Defending NCAA Champion OU Tabbed No. 1 in Preseason Poll

2023 Preseason Coaches Poll
Rank	Team	Points
1	Oklahoma (22 first place votes)	1,727
2	Florida (21)*	1,724
3	Utah (2)*	1,648
4	Michigan (4)*	1,600
5	Auburn	1,509
6	LSU*	1,434
7	Alabama*	1,395
8	California	1,325
9	Missouri	1,262
10	UCLA	1,242
11	Kentucky	1,154
12	Michigan State	1,129
13	Denver*	1,119
14	Oregon State	1,066
15	Arkansas*	1,043
16	Minnesota	1,042
17	Stanford*	1,007
18	Iowa	952
19	Ohio State	844
20	Georgia	794
21	Washington	768
22	BYU	674
23	Illinois	674
24	Arizona State*	583
25	Arizona	548
26	Boise State	501
27	North Carolina	497
28	Southern Utah	455
29	Maryland	424
30	Iowa State*	407
31	North Carolina State	373
32	Nebraska	295
33	West Virginia*	214
34	Utah State	212
35	Penn State	146
36	San Jose State	144
* indicates 2023 OU opponent

NORMAN – The defending national champion Oklahoma women's gymnastics team is tabbed as the No. 1 team in the preseason poll, the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) announced Friday.

The Sooners received 22 first-place votes for 1,727 points, while Florida came in second with 1,724 points and 21 first-place votes, and Utah third with 1,648 points and two first-place votes. The Gators and the Red Rocks are coming off second- and third-place finishes at the 2022 NCAA Championships, respectively. 2021 NCAA champion Michigan garnered four first-place votes for 1,600 points and is in fourth in the poll, while 2022 fourth-place finisher Auburn rounds out the top five. For a full list of rankings, see the table to the right.

"The results of this poll are a virtual tie between OU and Florida, and a direct reflection of the 2022 NCAA Championships," OU head coach K.J. Kindler said. "Looking at the programs in the top 20, this is the highest talent level we have seen in our sport."

This marks the fifth time in program history that OU has been picked as the No. 1 team, 13th straight season in which it has been ranked in the top five nationally to begin the year and the ninth consecutive year being ranked in the preseason top three. Prior to this season, OU was voted the No. 1 team in the preseason in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020, No. 2 in 2015 and 2019, No. 3 in 2014 and 2021, and No. 4 in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

OU has now opened 18 consecutive seasons ranked in the top 10 nationally and the last 22 years in the top 25. Since Coach Kindler's arrival in 2007, the Sooners have been ranked in the preseason top 10 every year.

Oklahoma's competitive 2023 slate features at least 11 regular season opponents ranked in the poll, including at least three squads in the top five and at least five in the top 10, along with at least nine teams in the top 25. At least four teams hail from the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

Following its season opener, OU will travel to Baton Rouge, La., for a showdown against sixth-ranked LSU at 2 p.m. CT on Jan. 16 before opening its home slate Jan. 22 at 6:45 p.m. CT against third-ranked Utah on ESPN inside Lloyd Noble Center. Also visiting OU in February are Big 12 opponents Iowa State and West Virginia at No. 30 and No. 33, respectively. The Sooners host second-ranked Florida on March 3 at 7:45 p.m. CT (ESPN2) before hosting the regular season finale against No. 24 Arizona State on March 12 at 1:45 p.m. CT. Three of the five teams OU will host are ranked in the top 25.

On the road, the Sooners will face at least six top 20 teams, including No. 4 Michigan, No. 6 LSU, No. 7 Alabama, 2021 Big 12 champion and No. 13 Denver, No. 15 Arkansas and No. 17 Stanford.

"This may be the most challenging regular season schedule in program history," Kindler noted.

Coming off their fifth NCAA gymnastics championship, the Sooners return eight gymnasts who combined for 20 All-America honors in seniors Ragan Smith, Olivia Trautman and Allie Stern; junior duo Audrey Davis and Katherine LeVasseur; and sophomores Jordan Bowers, Danielle Sievers and Danae Fletcher.

Trautman and Stern have opted to use their extra year due to COVID-19. In addition to the returners, the Sooners welcome freshmen Faith Torrez and Ava Siegfeldt, who are both former elite gymnasts.

SEASON TICKETS ON SALE

Season tickets for the 2023 season are currently available for purchase. Reserved season tickets are $50 each. General admission season tickets cost $25 for adults, while senior (55+), youth (6-18), OU faculty/staff and letterwinner season tickets cost $20. Discounted tickets are available for $3 for groups of 10 or more. Group tickets must be purchased at least 24 hours prior to the event. Fans can reserve their seats online through SoonerSports.com or contact the OU Athletics Ticket Office by phone at (405) 325-2424. More information can be found here.

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