoor championship season still to come.
Blake Boswell and Andrei Daescu, for putting the Oklahoma men's tennis program on the national map. Ranked No. 20 entering the postseason, OU hosts an NCAA Regional, May 14-15 in Norman.
Amber Flores, Lindsey Vandever, just the latest Sooner softball greats. Flores is the school's career record holder in four statistical categories, while Vandever ranks among the top 10 in three.
And finally, to baseball's Jason Chowning, Jeremy Erben, Bryan Groth, Kaleb Herren, Ross Hubbard, J.R. Robinson and Jarrett Semler. The last few seasons have been filled with excitement and we're looking forward to another memorable postseason run.
Good luck to all teams still in action. We hope to see you go out on top. Boomer Sooner!
Tuesday, June 09
Monday, April 13
Monday, April 13
Monday, April 06
