University of Oklahoma Athletics

Saturday, January 28
Norman, Okla.
6 p.m.

University of Oklahoma

405.400
vs
380.450

Air Force

Lead, Camillus vs. AFA, ILL

Sooners Top Illinois, Air Force in Home Opener

January 28, 2023 | Men's Gymnastics

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