Sooners Claim 2022 Big 12 Championship - University of Oklahoma - Soonersports.com
DENVER, Colo. – With the highest championship score in Big 12 history, the Oklahoma women's gymnastics team claimed the 2022 Big 12 Championship with a 198.200.
This is the ninth title in 10 years for Oklahoma and the 13th in program history. For head coach K.J. Kindler, the title is the 12th in her 16 years at the helm of the program.
Denver claimed second with a 197.250, followed by West Virginia with a 196.650 and Iowa State with a 196.100.
Following the conclusion of the meet, Big 12 yearly awards were announced as well. Freshman Jordan Bowers was named the Newcomer of the Year, joining teammate Olivia Trautman as Sooners to have won the honor. Fifth-year senior Carly Woodard was named the Event Specialist of the Year for the first time in her career, joining fellow fifth-year senior Karrie Thomas who earned the title in 2021. Kindler was named the Big 12 Coach of the Year for the 11th time as the head coach of Oklahoma and 14th time overall.
In addition to major awards, individual conference champions were crowned after the meet. The Sooners claimed at least a share of every event title. Olivia Trautman picked up her second career Big 12 title with a near-perfect 9.975. On bars, Karrie Thomas and Ragan Smith shared the title with Denver's Rylie Mundell with matching 9.95s. On beam, Woodard picked up her first Big 12 individual crown with a 9.95, shared with Denver's Momoko Iwai. Four athletes tied on floor with 9.95s with Jordan Bowers, Danielle Sievers, Smith and Iowa State's Maddie Diab sharing the title. Denver's Jessica Hutchinson won the all-around with a 39.625.
Opening on beam, the Sooners posted a 49.475 to hold the lead after one rotation. Denver posted a 49.225 on floor, Iowa State went 48.875 on bars and West Virginia a 48.850 on vault. Jenna Dunn was poised in the leadoff spot to start the meet with her sixth-straight 9.875. Trautman stuck her roundoff 1.5 dismount after a strong routine for a 9.875. Third up was LeVasseur who kept the sticks coming after showcasing her scale and beautiful choreography for a 9.9. Davis showed off her impressive ring leap and nailed her double-twisting dismount for a 9.875 in the No. 4 spot. Event Specialist of the Year Woodard was steady as usual for the Sooners, earning a team-high 9.95.
The Sooners posted a strong 49.600 on floor in the second rotation for a 99.075 at the halfway point. Denver tallied a 48.975 on vault, West Virginia a 49.200 on bars and Iowa State a 48.850 on beam. Bell Johnson got things started with a 9.850. Woodard wrapped up her two-event night with a 9.9 in the second spot. Showcasing her unique opening pass and strong choreography, Danae Fletcher earned a 9.850. Bowers opened with a sky-high double pike and nailed her second pass for a team-high 9.95 in the No. 4 spot. Smith showed off her strong double tuck and double pike for a 9.95 of her own. Anchoring was Sievers who showed off a new full-twisting double-tuck opening pass for a career best 9.95.
For the first time this season, the Sooners put up six 10.0 start value vaults with all six athletes performing a Yurchenko 1.5. OU notched a 49.475 in the third rotation with Denver going 49.500 on bars, West Virginia 49.275 on beam and Iowa State 49.150 on floor. LeVasseur notched a 9.9 in the No. 2 spot, followed by a 9.825 from Bowers. Sticking her vault cold was Trautman for a season-best 9.975 in the No. 4 spot. Sievers added a 9.850 and anchoring was Fletcher with a 9.900.
In the final rotation OU scored a 49.650 on bars. Denver notched a 49.550 on beam, Iowa State a 49.225 on vault and West Virginia a 49.325 on floor. Sievers opened the bars rotation with a stuck landing for a 9.9, followed by incredible handstands and a stuck dismount from LeVasseur for a 9.925. Smith nailed her double-layout for a 9.95 in the No. 3 spot. Karrie Thomas, the 2021 Event Specialist of the Year, was stunning on the apparatus, sticking her dismount for a 9.95 of her own. Bowers showed off strong handstands for a 9.95 in the No. 5 spot. Anchoring was Davis with a 9.900 as she showcased her unique release and upgraded dismount.
The Sooners will host the Norman Regional, March 30-April 2. Teams to compete in the three-day competition will be announced on Tuesday, March 22, at 11 a.m. CT.
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