Quest For Three-Peat Underway

Official practice got underway this week for the Oklahoma men's gymnastics team. With the official start to the 2016-2017 season, the Sooners' chase for a third consecutive NCAA national championship is underway.

OU graduated just two student-athletes from its 2016 championship squad and with the addition of two highly-recruited freshmen, the team is once again the favorite in 2017. Head coach Mark Williams, fresh off his head coaching run for Team USA at the 2016 Olympic Games, and the Sooners' 2016-17 team captains share their thoughts on the start of fall practice and the team's preparations for another title hunt.

HEAD COACH MARK WILLIAMS

On competing in Rio:
“It was great, very exciting, and awesome to be part of. I wish the team had done a little bit better but we were very happy with three medals. Great experience for us. Jake Dalton, Alex Naddour and Chris Brooks were part of the representation of the University of Oklahoma so I think it was a great experience.”

On what he has seen in his team this week:
“I'm not replacing a lot of scores and I brought in two freshmen that I think will do very well in our system. I also feel like we will be as good as we were last year, I'm hoping we can just pick up where we left off.”

On getting back to the title:
“It all starts with developing strength and conditioning and then getting them in a routine. We're starting to do morning workouts again, and the conditioning level has to match what they want to do. Every year we just kind of start over in the preseason and then the gymnastics kind of takes care of itself in January.”

On his 2016-17 captains:
“We have Josh Yee who is back again who is a fifth-year senior and an All-American on vault. We're excited to get him back for one more year. He did a great job as a captain last year, so I think for him he knows what he's getting into. I also named Allan Bower and Colin Van Wicklen, two seniors, as captains. Colin was the national champion on floor last year and Allan was fourth in the all-around and was an All-American in several events. So those two guys really understand what the program is about. I think the three of them will be fantastic in terms of leadership this year. “

On what his expectations for his captains:
“I think mostly just leading by example. Josh was a kid that at one point was a walk-on trying to make the team again. So he is really a kid that has seen all sides of things. He has also worked very hard to get the opportunities to compete. Allan and Colin have both been a part of the program for four years and they want to finish up their senior year with another championship. Like I said, I think they will be perfect for what we need and help the young guys understand the system and what we have to do to be national champions.”

On aiming for the three-peat:
“Absolutely, that's the goal. I think we have the team to do it we just have to stay healthy and go through the process and have everybody buy in. Hopefully we'll have a day in April where we can win another one.”

SENIOR ALLAN BOWER

On what he is most looking forward to this year:
"I love the team chemistry this year. We have a great group of guys and two new freshmen. We're just excited for the year. I'm just most excited to go for that three-peat. It's doable and this team is great. We didn't lose very many guys so we're just focused on staying strong and keeping our hits up."

On what it will take to win a third national title in a row:
"Everyone just needs to do their job. We've all been working so hard in the gym. We have morning practices every day. I just see a lot of spirit in these guys and I can't wait to see what we can do when we get out there on the floor."

On the difference between summer workouts and official practices:
"There is just more structure. Mark tells us what events we need to do and what we need to work on. So we're getting into shape for the routines. It is little harder and you have to put more though into each turn, but that's part of getting ready for the season."

COLIN VAN WICKLEN

On transitioning from summer workouts to season prep:
"We have a great group of guys and we're really coming together. We're getting to the part of the season where we are putting our routines together and all that hard work from the summer is paying off. We're getting a little glimpse of the season."

On getting better over the summer:
"All summer we have been working on new skills, trying to get one or two new skills on every event. This week, and for the next coming weeks, we will be putting those in sequences and developing kind of a preview of our routines for January."

On being named a captain:
"Being a captain was incredible. That was one of my goals that I had as a freshman. I want to lead and motivate this team by working hard and being the first one in and the last one out. I really want to set that example for the younger guys."

On what it will take to win another title:
"We only lost two guys and we added two great freshmen who are putting in a lot or work. We have a great group of guys who are all willing to step up and do whatever it takes to go undefeated again. It'll just be hard work and creating a culture that involves doing the right things every singles day. If we do that over and over again, it will pay off in the end."

REDSHIRT SENIOR JOSH YEE

On the difference between official and unofficial practice:
"I would say the atmosphere. When it's unofficial, everyone is kind of on their own and we're kind of doing our own thing. We all have the same goal but we're not necessarily in groups as a team, so when official workouts start, we make those groups and you feel more like a team, I guess. I like working more together."

"It's tough. The beginning of every year is tough because unofficial, it's on you and how much you do, and when it's official, it gets real. Mark puts us to work and it gets pretty intense, but I love it. Every year, it's awesome."

On a potential three-peat:
"I mean, we just have to keep pushing. We tell ourselves that every year. Every team wants it and we just got to want it more. We only lost two guys but, I mean, people are really tired of seeing us win, so that makes them want it more. So, we've got to keep pushing and never let up."

On playing for Williams, who also served as head coach for Team USA in Rio:
"Mark is awesome. Words can't describe Mark because he's so successful and that's a huge reason why I came here, because of his track record. It's unbeatable. Every year, he does outrageous stuff, crazy things that make us question him but every year, it works. So I tell all the new guys as they come in, just trust what he does because it works, obviously."

On how he'll lead his team as a captain:
"Just to remind them to never let up, basically. That is what I want to keep in mind this year because last year, we had a bunch of new guys come in and so we kind of showed them the way of what we do and our process. They trusted it and they listened and they did awesome. So we have pretty much the same team, a couple new freshmen, and pretty much just keep pushing because if we let up, other teams are right there to take advantage of that."

HEAD COACH MARK WILLIAMS

SENIOR ALLAN BOWER

COLIN VAN WICKLEN

REDSHIRT SENIOR JOSH YEE

Players Mentioned

Allan Bower

Colin Van Wicklen

Josh Yee

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics