Oklahoma

Sooners Shine in Vegas Season Opener – University of Oklahoma

Published

2 years ago

January 6, 2024

Sooners Shine in Vegas Season Opener – University of Oklahoma

NORMAN – The No. 1 Oklahoma women’s gymnastics team earned a statement win Friday night at the Mean Girls Super 16 in Las Vegas, Nev. The Sooners posted a 197.850 in their season opener, defeating No. 9 Kentucky (196.775), No. 11 Michigan State (196.300) and No. 6 Michigan (195.875).

The Sooners took home event titles on two events and in the all-around. Faith Torrez claimed a share of the all-around title with a career-high 39.625. Torrez also took home a share of the beam title with a 9.95. Ragan Smith shared the beam title with Torrez with a matching 9.95. Jordan Bowers claimed the floor title with a 9.925, one of just two athletes to earn a 9.9-plus on the event Friday evening. Michigan State’s Sage Kellerman earned the vault title with a perfect 10 and Kentucky’s Raena Worley won the bars title with a 9.975.

The Sooners opened with a 49.350 on vault, thanks to a pair of 9.9s from Jordan Bowers and Hannah Scheible. Audrey Davis started the rotation strong with a 9.850 on her Yurchenko 1.5, followed by a stuck front-pink-half from Scheible in her Sooner debut. LeVasseur earned a 9.800 in the No. 3 spot, followed by Bowers’ 9.9. Freshman Keira Wells made her debut in the Crimson and Cream with a 9.850. Torrez anchored with a 9.850 of her own on a huge Yurchenko 1.5.

Tied for first after the first rotation with Kentucky, the Sooners used a big 49.625 to take the lead with a 98.975 at the halfway point. LeVasseur showcased her new dismount with a stuck landing for a 9.925 in the leadoff spot. Following her was Danae Fletcher with another stuck dismount for a 9.9. Torrez showed off her beautiful double layout dismount in the No. 3 spot for a 9.95 and Ragan Smith added a 9.95 of her own with a stick on the landing. Davis showed why she’s one of the best bar workers in the nation with gorgeous handstands and a sky-high piked Jaegar for a 9.9. Bowers anchored the incredible rotation with a 9.9 of her own.

In the third rotation, OU extended its lead with a 49.475 on beam. Davis led off the beam squad with a stuck dismount for a 9.875. Making her debut on beam, Wells was poised and composed showing off a beautiful series for a 9.825. Bowers brought the intensity and elegance in the No. 3 spot for a 9.875. The first 9.9 score of the night went to Torrez with a gorgeous performance and a stuck dismount for a 9.95. LeVasseur posted a 9.825 in the No. 5 spot, before Smith anchored with an outstanding routine and stuck dismount for a 9.95.

The Sooners closed out the meet with a 49.350 on floor. Davis led off her third event with a 9.875 to earn a 39.500 in the all-around. In the No. 2 spot, Fletcher tallied a 9.875 showing off her fun and energetic routine. Smith posted a 9.75 in the No. 3 spot for her Taylor Swift inspired routine. LeVasseur opened her first competition floor routine with a huge full-in and showed off her gorgeous dance skills for a 9.850 and a 39.400 all-around score. Torrez’s powerful tumbling and charisma on floor was showcased as she earned a 9.875 in the No. 5 spot. Bowers anchored with a 9.925 showing off her sky-high double pike and intense choreography.

UP NEXT

The Sooners will travel to West Valley City, Utah, for the most anticipated matchup of the season on Jan. 13 at the inaugural Sprouts Farmer’s Market Collegiate Quad. The meet will feature four top-five teams including No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 3 LSU, No. 4 Utah and No. 5 UCLA all competing on ABC at 3 p.m. CT from inside the Maverik Center.

FOLLOW THE OKLAHOMA SOONERS

For updates, follow @OU_WGymnastics on Twitter and Instagram, or like Oklahoma Women’s Gymnastics on Facebook.

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Oklahoma

Neighbors sift debris, help each other after suspected Purcell tornado

Published

6 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Neighbors sift debris, help each other after suspected Purcell tornado

PURCELL — Jennifer Fox had just fed the pigs behind her house early in the morning Thursday, Jan. 8, and began getting ready for work before she and her two sons heard something hit her bedroom window.

“I said, ‘Is it hailing?” she said. “My oldest looked out the window and he saw our awning across the back. He said, ‘Mom, the awning’s gone.”

Fox looked out the window and saw debris everywhere. She said she didn’t hear tornado sirens, but she and her sons immediately took shelter in a closet. By that time, the suspected tornado had already passed through her neighborhood off of Johnson Avenue in Purcell.

