Sooner Six Set for St. Louis and Olympic Trials

NORMAN – Six current and former members of the Oklahoma men's gymnastics team look to achieve their Olympic dreams this weekend as they fight for a spot on Team USA at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials beginning Thursday at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis., Mo.

Current Sooner and reigning NCAA All-Around Champion Yul Molduaer, 2016 graduate Kanji Oyama, 2012 Olympian Jake Dalton and 2012 Olympic alternates Chris Brooks, Alex Naddour and Steven Legendre will all represent OU this weekend. All six Sooners are current members of the U.S. Senior National Team and advanced to the U.S. Olympic Trials with their performances at the 2016 P&G Championships earlier this month.

"Having four that train at our facility with us, I believe is the most we have had in the history of OU gymnastics."
- Head Coach Mark Williams

“Having four that train at our facility with us, I believe is the most we have had in the history of OU gymnastics,” Williams said. “Then having six of the 18, which is one-third of the field, is just amazing.”

The “Sooner Six” make up one-third of the 18-athlete field at the Trials. Five gymnasts and three alternates will be chosen to represent the United States at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio by the U.S. Olympic Committee's board of directors.

The Sooners are looking to continue their legacy of Olympic success. OU has produced four Olympians, including gold medalist Bart Conner, and has been represented in each of the last three games by Guard Young (2004), Jonathan Horton (2008, 2012) and Jake Dalton (2012). The Sooners were particularly well represented at the 2012 Games in London, with two athletes on the five-man competition squad and all three alternate spots.

Moldauer looks to join Dalton and Conner as the third Sooner to make the Olympic squad while still in school. Moldauer finished in a tie for fifth in the all-around at the P&G Championships. He is one of just three NCAA gymnasts to qualify for the Trials.

“I'm just going to try and go in and hit my routines and do my job,” Moldauer said. “I won't focus on results, but you never know what can happen. It would be awesome to make it.”

Chris Brooks qualified the highest for OU, taking the silver medal in the all-around at the P&G Championships. Brooks, who has fought through a myriad of injuries to get back to competition, was an alternate for the 2012 Olympic team. He claimed the event title on parallel bars and also placed second on high bar.

Dalton took bronze at the P&G Championships. A member of the 2012 Olympic Team, Dalton is a favorite to earn a place on Team USA in 2016 as well. Dalton was one of only two gymnasts to finish in the top-3 on three events, taking first on floor, tying for first on vault and placing third on rings. In addition to his bronze medal, Dalton was also voted the USA Gymnastics Athlete of the Year.

"They are always helping me in the gym. They are big names in gymnastics. I used to watch them when I was young and now to be teammates with them is a dream come true."
- Kanji Oyama

“I need to go out and hit my specialty events which are floor, vault and rings,” Dalton said. “I need to really show I can help the team there. If I can solidify that I can back it up on a few other events, that will really improve my chances.”

Naddour finished 13th in the all-around earlier this month to earn his spot at the trials. Also a 2012 Olympic alternate, Naddour turned in three top-10 performances.

Legendre, currently one of Williams' assistant coaches, as well as Oyama were both selected for the trials by the USAG Men's Program Committee. Legendre was a 2012 Olympic alternate, and Oyama is making his first appearance on the Senior National Team.

“We just need to do the same things we've been doing since, for me, back in January,” Oyama said. “It's staying healthy and not doing too much or too little. Your muscles know what to do. We just need to go out and do what we can.”

“I need to be rock solid on floor and vault,” Legendre said. “Those have been my strongest events. For me the goal is to make my best case for the Olympic team, so I am going to do the five events that I think I can contribute on and then really focus in on floor and vault.”

OU's large contingent at the Trials is sure to be a benefit to its athletes' chances. Moldauer and Oyama can rely on the veterans' experience and the older gymnasts can relax and compete together.

“It just feels familiar,” Legendre said. “It just feels like you are out there competing with your teammates.”

“Jake and Steve are such great guys," Moldauer said. "I look to them like brothers. They are always helping me in the gym. They are big names in gymnastics. I used to watch them when I was young and now to be teammates with them is a dream come true.”

Williams' vast experience coaching and building Olympians will be vital to OU's success over the weekend. In addition to his seven national titles, Williams has also coached for Team USA in four Olympic Games and 12 World Championships.

“Guys come here because they want to be on championship teams, but we also develop their talent,” Williams said. “If they are good enough to go beyond the college program I have been right there with them, putting them on national teams and going to World Championships and Olympic Games.”

The Trials begin Thursday night at 7 p.m. CT. The first day's action will be broadcast live on NBCSN beginning at 7:30 p.m. and will also be available for streaming on NBC Live Extra. Saturday night's final will air live on NBC beginning at 8 p.m. CT and will also be available on NBC Live Extra. Tickets can be purchased online here.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Sooner Six Set for St. Louis and Olympic Trials

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