Completed Event: Women's Gymnastics versus Auburn on April 4, 2025 , Win , 198.025, to, 196.950
Final
Women's Gymnastics
198.025
vs Auburn
196.950
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Kindler Signs Three Junior Olympians
November 09, 2011 | Women's Gymnastics
Nov. 9, 2011
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NORMAN, Okla. -- Head Coach K.J. Kindler and the Oklahoma women's gymnastics squad announced the signing of three Junior Olympians to National Letters of Intent Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period.
Maile'ana Kanewa, Keeley Kmieciak and Haley Scaman signed NLIs with OU for the 2013 season. All three signees were top three finishers in the all-around at the 2011 Junior Olympic Nationals and are current JO National Team members.
“We are so proud to have these three young women joining the Sooners,” Kindler said. “They are a tenacious group of athletes and there is no doubt that these up-and-comers are difference makers. The obvious observation is that they all excel on floor and vault, but make no mistake, these athletes are all-around great in every way. All three will make an immediate impact on our program.
“The three recently spent the weekend at the Karolyi Ranch where the National Team Camp is held each year. They also attended OU camp together this past summer. You can see by the way they interact that they are already becoming a cohesive unit.”
Maile'ana Kanewa was born in Lihue Kaui, Hawaii, but currently lives in Duluth, Minn. Kanewa, a level 10 gymnast, trains under Kara and Mark Waterhouse at The Gymnastics Academy in Duluth.
“Maile has been flying solo as the only gymnast in her club program to compete at this level,” Kindler said. “She is mentored by her coach Kara, who is a former elite and NCAA competitor. I believe she will flourish in our team environment here at Oklahoma."
Kanewa finished third in the all-around at the 2011 JO Nationals and qualified for the 2011 Nastia Cup. The Minnesota Gymnast of the Year nominee finished 13th in the all-around at JO Nationals in 2010 and eighth in the all-around in 2009.
“I see so much potential in her and she has the heart too,” Kindler added. “You can see her passion come through when she performs. I know she will be a go-getter.”
Kanewa was the 2010 regional vault and floor champion and finished third in the all-around. In 2007, Kanewa also took home the regional floor title and finished second in the all-around by just .025.
Kanewa is the daughter of Robert Kanewa and Kristin Cooper-Kanewa. Kanewa is a 4.0 student at Duluth Denfeld High School and plans to major in physical therapy or athletic training.
| Why Oklahoma? |
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"I am so grateful for this amazing opportunity and I am honored to be able to call myself a Sooner. I visited other colleges and really liked them, but when I took one step on OU's campus I knew that is where I wanted to be.” |
Keeley Kmieciak is a level 10 gymnast from Naperville, Ill., and trains under Jess Holtz and Marco Bravo at Phenom Gymnastics.
“Keeley is an athlete that knows how to turn it on,” Kindler said. “She is fiercely competitive and under the bright lights, she is at home. Brought up under the Region 5 philosophy, she values teamwork and being a supportive team player. I see Keeley pushing for more every year, even after winning every title possible at the 2009 Nationals, she continued to want for more. We value that kind of fire.”
Kmieciak is a two-time JO National Team member (2011 and 2009) and a three-time Region 5 All-Star qualifier. In 2009, Kmieciak was the JO Nationals all-around champion after winning all four event titles (vault, bars, beam and floor) and recently finished second in the all-around at the 2011 JO Nationals.
Kmieciak is a three-time state champion (2008, 2009, 2011) and two-time Region 5 champion (2009, 2010) and was named the 2010 Region 5 Gymnast of the Year.
“Keeley shows a lot of personal strength,” Kindler added. “She knows what she wants and is determined to get it. I believe she will do anything she sets her mind to.”
Kmieciak is the daughter of Mari and Gary Kmieciak and will graduate from Naperville Central High School in the spring of 2012.
| Why Oklahoma? |
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“I love everything about Oklahoma. The campus is beautiful, the coaches are nice and all the girls are so welcoming. Even though it is 10 hours away from my house, I really feel at home there." |
Haley Scaman is a level 10 gymnast from Riverside, Ill., and trains under Todd Gardiner, Amy Blackburn and Lenore Schwartz at Illinois Gymnastics Academy, the same club gym as current Sooner All-American Kayla Nowak.
“Haley is like a firework, she is in a tiny package, but when you light her up she explodes,” Kindler said. “Her power is so unexpected. She absolutely flies on floor and vault and is one of the quickest athletes we have ever recruited. She reminds me of Sooner alum Kiara Redmond in that respect. You just couldn't hold her down. Haley will definitely impress sooner fans with her seemingly effortless athleticism.”
Scaman finished second in the all-around, first on vault, first on bars and third on floor at the 2011 JO Nationals. Scaman finished seventh in the all-around at the 2010 JO Nationals after placing first on vault, third on floor and fourth on bars.
Scaman finished in the top five in the all-around the last three years at JO Regionals (first – 2011, fifth – 2010 and second – 2009). In 2011, Scaman was named a Region 5 All-Star and won four Region 5 titles (all-around, vault, beam and floor).
Scaman is a two-time state champion and won all five state titles in 2011 (all-around, vault, bars, beam and floor). In 2010, Scaman won the state all-around and vault titles while finishing second on floor.
“What I also love about Haley is her humble nature,” Kindler added. “She is reserved and a bit shy. It is deceiving, because when she steps out on the floor she is a lion.”
Scaman is the daughter of Lori and Rick Scaman and will graduate from Riverside Brookfield High School in May.
| Why Oklahoma? |
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“I knew from the moment I stepped on campus that Oklahoma was the right fit for me. I felt an instant connection with the coaches and girls on the team. I was so impressed with the beauty of the campus, the quality of academics and the support available for student-athletes." |
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