University of Oklahoma Athletics

Saturday, February 19
Norman, Okla.
6 p.m.

University of Oklahoma

vs

Nebraska

AirForce@OklahomaJanuary 22, 2022
Photo by: Ty Russell

Sooners Welcome Nebraska to McCasland

February 17, 2022 | Men's Gymnastics

2 Oklahoma
Oklahoma
3 Nebraska
University of Nebraska Logo
Saturday, Feb. 19 / 6 p.m. CT / Norman, Okla. / McCasland Field House

NORMAN – The Oklahoma men's gymnastics team is set to host No. 3 Nebraska in the historic McCasland Field House on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. CT.

NOTES AND NUMBERS FOR MEET FIVE

THE MEET
After defeating No. 5 Illinois on the road last weekend, the Sooners return home to take on No. 3 Nebraska in McCasland Field House at 6 p.m. CT on Saturday, Feb. 19.

The meet is available to watch via Bally Sports Southwest at 6 p.m. CT. Live results can be accessed here.
 

LAST TIME OUT

No. 2 Oklahoma defeated No. 5 Illinois in Champaign, Ill. Saturday afternoon by a score of 403.850-398.650.

Freshman Raydel Gamboa collected an 82.000 in the all-around, setting a career-best score and taking the all-around title. 

The Sooners started the meet on floor exercise where they collected a 67.150, tying them with Illinois going into the second rotation. The squad was paced by junior Jack Freeman's 13.700 routine. Freshman Raydel Gamboa put up a 13.600 and senior Alexei Vernyi collected a 13.350 on the event. 

In the second rotation, OU took on the pommel horse and registered a 65.350 to take the lead. Freshman Zach Nunez showed off his strength to collect the event title with a 13.700. Junior Braden Collier put up a 13.550 and freshmen Fuzzy Benas and Raydel Gamboa both put up a 13.050 on the event. 

OU moved to still rings for the third rotation against Illinois. The squad tallied a 66.400 and was led by Gamboa's impressive 13.650 performance, good for the event title. Benas registered a 13.450 and Freeman earned a 13.500 on rings to help the Sooners take the event title. 

The fourth rotation showed vault for the Sooners. With a team score of 71.000, redshirt-junior Josh Corona led the squad with a 14.500, tying with his career-best score. Gamboa started the Sooners off on the event and collected a 14.250. Senior Vitaliy Guimaraes had his season debut on vault and put up a 14.150. Benas collected a 14.100 on the event. 

The Sooners took the event title on parallel bars in the fifth rotation of the meet with a collective score of 66.850. Benas impressed with his strength and earned a 14.250. Senior Spencer Goodell set a career-high score with a 14.050 on the event. Gamboa also helped the tally with his 13.750 performance. 

In the sixth and final event, the Sooners tallied a 67.100 on high bar. Freeman put up the team's highest individual score and set his own personal-best with his 13.900 performance. Gamboa was not far behind with his 13.700 on the event. Gracia collected a 13.400 to help the squad.


SOONERS HOLD STEADY AT NO. 2 IN CGA STANDINGS

Following the conclusion of week five of NCAA men's gymnastics, Oklahoma holds the No. 2 spot in the College Gymnastics Association (CGA) standings. 

After a week of no competition for the Sooners, OU holds the second highest team average (404.883) behind Stanford's 409.967. The Sooners rank first on floor (68.333), second on pommel horse (68.075) and parallel bars (67.583), third on still rings (66.700) and vault (71.250) and fourth on pommel horse (65.417).

Individually, Sooners hold the top three spots in the all-around rankings, led by freshman Fuzzy Benas' 83.800 score from the Rocky Mountain Open. Sophomore Zach Nunez holds second in the country after his 80.975 average and freshman Raydel Gamboa sits in third with an average of 80.800.  

On floor exercise, Sooners have two gymnasts holding a top-10 spot. Sitting in the No. 3 seat, Benas holds a 14.150 average. Senior Spencer Goodell holds an average of 13.917, good for seventh, and senior Alexei Vernyi holds down the 11-spot with a 13.825 average.

One OU gymnasts ranks in the top-10 on pommel horse. Nunez holds tenth with a 13.467 average.

On still rings, Benas holds seventh overall with a 13.900 average. 

The Sooners have two in the top eleven on vault, led by Benas in the five spot with a 14.550. Sophomore Dan Simmons holds the No. 11 seat with a 14.350 average on the event.

In the parallel bar ranks, Benas collects his fifth top-10 ranking with a 14.433, good for third. Gamboa (13.733) sits in twelfth.

On high bar, two Sooners find themselves in the top 10. Senior Vitaliy Guimaraes sits in the No. 3 spot with a 13.700. Jack Freeman holds sixth with a 13.467 average and Raydel Gamboa sits just outside of the top-10 with a 13.400, good for eleventh. 


UP NEXT

The Sooners will take a week off from collegiate competition, but five Sooners will head to Frisco, Texas for the 2022 Winter Cup on Saturday, Feb. 24 and 26. Both days are set for a 7 p.m. CT start time.

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.
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MGYM Highlights: Winter Cup (Day One)
Friday, February 21