Completed Event: Women's Gymnastics versus Rutgers on April 3, 2026 , Win , 197.875, to, 196.300
Final
Women's Gymnastics
197.875
vs Rutgers
196.300
University of Oklahoma Athletics
A Class Above
March 04, 2016 | Women's Gymnastics
This is a senior class that has catapulted Oklahoma to new heights, helping declare the program as a fixture at the top ranks of collegiate women's gymnastics.
A class that was a part of the Sooners' first NCAA National Championship in program history and that has secured two additional top-three NCAA finishes (second place in 2013, third place in 2015).
A class that has won NCAA Regional titles and Big 12 Conference crowns in each of its three seasons in Norman.
A class that has amassed an impressive 112-8-1 overall record and boasts eight combined NCAA All-America honors.
A class that both in the gym and beyond has truly left its mark on the Oklahoma program.
This five-member class of Maile'ana Kanewa, Keeley Kmieciak, Hunter Price, Haley Scaman and Nicole Turner is something truly special, and on Friday night, OU fans will have one final chance to see this group compete inside Lloyd Noble Center.
Below, the seniors reflect on their time at OU as head coach K.J. Kindler and teammates share their thoughts on the impact each has left on the program.
MAILE'ANA KANEWA
Kanewa is known for her infectious personality, a personality that shines even through some roadblocks.
Kanewa was an integral part of that 2014 national championship squad, contributing a 9.9 on both vault and floor in the Super Six. That night is the moment that sticks out the most of her OU career.
“It wasn't about having the title. It was more of all the work that we put into it from the beginning of the season and preseason to the very end,” Kanewa shares. “We put everything we had out there on the line, we didn't hold anything back, and I think that was just really special to us to come together and see that progress and the outcome.”
Despite being sidelined this season due to injury, Kanewa has continued to make an impact on the team, embracing a role as an encourager. During meets, Kanewa is right there along with her teammates, sharing congratulations and hugs following OU's routines.
“I need to be there as much as I can spirit-wise and lift them (her teammates) up in the gym every single day, at meets, just be that person there by their side cheering for them as loud as I can and letting them know that they're not doing it alone,” Kanewa explains.
Kanewa has demonstrated perseverance while facing obstacles during her career, according to Kindler.
“Maile has endured and persevered through a myriad of illnesses and injury during her time at OU," Kindler says. "She has taught us all that you CANNOT knock her down. Her passion for the sport of gymnastics and the person it has made her fuels her fire to rebound in distress.
"She absolutely comes alive in competition," Kindler continues. "Her performance on floor at the 2014 National Championships radiated pure bliss and reminds us what true love for your sport looks like.”
For her teammates, Kanewa has been a source of inspiration and encouragement.
"Maile is one of the hardest working people I know. She has faced adversity many times but that never seems to faze her," junior Charity Jones states. "When she comes back, she comes back 10 times stronger. Her desire to be the best person and gymnast she can be is what I really admire about her. She is such a great role model for not only the team but for every little kid out there. I'm truly blessed to have her as not only a teammate but as my best friend."
Sophomore Samantha Craus shares that Kanewa is "the kind of person who commits 100 percent to whatever she puts her mind to."
"No matter what the obstacle, if she has a goal, she will do whatever needs to be done to reach it," Craus says. "I am constantly aspiring to do my gymnastics - and life for that matter - with as much passion, heart and spunk as she does."
KEELEY KMIECIAK
In her senior season, Kmieciak is arguably doing the best gymnastics of her career.
The Naperville, Ill., native is competing in the all-around for the first time since her freshman year after dealing with some injuries. She's currently ranked seventh nationally in the all-around and in a tie for 10th on bars. Kmieciak has provided consistency for the Sooners across all four events this year.
"The last four years have been such an amazing part of my life," Kmieciak shares. "There's been good and bad, mostly good. I've had injuries and things I've had to work through, but coming into freshman year I was an all-arounder and that was awesome and the other two years, I had some setbacks so I wasn't able to and this year I've been working really hard to get into the floor lineup. Getting to be all-around my first year and my last year is just such a blessing."
Kindler says that Kmieciak is performing at a high level as a senior and that she has been a positive example to those around her.
