Oklahoma grasps ahold of NCAA team ranks

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Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

Nina Krupar

   As week four of  NCAA gymnastics wraps up Oklahoma proves to be successful in its first-month debut. 

    According to the NCAA, Oklahoma stands ahead by 0.525 with a team score of 198.425 while Florida stands strong behind them with a team score of 197.900. The Sooners dig deep and produce several high 9.90’s on each of the four events. No other team has a lineup that will exceed where Oklahoma is currently at. The team shows up and continues to hit on all four events despite the odds against them. 

   As of this week, the team stands undefeated after they took on Michigan, UCLA, Auburn, LSU, Utah, Denver, and Iowa State. Most recently, the team took on Iowa State at home and took home a win with a team score of 198.225. According to Sooner Sports, this win made the 66th consecutive home victory in their history. The team has been able to secure no less than three spots in each of the four events. 

   Sophomore Jordan Bowers won all-around for the second week in a row with a 39.625. She obtained a 9.950 on vault and a 9.925 on the beam, which aided in the swift defeat.

  The team showcased five Yurchenko one and a half and a singular Yurchenko full. This lineup helped score four straight 9.900’s to prove the dominance this team brought to the table.

   Bowers wasn’t the only gymnast who helped assist the team. Allie Stern shared the vault title with Bowers which gave her her second vault title of the season so far. Sophomore Danae Fletcher added a season-high on floor with a 9.950 and Senior Reagan Smith hit well on the bar exercise with a 9.900. 

   The team stands far ahead of every other team but, with the NCAA Championship being two months out the girls must continue to put in the grit and time to keep their scores at a high.

   If Oklahoma pulls strong over the next two months, the team has the chance to secure the NCAA title for the second year in a row. This would make Oklahoma the six-time champions within the last eight years of the championships. 

   The team looks forward to their next meet where they take on Stanford, Alabama, and Arkansas on Feb. 11. This meet shouldn’t prove to be a challenge for Oklahoma as they stand at first and Alabama is ranked 11th, Arkansas at 16th, and Stanford at 24th.