Sooners Top Illinois, Air Force in Home Opener

Saturday, January 28

Norman, Okla.

6 p.m.

University of Oklahoma

405.400

380.450

Air Force

Sooners Top Illinois, Air Force in Home Opener

January 28, 2023 | Men's Gymnastics

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NORMAN — Fifth-year senior Vitaly Guimaraes won two events and the Oklahoma men's gymnastics team scored a 405.450 to win its home opener over Illinois (404.450) and Air Force (380.450) Saturday night at McCasland Field House.

Guimaraes won vault (14.950) and floor exercise (14.750) with meet and season-high scores, while sophomore Raydel Gamboa won high bar (13.650) and Ignacio Yockers claimed pommel horse (14.800). OU posted a 70.100 on vault and won the floor (69.450), parallel bars (68.050) and high bar (64.950) events. Oklahoma remains unbeaten at home since 2007.

"It was a little closer than I'd hoped, but we understood that we had to do a little bit more difficulty and we had to take some risks," Oklahoma head coach Mark Williams said. "There are going to be a few growing pains in order to do that. I'm happy that we pulled a good win at the end. I was very happy that our p-bars and most of the high bar lineup finished out well. We definitely need to be a little bit better next time, but all-in-all it was very nice to have the home crowd here. We got good support and good energy in the building. I hope people enjoyed it and want to come back."

Guimaraes led the Sooners in the opening rotation with a big 14.750 on floor. Fifth-year senior Spencer Goodell scored 13.900 and sophomore Emre Dodanli posted a season-high 13.850. Senior Jack Freeman came in with a 13.500 and junior Zach Nunez scored 13.450 on his first floor run of the season.

Nunez followed Yockers' huge pommel horse score with a season-high 14.300. Competing for the first time this season on horse, Gamboa posted a 13.400. On still rings, senior Alan Camillus paced the squad with a season-high 13.500. Fifth-year senior Morgan Seyler posted a season-best 13.400 and junior Dan Simmons scored 13.100 in his first turn on rings this season.

Trailing Illinois by 1.25 points at the midway point (203.550 to 202.300), the Sooners came back in a big way on vault to retake the lead. Guimaraes anchored the rotation with a team season-best 14.950 score. Nunez posted a personal season-best 14.350 and Dodanli put up a 14.000 as three gymnasts scored 14.000 or better on the event. After the fourth rotation, OU led the Illini 272.400 to 267.950.

Guimaraes and Gamboa anchored Oklahoma with twin season-high 14.100 scores on parallel bars. Nunez equaled his score from last week (13.500), while Seyler posted a 13.500 and Dodanli scored 13.000. Entering the final rotation, the Sooners clung to a lead of nearly two points (340.450 to 338.500).

On high bar, Gamboa led the way with a 13.650, Dodanli and freshman Kelton Christiansen each posted 13.400 scores and Seyler put up a 13.350. OU's 64.950 on high bar was enough to hold off Illinois in the final team all-around score.

Oklahoma plays host to Simpson College next Saturday, Feb. 4, at McCasland Field House. The meet is set to begin at 6 p.m.