Two Sooners Honored by Big 12

Big 12 Award Winners
Event Specialist of the Week AJ Jackson - Jr. - Belton, Mo. - Contributed a career-high 9.975 on floor in the Perfect 10 Challenge - Added a 9.9 on vault and has now scored at least a 9.9 on vault and floor in five of six meets this season
Newcomer of the Week Maggie Nichols - Fr. - Little Canada, Minn. - Recorded a 10.0 on floor, becoming the first Sooner to ever post a perfect total on three different events - Won her sixth straight all-around title with a 39.675

NORMAN — Junior AJ Jackson and freshman Maggie Nichols of the No. 1 Oklahoma women's gymnastics team have received weekly recognition from the Big 12, the conference office announced Monday. Jackson was named the Big 12 Event Specialist of the Week, while Nichols earned Newcomer of the Week status.

The Sooners are coming of a season-high score of 198.075 in their victory over No. 16 Auburn in the Perfect 10 Challenge in Oklahoma City last weekend. Both Jackson and Nichols were part of OU's floor lineup that exploded for a 49.675, tying the third-highest score on the event in program history.

Against the Tigers, Jackson put up a huge 9.975 on floor, her career best, and added a 9.9 on vault. The scores earned her second place on both events, and Jackson has now scored at least a 9.9 on both vault and floor in five of six meets this season. Currently, the Belton, Mo., native holds a pair of top-10 rankings, coming in eighth in the nation on vault and ninth on floor.

Nichols scored a 10.0 on floor, the first of her career on the event and third overall. The freshman has now posted perfect scores on vault, beam and floor this season and is the first Sooner in program history to record a 10.0 on three different events.

On Friday, Nichols shared the bars title with a 9.9. She also tied for third on both vault and beam with scores of 9.875 and 9.9, respectively. Her 39.675 all-around score earned her a sixth straight title. Nationally, Nichols is ranked first in the all-around and on bars, beam and floor and holds third on vault.

In 2017, the Sooners have earned 15 total awards from the Big 12. Jackson has received the specialist honor four times this season, while it is Nichols' seventh overall recognition and fifth newcomer accolade of the year. Nichols is the youngest gymnast to earn seven weekly awards in a Big 12 season and currently ties Kiara Redmond-Sturms (OU, 2008) with the most honors in a year. OU has earned at least two awards every week this season.

The Sooners will take on three top-15 foes as they face No. 2 LSU, No. 10 Georgia and No. 15 Missouri in the GymQuarters Invitational in St. Charles, Mo. The podium meet begins at 6:30 p.m. CT on Friday and will stream through FloGymnastics.