All-Sooner U.S. Team Takes Team Gold in Portugal

NORMAN -- Three current and former members of the University of Oklahoma men's gymnastics team represented the United States at the Guimaraes International Tournament in Guimaraes, Portugal, on Saturday. The all-Sooner U.S. delegation took first place in the six-team event.

Sophomore and three-time NCAA national champion Yul Moldauer, along with former Sooners Allan Bower and Kanji Oyama, all members of the U.S. Senior National Team, teamed up to post a score of 164.650 Saturday. That total was good enough for first place and was more than 10 points clear of second-place Norway.

“This was a great chance for these guys to get some good international competition experience,” Oklahoma head coach Mark Williams, who was with the team serving as coach, said. “It's really special that we had a team of all OU guys out their representing the United States and ultimately winning the tournament. We're excited to keep it going in the event finals tomorrow.”

With scoring tight on the day, the U.S. posted its best marks on parallel bars (28.200), vault (28.100) and pommel horse (28.000). Competing in three-up, two-count format, the U.S.'s pommel horse score really set it apart from the field, clearing second place by almost three full points.

Moldauer provided a highlight with a 14.100 on horse. He also put up a huge 14.200 on rings and a 14.300 on parallel bars. All three scores were event highs for the day, giving him event titles on three of his four events.

Oyama paced all gymnasts on vault with a 14.300. He also turned in a strong 13.900 on parallel bars. Bower was steady as ever, notching four scores of 13.650 or better. As a team the United States put up four scores of 14.000 or better, while the other five teams in the field combining for just four.

With team gold already in the bag, the Sooner trio will look to add more hardware for the U.S. on Sunday in event finals. Bower will compete on floor and pommel horse, Moldauer will compete on pommel horse, rings, parallel bars and high bar and Oyama will go on rings, vault, parallel bars and high bar.