Oklahoma Puts on a Show in Win Over Utah

By OU Athletics Media Relations

NORMAN — In entrance of the third-best crowd in program historical past, the reigning NCAA champion and No. 1-ranked Oklahoma girls’s gymnastics group matched a season excessive with a 197.925 rating to win its residence opener towards No. 5 Utah on Sunday evening inside Lloyd Noble Middle.

With 7,013 followers cheering on the Sooners, freshman Religion Torrez gained her first profession all-around title with a career-high 39.525. Torrez additionally earned a pair of occasion titles with profession highs on bars (9.900) and ground (9.950). 

Sophomore Jordan Bowers was shut behind with a 39.500, her third straight 39.500-plus within the all-around. The Lincoln, NE, product additionally shared the bars title with Torrez. Each gymnasts completed forward of Utah’s 2020 Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Grace McCallum, who completed third within the all-around with a 39.350. 

Allie Stern posted a near-perfect 9.975 to share the vault title with Utah’s reigning NCAA vault champion Jaedyn Rucker. The vault title marked Stern’s first of the season and seventh of her profession.

The Sooners rotated in Olympic order, beginning with a 49.650 on vault, the eighth-best rating in program historical past and tied No. 2 Michigan for the nation’s finest vault rating this season. OU showcased Yurchenko 1.5s in each spot, led by Stern’s season-high 9.975 and a pair of 9.950s from Bowers and sophomore Danielle Sievers. Katherine LeVasseur matched a season finest with a 9.925, whereas fellow junior Audrey Davis anchored with a season-high 9.850. Competing within the second spot, Torrez scored a 9.775. OU had a five-tenths lead after the primary rotation.

The Sooners swung regular on bars with a 49.425, due to a pair of 9.900s from Torrez (profession excessive) and Bowers (season excessive). Sievers led off with a season-high-tying 9.850, whereas sophomore Danae Fletcher was the third Sooner to stay her dismount for a 9.875. Senior Ragan Smith missed her ft on her toe-on for a 9.700. With beautiful type, Davis anchored the lineup with a 9.875. The Sooners held a fourth-tenths lead on the midway level, 99.075-98.675.

“We did a lot better on bars with our landings this week,” Kindler mentioned. “I consider we caught 4 out of six, which is our objective. If we are able to hit 4 to 6 dismounts, that places us in a very great spot.”

The Sooners overcame a little bit of a shaky begin on beam and confirmed battle within the final three spots of the lineup for a 49.350. All the time a reliable lead-off, senior Jenna Dunn nailed her triple collection for a 9.875. After a fall by freshman Ava Siegfeldt (9.225), Bowers was regular with a 9.725. Davis was very good and assured within the No. 4 spot, displaying off her flexibility and artistry all through her routine for a season-high 9.900. Ending with a uncommon double-back dismount, Torrez matched a profession excessive with a 9.900 on the occasion. Used to the stress within the anchor spot, Smith was distinctive with a season-high 9.950.

“What I used to be actually happy with was how they responded to errors on bars and beam,” Kindler mentioned. “We hit all 24 routines within the final two meets. When you will have a mistake like that, it takes loads of psychological toughness from the athletes which might be going after that mistake. Bars and beam rebounded nicely after these small errors.”

OU wrapped up its victory on ground with a second consecutive 49.500. Torrez added her second profession ground title to match a career-high 9.950 with a routine that opens with a sky-high double structure. With choreography that attracts within the crowd, Bowers anchored the lineup with a season-high 9.925. That includes a full in on the opening move, Sievers scored a season-high 9.900. After an out-of-bounds from junior Bell Johnson within the leadoff spot (9.675), Smith received the Sooners again on observe with a enjoyable and entertaining routine for a 9.875. Fletcher scored a 9.850 with a jazzy funk routine that includes ’70s-inspired choreography and music.

The Sooners improved to 5-0 on the season and have gained 11 of their final 12 conferences towards Utah.

“The gang was improbable,” Kindler famous. “Tremendous excited concerning the vitality within the constructing and hoping we are able to proceed to construct from there. This can be a group that might be right here 4 extra occasions, after which after all, we’re internet hosting NCAA regionals. That sort of vitality in your area makes a giant distinction and Utah has it each time that they compete at residence. So, to have the ability to ship one thing comparable once they had been right here was very impactful.”

Up subsequent, the Sooners will journey to No. 8 Denver for a convention conflict on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 3 p.m. CT. The meet will broadcast on Altitude Sports activities TV.