Bower, Moldauer Earn International Assignments

NORMAN – University of Oklahoma men's gymnasts Allan Bower and Yul Moldauer received their international assignments from USA Gymnastics on Monday. As members of the U.S. Senior National Team they will compete for the United States in a pair of World Cup events this spring.

Moldauer will represent the U.S. alongside Stanford's Akash Modi at the 2017 AT&T American Cup in Newark, N.J., on March 4. The event it the nation's most prestigious international invitational and is part of the International Gymnastics Federation's all-around World Cup series. Moldauer will be one of just nine gymnasts in the field.

“The American Cup is the premier North American World Cup event,” Oklahoma head coach Williams said. “It's pretty prestigious for Yul to be invited as one of two American participants. It'll be shown live on NBC. That's been a competition where many past American gymnastics greats have been so it's good to have him be part of that.”

Bower will get his chance to wear red, white and blue two weeks later when he represents the U.S. at the World Cup in Stuttgart, Germany, on March 19. The event is the second of three events in the World Cup Series, the American Cup being the first. These events are the highest level of men's gymnastics in non-Olympic years and participation and success in them helps athletes qualify for World Championship and Olympic teams in during those cycles.

“The World Cup in Stuttgart is an international competition that is highly attended,” Williams said. “There will be 50 to 60 athletes per event. It will be a great opportunity for some international exposure. We're so excited for the opportunity Allan has. He has worked so hard to earn a place on the national team and it's great to see him get an assignment to go out and compete for the U.S.”

Moldauer and Bower earned the chance to compete internationally with their performances at the 2017 Winter Cup over the weekend. Moldauer won the all-around with a two-day total of 171.750, becoming the first Sooner to do so since two-time Olympian Jake Dalton won it in 2011. In addition to his all-around crown, Moldauer also won the event titles on rings (30.100) and parallel bars (29.300). He also placed second on floor (29.650) and vault (29.450).

Bower was equally impressive over the weekend. Always consistent and well-rounded, he finished in third with a two-day mark of 169.900 in the all-around and placed in the top seven on every event and in the top five on four events. He put up his best marks on pommel horse (29.350, third) rings (28.900, fifth) and vault (28.900, fifth).

Fans can see both Sooners, as well as the entire 2017 Oklahoma squad this weekend as they are back in action to host Air Force inside the McCasland Field House on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 6:50 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase online or by calling the OU Athletics Tickets Office at (405) 325-2424 or toll-free at (800) 456-GoOU.