At first, Fox didn’t think there was a tornado and attributed the damage and debris to strong winds.

But just one street over, the roof of one house had been destroyed. When she looked at the house behind hers, Fox said she knew a tornado had hit her neighborhood.

“I was thankful at the time,” she said. “I told my kids, I said, ‘It could’ve been a lot worse.’ We weren’t prepared, obviously. I really felt like it just barely missed us.”

Severe weather passed through central Oklahoma early Thursday morning, bringing reports of damage from a possible tornado in Purcell. The National Weather Service in Norman reported on social media that survey teams have found at least EF1 tornado damage in the Purcell area.

The Purcell Fire Department reported a tornado touched down in the city, causing roof damage to nine homes, a semi truck rollover accident on Interstate 35 with one injury and widespread power outages, downed trees and powerlines.

On Norte Street in Purcell, the suspected tornado wiped out the roof of a newly-built home, throwing debris onto the road, including a Christmas tree and blue ornaments. The houses across the street and next door were untouched.

Community members and local high school students gathered pieces of trash, plywood, insulation and other debris and hauled them off.

Next door to Fox, a man and a woman removed debris from their yard that appeared to have blown over from Fox’s house. Like a puppy, a tall brown horse followed the man as he picked up each piece of trash. Across the street, cattle laid in the middle of a field and watched as one person after another drove into the neighborhood to lend a hand.

About five miles northeast of Fox’s house, the suspected tornado knocked over a few powerlines near Purcell’s football stadium. A tree fell onto a small white house and took the tin roof off a large warehouse.

Ron Musgrave, the warehouse’s owner, lives six miles north of Purcell. He said he learned his property was damaged through a local news broadcast.

“They had the people out front and they had the helicopters, so I could see it,” Musgrave said. “They were flying over here. There’s a football field, and I thought, ‘Oh my gosh. If that’s the football field, that’s my warehouse.”

The retired home builder and property owner said he keeps building supplies in his warehouse and a black and white cat who’s in charge of exterminating any trespassing mice.

The cat was happy to see Musgrave as he surveyed the water damage inside of the warehouse. Though there was some wet spots, the roof took most of the impact.

“It’s a project,” Musgrave said with a smile. “I am down for it.”

Severe weather damage reported in Shawnee, Norman

Tree damage was reported in Cleveland County at 156th Street and East Tecumseh Avenue, according to Alyse Moore, Cleveland County communications director, along with damage to a car port and barn at 800 Moffatt Road north of Lexington.

Storm damage was also reported in Shawnee. Social media posts show damage to the Holiday Inn Express and Walmart Supercenter off of Interstate 40.

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma Sooners add transfer portal offensive lineman to the roster

Published

18 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Oklahoma Sooners add transfer portal offensive lineman to the roster

The Oklahoma Sooners made an under-the-radar transfer portal addition on Wednesday, bringing back a player who spent two seasons in Norman before transferring out last year.

Former Central Oklahoma offensive lineman Kenneth Wermy will be returning to play for OU out of the portal. Wermy played for the Sooners in 2023 and 2024 before spending 2025 at the NCAA Division II level with the Bronchos. He’ll add depth to an offensive line group that is in need of it after recent portal departures.

Wemry is a local product from Cache, Oklahoma, and he stands at 6-foot-5 and weighs 315 pounds. The Sooners have been busy adding big names in the transfer market, but with a week and a half left until the portal closes, the focus may soon turn to retention and building back depth on the roster.

Oklahoma had a busy portal day on Wednesday, adding Wermy and former Michigan linebacker Cole Sullivan. However, Oklahoma also lost three players to the portal, in linebacker Sammy Omosigho, defensive back Jaydan Hardy, and wide receiver Zion Ragins.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X@Aaron_Gelvin.

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma bill aims to ban obscene materials in public school libraries

Published

1 day ago

January 7, 2026

Press Room

Oklahoma bill aims to ban obscene materials in public school libraries

A local lawmaker is introducing a bill to prohibit obscene materials in Oklahoma public school libraries.

Rep. Chris Banning, R-Bixby, filed legislation this week, House Bill 2978, that would update state law and prohibit the acquisition of materials that meet Oklahoma’s legal definition of obscenity.

The bill removes references to subjective community standards and relies on established statute, according to Banning.

“This legislation provides a straightforward statewide rule that helps ensure school libraries stay within the definition of education,” Banning said. “According to Black’s Law Dictionary, education is defined as providing proper moral, intellectual and physical instruction.”

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