Two Sooners Elected To U.S. Worlds Team

NORMAN – University of Oklahoma senior Yul Moldauer and graduate Colin Van Wicklen were selected to the 2018 U.S. World Championships team Saturday evening at the conclusion of the Team USA World Selection Camp in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Moldauer and Van Wicklen made the five-man squad that will compete Oct. 25-Nov. 4 in Doha, Qatar, at the 2018 World Gymnastics Championships. Graduate Allan Bower will serve as the traveling alternate team member. The World Championships are the first opportunity for national teams to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo with a top-three team finish.

“Obviously I'm very happy for Yul and Colin, but disappointed for Allan who had an injury at a very inopportune time but fought through it to be the alternate,” Oklahoma head coach Mark Williams said. “Hopefully the team can have a performance like they had this weekend when they go to Doha. A lot of guys looked good and we look forward to competing for Team USA.”

Moldauer finished the two-day competition second in the all-around standings with a total score of 169.950 to earn an automatic berth to the team. He claimed four top-five event finishes on day two, finishing second on vault (14.650) and parallel bars (14.350), third on floor (13.950) and fourth on still rings (13.950).

Former Sooner Colin Van Wicklen was also selected to the team, finishing the camp fifth in the all-around standings with a two-day total of 161.100. He collected three top-five event finishes on the second day of the competition, claiming first on vault (14.850), second on horizontal bar (13.650) and fifth on floor (13.800).

Oklahoma graduate Allan Bower battled through a shoulder injury throughout the camp and was elected to serve as the team's traveling alternate. Bower finished in the top five in four of the five events he competed in on day two, tying for second on vault (14.650), taking fourth on floor (13.900) and parallel bars (13.500) and finishing fifth on pommel horse (14.350).

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