Sooners Top Illinois in Thriller at McCasland

Saturday, January 25

6 p.m.

University of Oklahoma

330.700

325.500

Illinois

Photo by: Oklahoma Athletics

Sooners Top Illinois in Thriller at McCasland

January 25, 2025 | Men's Gymnastics

Highlights Final Results Photo Gallery

NORMAN – Five Sooners won event titles, and the second-ranked Oklahoma men's gymnastics team registered a season-high score in its 330.700 to 325.500 victory over No. 3 Illinois in front of a crowd of 1,527 Saturday evening at McCasland Field House.

Senior Emre Dodanli won the floor exercise (14.050) and vault titles (14.350), senior Matthew Burgoyne won the still rings title (14.100), sophomore Colin Flores won the parallel bars title (13.650) and junior Kelton Christiansen won the horizontal bar title (14.350).

The Sooners claimed team titles on five of the six events: floor exercise (55.200), still rings (55.750), vault (56.200), parallel bars (52.900) and horizontal bar (55.900). OU set season-high scores on floor, pommel horse and high bar, and tied its season best on rings. Oklahoma entered the third week of the season leading the nation in floor exercise average, and its team all-around total was nearly two points higher than the nation's highest score entering the weekend.

"We were exactly tied after two events, and it kind of went that way for the next two events," Oklahoma head coach Mark Williams said. "We were going blow-for-blow. Even at the end there, it was really pretty close until the last couple of routines. I'm really proud of the guys stepping up in that environment, handling that pressure and finishing. We were very happy to come away with the new high score for this four-up, four-count (system), at least going into this weekend. Overall, we had about a 95% hit rate, good landings and a great environment for gymnastics. That's the kind of thing you love to see."

Oklahoma started the meet on floor exercise and Illinois began on pommel horse. Despite posting a season-high floor score, the Sooners trailed 56.200 to 55.200 after the first rotation. OU then notched a 54.750 on its pommel horse rotation, while the Illini posted a 53.750 on floor, resulting in a knotted 109.950 total after two events.

The Sooners pulled ahead after the third rotation (OU on rings and Illinois on vault), 165.700 to 164.200. OU then extended its lead to two points (221.900 to 219.900) and led 274.800 to 272.100 after five rotations before pulling away for the final 5.2-point margin.

"I knew they were going to start off really strong on pommel horse, but we did a good job on floor," Williams said. "I just felt like, going into the second event, we had to make sure we were comfortable and do what we were there to do. Ignacio (Yockers) had been nursing a little issue with his hand, so we were making decisions about whether he was going to actually go or not. We took a skill out of his routine, and he came through with a big score for us. The whole pommel horse team did a great job to even things up."

Oklahoma set three season highs on floor exercise. Burgoyne started the meet with a season-high 13.800, redshirt freshman Arthur Ballon notched a season-high 13.900, senior Brigham Frentheway scored 13.450 and Dodanli hit a season-high with his 14.050.

Christiansen began OU's pommel horse rotation with a season-best 13.050, followed by season highs from sophomore Tyler Flores (14.100) and fifth-year senior Zach Nunez (13.950). Yockers anchored with a 14.300.

Burgoyne and freshman Francisco Velez Belendez tied for the best rings score (14.100) of the meet. Burgoyne's 9.1 execution broke the tie for first place on the event. Frentheway led off with a 13.700 and sophomore Tas Hajdu notched a 13.850 in the third spot in the lineup.

Tyler Flores led off on vault with a 13.950, followed by a 14.000 from Ballon and a 13.900 by Frentheway before Dodanli anchored with his stuck 14.350. On parallel bars, sophomore Colin Flores set a season high with his 13.650 in the second position. Burgoyne, who was a lineup replacement for Hajdu prior to the start of the rotation, notched a career-high 13.200, and Dodanli hit a 13.400 in his first p-bars routine of the season.

Redshirt freshman Brandon Zepeda-Orth started high bar with a career-high 13.650, Frentheway followed with a season-high 13.700, Christiansen stuck the dismount for his 14.350 and Dodanli closed the meet with a season-high 14.200.

In all, Oklahoma registered eight scores of 14.000 or higher, nine routines with 9.0 or better execution and only one sub-13.000 score in the meet, establishing season bests in all three areas. The Sooners notched 16 individual season highs and four career-best marks.

Saturday's attendance of 1,527 was the highest in the nation so far this season and the highest of a non-Cleveland Night meet in recent memory.

"We love to see that for our sport," Williams said. "The energy in the building definitely had a positive impact on the performance of our guys. We thank everyone that made the effort to be here, and we hope they keep coming back."

Oklahoma travels to Columbus, Ohio, next weekend to face Ohio State at noon CT on Sunday, Feb. 2.

The Sooners return to McCasland Field House on Feb. 8 against Stanford and Greenville. It will be Cleveland Night and Alumni Weekend. Fans are encouraged to arrive early for introductions at 5:45 p.m. and the first routine will start at 6 p.m. Tickets are available for just $7 ($5 for youth and seniors) and can be purchased through the OU Athletics Ticket Office.

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.