Oklahoma

Sooners Start Strong with Quad Meet Victory in Nashville – University of Oklahoma

Published

1 year ago

January 5, 2025

Sooners Start Strong with Quad Meet Victory in Nashville – University of Oklahoma

NASHVILLE – The Oklahoma women’s gymnastics team claimed its first victory of the season, earning a 197.550 at the American Gold Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Classic in Nashville Saturday night. OU moved to 3-0 on the season with wins over Auburn (195.950), BYU (194.625) and Nebraska (194.475).

Five Sooners competed in the all-around for Oklahoma. Faith Torrez claimed the all-around title with a 39.625, while freshman Lily Pederson came in second with a 39.550. Audrey Davis earned a 39.425, Addison Fatta scored a 39.325 and Jordan Bowers earned a 39.275.

The Sooners also secured the event title on all four events. Keira Wells earned the vault title with a 9.95, while Davis brought home the uneven bars title with a 9.95 and shared floor with Torrez with matching 9.875s. Pederson’s 9.95 secured her the beam title.

OU started the meet off with a bang, earning a 49.450 on vault to lead the four-team field. Auburn earned a 49.150 on bars, followed by a 48.850 from Nebraska on beam and a 48.750 from BYU on floor. In her collegiate debut, Pederson earned a 9.925 in the leadoff position as she drilled the landing of her Yurchenko 1.5. In the No. 2 spot, Fatta added a 9.80, followed by another 9.925 from Torrez. Leading the pack with a gorgeous 1.5 was Wells with a 9.95. Bowers added a 9.75 and Davis anchored with a stuck landing on her 1.5 for a 9.85.

In the second rotation, the Sooners soared to a 49.550 for a 99.000 at the halfway point. Pederson led off with a strong routine and a stuck double layout dismount for a 9.875. Fatta followed with a gorgeous Church release for a 9.825, while Torrez nailed her dismount for a 9.90. Making her collegiate debut was Elle Mueller with a 9.9 on another stuck double layout. Showing off her stunning handstands and a stuck dismount was Davis for a 9.90. Anchoring with a stick after a gorgeous routine was Bowers for a 9.925.

OU extended its lead with a 49.400 on beam for a 148.400 through three rotations. Davis led off with a 9.750, followed by a 9.80 from Wells. In the No. 3 spot, Fatta was strong and steady with a stuck dismount for a 9.90. Bowers added a 9.825 in the No. 4 spot, Pederson performed like a veteran, nailing her dismount for a 9.95. Showing why she’s one of the top beam workers in the nation, Torrez was poised and confident, sticking her gainer full for a 9.925.

The Sooners sealed their victory with a 49.150 on floor. The final rotation got started with Davis’s upbeat and spunky routine for a 9.875. After only appearing on floor once in 2024, Dani Sievers was back in the lineup with an energetic routine and stuck double pike for a 9.8. Fatta and Pederson wrapped up their first collegiate competitions with matching 9.8s. Bowers tallied a 9.775 and Torrez anchored with a 9.875 on her sky-high double layout to close out the meet.

Up next for the Sooners is a top five battle against No. 2 LSU, No. 4 California and No. 5 Utah at the Sprouts Farmer’s Market Collegiate Quad. The meet will air on ABC on Saturday, Jan. 11, at 2:45 p.m. from the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.

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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

9 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

21 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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