OU Gymnastics: Oklahoma Takes Down West Virginia Behind Program Record Score
By OU Media Relations
NORMAN – Ragan Smith achieved perfection for the second-straight week and the Sooners broke the all-time program scoring record with a 198.675 to defeat West Virginia (195.550) Friday night inside the Lloyd Noble Center.
The Sooners now hold the fourth-highest score in NCAA history with their record breaking performance. The 198.675 is the highest score in the nation this season and the Sooners fifth score of 198-plus this season.
Along with their overall scoring record, the Sooners tied the program record on beam with a 49.800, punctuated by Smith’s 10.0.
With her seventh perfect score on beam, Smith tied Sooner legend Maggie Nichols for most career perfect 10s in program history on the event. Smith has now recorded at least two perfect 10s on beam in each of the last three seasons.
OU swept the event titles on the night, highlighted by multiple career highs. Jordan Bowers took home the all-around title with a career best 39.800, becoming just the third OU gymnast to ever post a 39.800+ in the all-around (Maggie Nichols, Anastasia Webb). Bowers also took home the bars and floor titles with matching 9.975s. Faith Torrez, who earned a career high 39.775 in the all-around, took home the vault title with a 9.925. Smith took home the beam title with her 10.0.
Katherine LeVasseur posted an impressive 39.700 in the all-around and Audrey Davis notched a 39.600 as all four OU all-around competitors record marks of 39.600 or better in the same meet.
Opening on vault with a 49.475, Davis got the meet started with a 9.8. In the No. 2 spot, Torrez nailed her Yurchenko 1.5 to tie her career high with a 9.925. Keira Wells added a 9.875 in the No. 3 spot, followed by a 9.9 from Bowers. In the No. 5 spot, LeVasseur tallied a 9.9 of her own on a beautiful 1.5 and Hannah Scheible anchored with a 9.875.
“Starting on vault, we’ve been working a lot on our touches, working a lot on our landings. I thought our landings were much better in this meet,” head coach K.J. Kindler said. “Faith sticking for the first time - that was really great. Soraya, who did exhibition for us, also sticking. If we could get a couple of those per rotation that’s great for vault. We’re doing the most difficult vaults in the country and everyone else was very much in control with small steps, that’s what you want if you’re not sticking it.”
OU used a huge 49.700 – tied for fifth-best mark in program history – on bars to take a 99.175-97.725 lead at the halfway point. Danielle Sievers stuck her dismount for a 9.9 in the leadoff spot. LeVasseur showcased her phenomenal handstands and a stuck dismount for a 9.925 in the No. 2 spot. Torrez stuck her double layout for a 9.925 of her own, followed by a 9.925 for Ragan Smith. Davis showed off her flawless handstands and nailed her dismount for a 9.95. Anchoring was Bowers with yet another near-perfect 9.975.
The program record beam score of 49.800 started as Davis led off with a gorgeous beam performance for a 9.925. In the No. 2 spot, Wells added a 9.875 on a stuck dismount. In the No. 3 spot, Bowers showed off a floaty series and beautiful lines for a season high 9.95. Torrez tied her career high with a stunning performance for a near-perfect 9.975. In the No. 5 spot, LeVasseur’s flexibility was on display for a season-high 9.95 as she set up Smith for the perfect 10.0 in the anchor spot.
“We stuck six dismounts out of six, we had no wobbles,” Kindler said. “That beam rotation is something as a coach, you would dream about having any time. It was near flawless, so 49.800 does reflect that. Ragan, two perfect scores in a row and the record on balance beam for the most 10s - that’s awesome. Everybody from the beginning all the way to the end was spot on and that was really nice to see.”
Leading off floor, Davis recorded a career-high tying 9.925 followed by a season-high 9.925 from Bell Johnson. Ragan Smith added a 9.8 in the No. 3 spot. LeVasseur wrapped up her night with a stuck full-in for a 9.925. Torrez tied her career high on floor with her strong double layout for a 9.95. Anchoring was Bowers who reached near-perfection on her second routine of the night for a 9.975.
The Sooners will host Michigan next Friday, March 1, inside Lloyd Noble Center. The meet is slated for a 6:15 p.m. start and will air on ESPN2.
- Follow AllSooners on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest OU news!
- Want even more Sooners news? Check out the SI.com OU team page here!
- Listen and subscribe to the AllSooners Podcast!
- Watch more Sooners videos and subscribe on YouTube!
- Sign up for your premium membership to AllSooners.com today, and get access to the entire Fan Nation premium network!