Sooners Pleased by Performance in Red/White Scrimmage

Dec. 10, 2011

NORMAN, Okla. - The No. 1 ranked Oklahoma men's gymnastics team held its annual Red/White intrasquad scrimmage at the team's training facility on Saturday.

The event provided the team an opportunity to compete in front judges and fans as it prepares for the final month of training before the start of the regular season.

Oklahoma Head Coach Mark Williams had a lot to take away from the scrimmage and the team's progress thus far.

"I'm pleased with the direction that the team is going in," said Williams. "I definitely feel we've improved quite a bit in the past month and a half. In comparing our past teams, I don't think we are either further or behind than any other team, so I think we're really on track for this time of the year. We seem to be pretty healthy going into the break and we're looking forward to having a little time off, coming back, and getting the season started at the Rocky Mountain Open."

Williams is particularly impressed with the team's underclassmen and the energy they bring to the program.

"I feel like this team will be one that has to develop its identity to some extent because more than half of our team is new to the program," said Williams. "They're going to be learning along the way. We certainly have some veterans that have set a path for them. I like what I see. I think this is going to be a team that I enjoy coaching because there's going to be a lot of learning involved with where we go from January to April."

The young Sooners, who welcome 10 newcomers to the squad, are developing quickly to the collegiate level of competition. Williams believed freshmen like Dylan Akers, Danny Beradini and Jacoby Rubin will be essential to the Sooners success in the coming season.

Williams was also pleased with his upperclassmen's leadership, particularly junior captain Jake Dalton.

"He's been to one of the highest levels of the sport at this point, competing at two World Championships," said Williams. "He understands the process of preparing for competitions and he's going to be a voice that every guy on our team needs to listen to and follow. He understands what it takes to be a champion.

Dalton, the 2011 NCAA National Champion on floor and vault and bronze medalist at the 2011 World Championships, was proud of the Sooners' performance in both the intrasquad and fall practice.

"Today went well," said Dalton. "We made some occasional mistakes, including myself, but we hit our routines and that's what we came in here to do. We wanted to get the momentum and energy of the team going in the gym and that's what we did today. We have some work to do but it was a good day."

Dalton is optimistic about his team's work in the gym and the upcoming season, which starts Jan. 14 in Colorado Springs, Colo.

"We feel confident. We have a lot of new guys in, a lot of new freshmen, but everyone is working really hard. I think the past few 1-on-6 days (practice format), including today, really helped boost our confidence level going into the season. We're feeling good and are going to keep the ball rolling."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Sooners Pleased by Performance in Red/White Scrimmage

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