“Keeley is not walking away from the sport…she is tumbling away full speed with great amplitude and a stuck landing," Kindler shares. "She will finish her career on the highest note and with incredible satisfaction. It is always a great accomplishment to complete something, but Keeley can say she was at her very best at the end. Her drive and ambition has been an example to everyone who works with our program.”
As with others in her senior class, Kmieciak says the night OU won its first national title is the moment that sticks out from her collegiate career and one she will recall for the rest of her life. On bars, she paced the Sooners with a 9.95 in the meet and also scored a 9.9 on vault.
Kmieciak shares that she wants to be remembered as "someone who worked really hard and was very consistent" and who also led by example. She adds that when she looks back on her time at OU, she will think about her teammates.
"I think that my teammates are going to be my lifelong friends," Kmieciak says. "I've made some really close friends here and we've been so much together and they're people I'm never going to forget."
And her teammates are never going to forget her, either.
"When I first met Keeley we clicked," junior McKenzie Wofford says. "I love how bubbly of a personality she has, she is always ready to go on adventures and is always so positive. She has taught me a lot throughout the past three years and I can't express how thankful I am to have her in my life."
As far as her favorite part of representing OU, Kmieciak says she is honored to be a part of the growth that has occurred over the past few seasons.
"I think this is a program that has grown in such a short period of time and being one of the top programs in the last few years, I think that being part of history and just being able to be part of that is awesome," Kmieciak explains.
HUNTER PRICE
A glance through Price's social media accounts reveals several inspirational and encouraging phrases, sketched onto paper by Price herself.
This art features various sketches and uplifting phrases such as "Fear is only powerful when you give it power" and "Nothing to lose."
Price recalls drawing flowers on the paper table coverings at restaurants with her mom when she was young, and from there, she continued to doodle.
"Ever since then, I would doodle in class when you're supposed to be paying attention," Price says. "I just found out that I was pretty good at it and I like being able to express myself with pen and paper because I am not always good at expressing myself verbally.
"The phrases started in college when I feel like maybe two years ago when typography and all of that became popular," she continues. "I would just watch tutorials and see how they did it and kind of picked up on it."
Kindler says she hopes Price continues to create art and grow this talent throughout her life.
One of Price's recent sketches
“Hunter has a God-given talent of expression through the art of writing and drawing," Kindler says. "She can make your day by dropping you one of her artistic encouragement notes or going out of her way to draw you something specifically meant for you. I hope she cultivates this talent for the rest of her life because it is driven by her passion and brings joy to others.”
When reflecting upon her OU career, Price says what she will remember most is the family she has received in those involved in the program, including her fellow seniors.
"We've definitely grown together," Price shares. "I don't think it's very common for a class to stay together through all four years and then for Nicole (Turner) to fit right in. We have a great team and a great vibe. It's been good."
As for her favorite memory? Winning the national championship in 2014.
"The team chemistry that year was incredible and just being the first team at Oklahoma to win a national championship was just an honor," Price says.
For her teammates, Price has left an impression with the joy she brings.
"Hunter has a quirky, goofy, silly side to her that is absolutely contagious," junior Reagan Hemry says. "When she smiles and laughs she lights up a room."
Price has a difficult time describing her overall experience at OU because each year has provided her with a different experience and learning opportunity.
"I feel like every year has been different," Price shares. "One year I feel like I've learned about opportunities and second chances and another year's been about family and friends and all together, it's been indescribable."
HALEY SCAMAN
There's no doubt that Scaman will go down in Oklahoma history as one of the best gymnasts to ever don the Crimson and Cream.
To name a few of her individual accomplishments, Scaman was named the 2015 South Central Region Gymnast of the Year and is a two-time Big 12 Gymnast of the Year selection. Scaman is the only Sooner in program history to post multiple 10.0s on multiple events, posting three perfect scores on floor exercise and two on vault. Along with those 10.0s, she holds a career-high 9.975 on bars.
Scaman is a four-time NCAA All-American and has received All-America recognition from the NACGC an additional five times. During her time at OU, she has competed in every single meet, making her impact known in each contest.
