Sooners Set to Compete in 2011 Visa Championships

August 16, 2011

2011 Visa Championships
First Round: August 17 at 6:30 p.m.
Final Round: August 19 at 6:30 p.m.
Saint Paul, Minn | Xcel Energy Center
Tickets | Webcast | Results

- The top 14 all-around finishers at the senior division will be named to the 2011 U.S. Men's National Team
- The top eight will be selected to compete in the 2011 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan, in October
- Seven current Sooners and three OU letterwinners will compete
- OU letterwinner Jonathan Horton has won the all-around title of the past two Visa Championships
- On Aug. 21, NBC (Cox Channel 4, 704 HD in Oklahoma City) will air a taped recap show of men's finals at 1:30 p.m. CT

SAINT PAUL, Minn. - Eight men's gymnasts from the past and the present will represent the University of Oklahoma as they compete for spots on the U.S. Men's National Team at the 2011 Visa Championships, Aug. 17-20 at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minn.

The Visa Championships, USA Gymnastics' national championship, features the country's best gymnasts vying for national titles and spots on the U.S. National Team in men's, women's and rhythmic gymnastics.

OU will be sending a total of 10 former or current gymnasts to the event. Current Sooners Chris Stehl, Preston Ellsworth, Jacob Dalton and Alex Naddour and OU letterwinners Jonathan Horton, Steven Legendre and Chris Brooks will all participate in the 48-man senior division field along with incoming OU freshman Dylan Akers. Freshmen Alec Robin and Danny Berardini will compete in the junior division.

"This is the largest group of athletes we have ever had at the USA Championships, with 10 either current or former athletes from OU," said head coach Mark Williams. "It means a lot. We're putting people on national teams, world championship teams and in the Olympic Games. It's not just about championships at the NCAA level, but competing at the absolute highest level in the sport. We're really excited to have this many represent our program."

The gymnasts will compete in all six events. The top 14 all-around finishers at the senior division will be named to the 2011 U.S. Men's National Team. Of those 14, the top eight will be selected to compete in the 2011 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan, in October. With the 2012 Olympic Games approaching, this year's World Championship squad will compete to secure a spot in London next summer.

Dalton, Naddour, Legendre, Brooks and Horton are all current members of the U.S. Men's Senior National Team after their strong performances at last year's Visa Championships. Horton took home the all-around title for the second year in a row.

Men's competition begins Wednesday with the opening round at 6:30 p.m. and the final round on Friday night. Gymnasts will compete in all six events each night, with both scores being totaled.

NBC Sports and Universal Sports will broadcast and webcast the action from the men's and women's gymnastics competitions. Universal Sports will air the finals live beginning at 7 p.m. Friday night on both TV and a free webcast at UniversalSports.com. On Aug. 21, NBC (Cox Channel 4, 704 HD in Oklahoma City) will air a taped recap show of men's finals at 1:30 p.m. CT.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Sooners Set to Compete in 2011 Visa Championships

Related News

Related Videos

Sponsors