Oklahoma Sooners women's gymnastics
| Oklahoma Sooners | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Founded | 1981 |
| University | University of Oklahoma |
| Athletic director | Joe Castiglione |
| Head coach | K.J. Kindler (17th season) |
| Conference | SEC |
| Location | Norman, Oklahoma |
| Home arena | Lloyd Noble Center (Capacity: 11,562) |
| Nickname | Sooners |
| Colors | Crimson and cream[1] |
| National championships | |
| 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023 | |
| Four on the Floor appearances | |
| 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 | |
| Super Six appearances | |
| 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 | |
| NCAA Regional championships | |
| 2004, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 | |
| NCAA Tournament appearances | |
| 1985, 1989, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024 | |
| Conference championships | |
| 1984, 1985, 1986, 1991, 1993, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 , 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024 | |
The Oklahoma Sooners women's gymnastics team represents the University of Oklahoma in NCAA competition and competes in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Sooners have won nineteen conference championships, 15 NCAA Regional championships, and have appeared in 21 NCAA National Championships. In 2014, the Sooners won the program's first-ever team national title in the first-ever NCAA gymnastics championships tie, tying with Florida with a score of 198.175. The Sooners have had eighteen individual national champions, 202 NCAA All-Americans, and four Honda Awards (two to Kelly Garrison, Maggie Nichols, and Anastasia Webb).
Some notable former and current OU gymnasts include Kelly Garrison, Chelle Stack, Hollie Vise, Natasha Kelley, McKenzie Wofford, Brenna Dowell, Maggie Nichols, Anastasia Webb, Ragan Smith, Jordan Bowers, and Faith Torrez.
History
[edit]The Sooners gymnastics team was founded in 1981 under head coach Paul Ziert, who led the Sooners to three regional championships and two NCAA tournament appearances. The Sooners won their first five Big Eight Conference titles beginning in 1984 under coach Becky Switzer. Steve Nunno added another Big 12 Conference title in 2004.
Current head coach K. J. Kindler took over the program before the 2007 season; the Sooners qualified to their first Super Six team final in 2010, finishing 2nd. In 2014, Oklahoma became the sixth school to win an NCAA gymnastics team title (following Alabama, Utah, Georgia, UCLA and Florida). The 2014 Super Six final was the first to end in a tie, giving Oklahoma their first title and Florida their second straight.
At the 2024 Big 12 Championships, the Sooners gymnastics team earned a score of 198.950, which became the new highest score in college gymnastics history and broke the twenty-year-old record (198.875) set by UCLA and Stanford in 2004.[2]
Super Six appearances
[edit]| Oklahoma Sooners Super Six Appearances | |
| Year | Finish |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 2nd |
| 2011 | 3rd |
| 2013 | 2nd |
| 2014 | 1st |
| 2015 | 3rd |
| 2016 | 1st |
| 2017 | 1st |
| 2018 | 2nd |
Four on the Floor appearances
[edit]| Oklahoma Sooners Four on the Floor Appearances | |
| Year | Finish |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 1st |
| 2021 | 2nd |
| 2022 | 1st |
| 2023 | 1st |
Honours
[edit]National championships
[edit]| Season | Record | Head coach |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 31–2–1 | K.J. Kindler |
| 2016 | 38–1–0 | K.J. Kindler |
| 2017 | 33–0–0 | K.J. Kindler |
| 2019 | 32–0–0 | K.J. Kindler |
| 2022 | 31–2–0 | K.J. Kindler |
| 2023 | 28–2–0 | K.J. Kindler |
Conference championships
[edit]| Season | Conference | Head coach |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Big Eight | Becky Switzer |
| 1985 | Big Eight | Becky Switzer |
| 1986 | Big Eight | Becky Switzer |
| 1991 | Big Eight | Becky Switzer |
| 1993 | Big Eight | Becky Switzer |
| 2004 | Big 12 | Steve Nunno |
| 2008 | Big 12 | K.J. Kindler |
| 2009 | Big 12 | K.J. Kindler |
| 2010 | Big 12 | K.J. Kindler |
| 2012 | Big 12 | K.J. Kindler |
| 2013 | Big 12 | K.J. Kindler |
| 2014 | Big 12 | K.J. Kindler |
| 2015 | Big 12 | K.J. Kindler |
| 2016 | Big 12 | K.J. Kindler |
| 2017 | Big 12 | K.J. Kindler |
| 2018 | Big 12 | K.J. Kindler |
| 2019 | Big 12 | K.J. Kindler |
| 2022 | Big 12 | K.J. Kindler |
| 2023 | Big 12 | K.J. Kindler |
| 2024 | Big 12 | K.J. Kindler |
Roster
[edit]2024–25 Roster
[edit]| Name | Height | Year | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Blessey | 5-5 | FR | Mandeville, LA |
| Jordan Bowers | 5-6 | SR | Lincoln, NE |
| Audrey Davis | 5-3 | GR | Frisco, TX |
| Addison Fatta | 5-2 | FR | Wrightsville, PA |
| Danae Fletcher | 5-3 | SR | Philadelphia, PA |
| Aspen Lenczner | 5-2 | SO | Oak Creek, WI |
| Elle Mueller | 5-2 | FR | Ham Lake, MN |
| Lily Pederson | 4-10 | FR | White Bear Lake, MN |
| Hannah Scheible | 5-3 | SO | Kimball, MI |
| Ava Siegfelt | 5-6 | JR | Williamsburg, VA |
| Danielle Sievers | 5-5 | SR | Gary, SD |
| Kelsey Slade | 5-1 | FR | Vail, AZ |
| Caitlin Smith | 5-1 | SO | Houston, TX |
| Addisyn Snow | FR | Norman, OK | |
| Faith Torrez | 5-1 | JR | Bristol, WI |
| Keira Wells | 5-2 | SO | Augusta, KS |
Coaches
[edit]- Head coach: K. J. Kindler
- Assistant coach: Lou Ball
- Assistant coach: Tom Hale
Past Olympians
[edit]- Kelly Garrison (1988)
- Chelle Stack (1988)
- Ragan Smith (2016 alternate)
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Colors – OU Brand Guide". OU.edu/Brand. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ "Oklahoma women's gymnastics team wins Big 12 championship with NCAA-record score". The Oklahoman. March 24, 2024.