Men's Gym Signs Four for 2021

NORMAN — The University of Oklahoma men's gymnastics program welcomed four signees from the 2021 recruiting class in the early signing period beginning Wednesday.

Oklahoma head coach Mark Williams and the Sooners signed talented prospects from across the globe in Fuzzy Benas from Richmond, Texas, Emre Dodanli from Ontario, Canada, Raydel Gamboa from Phoenix and Nikolai Kolesnikov from Minnesota.

MGYM NSD Benas

Fuzzy Benas / EnRich Gymnastics / Richmond, Texas

2020 Winter Cup Challenge, Las Vegas, Nev. - 1st-AA, SR; 2nd-VT; 3rd-FX; 5th-PH (Jr. Div.)
2020 Elite Team Cup, Las Vegas, Nev. - 1st-Team
2019 Elite Team Cup, Greensboro, N.C. - 1st-Team
2019 Winter Cup Challenge, Las Vegas, Nev. - 1st-SR; 4th-AA; 5th-FX, VT(T); 8th-PH (Jr. Div.)
2018 U.S. Gymnastics Championships, Boston, Mass. - 1st-AA(T), FX, SR; 3rd-VT, HB (15-16)
2018 Men's Junior Olympic National Championships, Oklahoma City, Okla. - 1st-SR; 4th-AA, VT; 5th-PH; 6th-PB, HB(T); 7th-FX (JE L10 Age 15)
2019 International Junior Team Cup, Berlin, Germany - 1st-Team, VT; 2nd-SR; 7th-AA
2019 RD761 International Junior Team Cup, Katy, Texas - 2nd-Team, VT; 3rd-HB; 5th-PH; 8th-FX; 9th-AA

USA Gymnastics Bio

OU head coach Mark Williams on Benas:

"We're excited to have Fuzzy Benas sign his NLI. Fuzzy has been a junior national team member whose father had an illustrious career as a Penn State gymnast and his mom competed collegiately at the University of Missouri. He's very talented and a strong all-arounder. I expect him to make an immediate impact for our team going forward. He's probably one of the most talented guys out there in this year's recruiting class."

MGYM NSD Dodanli

Emre Dodanli / Manjaks Gymnastics / Milton, ON, Canada

2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships - 3rd-PH; 5th-PB; 8th-AA (17-18)
2019 FIG Junior World Championships - 38th-AA; 16th-Team (TURK); FX-20th(Q); PB-34th(Q); SR-54th(Q); HB-42nd(Q)

FIG Bio

OU head coach Mark Williams on Dodanli:
"Emre Dodanli is from Canada and has previously been a part of their junior national program. He has some connections to OU from (sophomore) David Sandro, having trained with him while David was still a junior gymnast. Emre has a very strong floor and vault and is a good all-arounder. We're excited to have another guy that may be a bit under the radar but can make an immediate impact with us on several events."

MGYM NSD Gamboa

Raydel Gamboa / USA Flairs Gymnastics / Phoenix, Ariz.

2019 Men's Junior Olympic National Championships, Reno, Nev. - 4th-VT; 8th-SR(T); 9th-AA (JE L10 Age 16)
2019 Elite Team Cup, Greensboro, N.C. - 2nd-Team
2019 Winter Cup Challenge, Las Vegas, Nev. - 2nd-PH; 6th-SR; 7th-HB; 8th-PB; 9th-AA(T) (Jr. Div.)
2018 U.S. Gymnastics Championships, Boston, Mass. - 4th-PH; 5th-FX, HB(T); 6th-AA; 7th-PB (15-16)
2018 Men's Junior Olympic National Championships, Oklahoma City, Okla. - 2nd-HB; 5th-AA, SR(T); 7th-PH, PB; 8th-FX, VT (JE L10 Age 15)
2017 Men's Junior Olympic National Championships, Kissimmee, Fla. - 6th-AA (JE L9 Age 14)
2016 Men's Junior Olympic National Championships, Battle Creek, Mich. - 1st-FX; 2nd-VT; 3rd-HB; 6th-AA, SR(T) (L8 JE 12)

USA Gymnastics Bio

OU head coach Mark Williams on Gamboa:

"Raydel Gamboa-Perez is a bit of a dark horse on the recruiting trail this year. He stepped away from gymnastics for a period of time but had a productive junior career and decided to come back. He's training at USA Flairs in Phoenix with Michael Naddour, the same facility that (OU All-American and Olympic medalist) Alex Naddour trained. Raydel is very talented and very quick and explosive gymnast. I think he's going to take a big jump in what he's capable of doing his senior year going into his freshman year with us. It's a great pick up for us from a gym that we know does the right things to have him prepared for the next level."

MGYM NSD Kolesnikov

Nikolai Kolesnikov / Mini Hops Gymnastics / Minneapolis, Minn.

2017 Men's Junior Olympic National Championships, Kissimmee, Fla. - 47th-AA
2017 Region 4 Championships - 5th-AA
2017 Windy City Invitational - T31st-AA

OU head coach Mark Williams on Kolesnikov:

"Nikolai Kolesnikov, whose father grew up in the Soviet gymnastics system and is now coaching at the University of Minnesota. I'm excited for Nikolai to see where his gymnastics can take him. He's a very good student and very committed to the sport of gymnastics. He's excited about the opportunity."

For updates and more information on Oklahoma men's gymnastics, follow the Sooners on Twitter and Instagram (@OU_MGymnastics) and like Oklahoma Men's Gymnastics on Facebook.