In 2014, Scaman finished as the NCAA Floor Exercise Runner-Up. She also placed third nationally on vault that season and added two more top-four finishes in 2015 (tied for third on vault, fourth on floor). The Riverside, Ill., native has 56 event titles to her name, has earned 15 Big 12 Weekly awards, has been named All-Big 12 eight times and earned the conference's Newcomer of the Year award in 2013.
Even though Scaman has experienced great individual success as a Sooner, her motivation is about her teammates and working to contribute to the overall success of the group.
“I think the motivation that keeps me going is (trying to win a) national championship and just doing the best for my team because this isn't very individual, so you do everything for your team,” Scaman says.
This team aspect of the sport ressonates with Scaman, and she says she will look back on those moments with her teammates down the line.
"I think I'm going to reminisce about and miss just finishing a routine and your team coming over to you and cheering you on even if it wasn't your greatest, just the feeling of being supported and backed by everyone," Scaman shares.
In the 2014 NCAA team finals, Scaman soared to marks of 9.95 on both vault and floor and contributed a 9.85 on bars to aid the Sooners to the victory. Being a part of the first national championship squad at OU is something Scaman says she will cherish.
“It means a lot to be a part of that national championship team,” Scaman shares. “It's something that never could be taken away. The memories are amazing and it's something I'll hold dear to my heart forever."
Scaman's imprint on the Oklahoma program can be clearly seen when looking at her career numbers and extensive list of accolades, but her influence extends far beyond the competition arena as well.
"Scaman is such an inspiration both to her teammates and the little girls looking up to her everyday," says OU junior Chayse Capps. "Since the moment I met her, she has been a humble leader. She leads by example and she is always striving to be the best gymnast, student and person she can be. She has made such an impact on the team in the four years she's been a Sooner and has made an event bigger impact on the program's success. She has been a big contributor as a Sooner throughout all four years and helped lead the Sooners to the National Championship in 2014.
"Yet through all her accolades, Sca is always humble and trying to find ways to improve," Capps continues. "She will be greatly missed by all of her fans, friends, and most of all, her teammates."
Kindler echoes Capps, saying that Scaman's influence has impacted and will continue to impact the OU program in the future.
“Haley, or Scaman as we call her, has made an impact on this program that will be felt for decades to come,” Kindler shares. “She brought the 10 to the Lloyd Noble Center. She brought integrity and pride to the Sooner Program. She competed in EVERY meet her entire career. The accolades are countless, but her commitment and discipline will be felt at OU gymnastics forever.”
NICOLE TURNER
Although Turner has only been a Sooner for this season, this year has meant so much to both her and her teammates.
Prior to coming to OU, Turner spent three seasons competing at Oregon State, a decision she says she does not regret at all, and she believes her time there made her who she is today.
When Turner first came to Oklahoma, she admits that the preseason conditioning was initially a challenge, but the coaches encouraged her to just keep fighting and she did just that, working hard, persisting and showing she was serious about being a part of the team.
"I really wanted this and I expressed that to KJ and she believed in me and I'm thankful everyday that she did because she kind of made me believe in myself again," Turner shares. "I just want to be remembered as somebody who really went after it."
Making the decision to transfer was “the scariest thing” Turner has ever done as she walked away from a full-ride scholarship and the place where she had spent the last three years of her life, but she knows she made the right decision for herself.
Turner's teammates recognize the risk she took when deciding to switch universities for her final season, but they are glad she did so.
"She took a huge risk leaving Oregon State and coming to OU, and I'm so happy she did or else we never would have met and become best friends," freshman Nicole Lehrmann says.
Kindler says that Turner and her journey to OU has helped her teammates appreciate their time here a little more.
“She has enhanced the chemistry of our team and has made everyone a little more grateful for their OU experience," Kindler explains. "The courage it took to make a jump of this magnitude at this point of her career is admired by everyone on our team. The year wouldn't have been the same without her.”
Despite struggling with some minor injuries this season that have kept her from being able to consistently work out, Turner says she wouldn't trade coming to OU for anything.
“I kind of took that leap of faith coming to Oklahoma and every single day I am just so glad that I did it," Turner states. "I'm so glad that I took that risk and it was a lot of hard work and it still is, but it's been the biggest blessing of my life ... I think it's really just made me understand how to work as a team and to really just fall in love with gymnastics all over again. It's been worth it."
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