Official Practice Commences for Sooners

#CommitTo3. That's the motto for the defending NCAA National Champion Oklahoma women's gymnastics team as it kicks off the 2016-17 preseason with the goal of winning its second straight and third overall title.

The squad participated in its first official practice on Monday inside the Sam Viersen Gymnastics Center, with assignments including halves on bars, drills and skills sets on beam and tumbling sequences on floor.

Below are thoughts from some of the Sooners on the formal start of their new season.

Head Coach K.J. Kindler

On what she wants to see this preseason:
“Just really hard work every day. Detail work, making sure we're taking care of all the little things so that the big things end up being easy to us. Little form things. We pride ourselves on our execution and our amplitude. That's something we always focus on so that's definitely something that we're focusing on right now and we're just building endurance for the end of the season and trying to of course be ready to go Jan. 6.”

On the goals for this season:
“We're starting new. We just had our championship banquet last weekend, we were on the field and we celebrated getting those championship rings, but now we start anew. The goal is obviously to hit every little benchmark on the way, get ourselves as prepared as possible to be as successful as possible at the end of the year. It's just little baby steps obviously leading to the culmination of it all in the national championship.”

Senior Chayse Capps

On the difference between official and unofficial practice:
“Official practice is when the coaches are finally allowed to tell us what to do. They're allowed to make our assignments and give us assignments for 20 hours a week, whereas in unofficial practice, we were making up our own assignments. We were allowed to have feedback, kind of—corrections like point your toes, straighten your legs, type thing—but not, how many of this am I supposed to do? That was all on us, so we would try to give the freshmen and the sophomores an idea of what would ideally happen on a daily basis, but it's kind of a questioning game at that point.”

On what she's learned about this team:
“This team chemistry is unlike any other that I've seen. We all get along so well already, and it's only day one of official practice, and we've been in school for three weeks. I'm really excited to see what this team's got. We've got Maggie Nichols and Brenna Dowell. Both went to the Olympic Trials, so big names we're excited to show on the floor out there. Bre Showers and Jade Degouveia: we're real excited to have them. Obviously coming from far distances, so they've got what it takes. I can't wait to see them contribute this year.”

Junior Natalie Brown

On this year's goals:
“The goal is to repeat. Commit to three is our hashtag, and we really just want to emphasize that and work just as hard as we did last year and just make every day count. Make it count will still continue to go for this year even though it was last year's hashtag. We really need to enforce that again.”

On what they need to do during preseason in order to repeat:
“Basically take it one day at a time and not focus too far ahead because each day, you're going to build up. You're going to get even better, and your endurance will build. Your skills will get even more consistent. Basically, we just have to work hard and we all have to be focused on one goal, and that is to win nationals again, and I think that this team can do that.”

Junior Stefani Catour

On what it's like to officially be in preseason:
“It's good to just really get started. When we do it on our own, obviously we're working hard and stuff, but when you come in and they tell you what to do, it's really efficient and just really gets us going and focused on the new year.”

On their mindset entering preseason:
“I love our motto from last year, I still try to think of it… Really making everything count and really being efficient in your workout and just precise with everything you do.”

Junior AJ Jackson

On what she saw today:
“I saw a lot of consistency. Everybody was working really hard this summer to get where they are right now and to just keep improving until season.”

On what she wants to see from her teammates during preseason:
“I want to see everybody work super hard and just give it their all and just have fun with it.”

Sophomore Brenna Dowell

On how practice went:
“I've been looking forward to this since I got here. I was really excited to officially start and just be that much closer to season. I feel like we started today on a good note and I am excited to press forward into the next chapter.”

On being back at Oklahoma after defering last year to compete at Worlds:
“It feels so good to be back. A lot of people have told me I'm a lot happier and more relaxed. And being here my freshman year, knowing what to expect is really nice and then just after having that year off in elite it really made me appreciate how fun college gymnastics is and so I am just so excited to be back.”

Sophomore Nicole Lehrmann

On it being the official start to preseason:
“It's really exciting. It's a really different feel, too, because now your coaches can actually tell you what to do and what they expect you to do, so it really makes it real that season's so close. It might feel still like a long way away, but it's going to come so fast. It's super motivating.”

On #committo3:
“It has a lot of different meanings, but the main one that stands out to me is committing to the third championship. Yeah, the first one was tied, but it still counts. It's just really exciting to have a chance again.”

Freshman Jade Degouveia

On her experience today:
“First official practice was amazing. I really felt like we were all working together as a team. It was way more structured so everyone had the same assignments and I felt like we were all motivating each other and just cheering each other on, so it was a good experience.”

On how excited she is for the season:
“I am so excited. I just want January to come. I am just so excited for everyone to put on those competition leotards and get out there and just cheer each other on for all of us to be together and all of our hard work is finally going to pay off.”

Freshman Maggie Nichols

On her first few weeks at Oklahoma:
“It's been a blast. It has been very challenging trying to balance school and gymnastics, I'm not really used to this kind of schedule, but I've been really enjoying it and getting close to the team has been amazing.”

On the team chemistry:
“It's so early in the season and especially me just getting here and also Brenna, we've all gotten so close so fast and it's just awesome to have so many best friends cheering us on and having our backs, so it's amazing.”

Freshman Brehanna Showers

On how today went:
“I think it was just very exciting to actually be thinking ahead to season now because really we're getting prepared right now during this. Practice is starting, so you know you're getting used to putting more skills together so that you can be prepared for season.”

On her first few weeks at OU:
“It has been an adjustment. It's a lot of figuring out how to balance schoolwork and practice and social life, but it's been great overall. All the girls are super helpful and the coaches and everybody here just wants you to have a great experience, and it's been exciting and great, and I'm looking forward to the rest of my freshman year!”