FORT WORTH, April 16, 2016 – The University of Oklahoma won its second team title and first outright title Saturday night at the 2016 National Collegiate Women’s Gymnastics Championships at the Fort Worth (Texas) Convention Center Arena. Louisiana State University was second, and the University of Alabama was third.
“It is different because when we did it the first time [2014], we were not expected to win. Tonight we worked much harder to win. Maybe it is more fruitful because of that, but to win it a second time is an even bigger hurdle,” said OU head coach K.J. Kindler.
In a close battle for first, Oklahoma won the team crown with a 197.6750 total. LSU and Alabama were close on the Sooners’ heels with a 197.4500 and 197.4375, respectively. The Oklahoma team included: Natalie Brown, Chayse Capps, Stefani Catour, AJ Jackson, Charity Jones, Keeley Kmieciak, Nicole Lehrmann, Hunter Price, Haley Scaman and McKenzie Wofford.
The University of Oklahoma started off the night on the vault, highlighted by Jackson’s 9.9000. They totaled 49.2250 heading into their bye for the second rotation.
“Vault was not what we are capable of but instead of letting it break them down, they came back stronger,” Kindler said.
Following a bye, the Sooners moved to the uneven bars for their second event. In the lead-off position, freshman Lehrmann got the ball rolling with an impressive 9.9000 sticking her full-twisting double back dismount. The team built on that throughout the rotation and Oklahoma garnered a 49.4500. The Sooners carried their momentum to beam, posting a 49.4250.
The title was determined with the last two routines of the sixth rotation, Oklahoma on floor and Alabama on beam. Jackson clinched the title for the Sooners with big tumbling and a 9.9125 that propelled the Oklahoma to a team floor score of 49.5750 and the top of the team standings.
Kindler said about the victory, “I am so proud of them. This is something that they obviously wanted and worked so hard for. Everyone in that room worked hard. This group in particular has just a little extra something when it comes to their chemistry that I can’t really describe and I always believe that chemistry wins championships.”
Rounding out the six teams were the University of Florida (197.3500), University of California – Los Angeles (196.8250), and University of Georgia (196.8125).
2016 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships Fort Worth, Texas
April 16, 2016
1. University of Oklahoma, 197.6750
2. Louisiana State University, 197.4500
3. University of Alabama, 197.4375
4. University of Florida, 197.3500
5. University of California – Los Angeles, 196.8250
6. University of Georgia, 196.8125