Season Begins at Rocky Mountain Open

NORMAN, Okla. – The No. 2 Oklahoma men's gymnastics team will begin what hopes to be another championship season with a trip to the Rocky Mountain Open in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Saturday.

The NCAA national runners-up and the defending Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Champions will take on No. 10 Nebraska, Arizona State, Washington and the host, No. 11 Air Force at 7 p.m. CT.

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“It's a chance to get out and perform finally, to put the uniform on and see where we're at,” said OU head coach Mark Williams. “It's one thing to be in our building and another to be in front of an audience and neutral judging.”

Oklahoma has an incredible streak at the Rocky Mountain Open, having won each of the last 14 meets at the Air Force Academy.

“We're starting on pommel horse which has its challenges,” Williams continued. “Guys have to respond in dealing with altitude and a real meet situation.”

The Sooners this season are led by seven All-Americans, including junior Alec Robin, a three-time All-America honoree last season in the all-around, vault and high bar.

Junior Michael Squires won the NCAA title on still rings in 2013 and returns on the event for OU; also returning is senior Presten Ellsworth, an All-American and the 2013 MPSF Gymnast of the Year.

“We're looking forward to beginning,” Williams said. “It's always fun to get underway. We have three to four months to get things together before the NCAA Championships and this starts it all off.”