OU men's gymnastics team reaches season high at meet on Saturday

The No 2. OU men’s gymnastics beat No. 6 Minnesota, 443.350-435.450, in a landmark win that led to the Sooners’ sixth-straight win and their 20th win at home since 2008.

Saturday’s meet was a night of highs, with the team’s highest overall score of the year and matched ten individual career highs.

With a crowd of 935 watching, OU won four of the six events and received first or second place in every event except for vault.

“The first half of the meet, we were doing great,” coach Mark Williams said. “The last three events were a little disappointing, a few breaks, didn’t quite get it all together. We still ended up with our high score for the season, and I’m really pleased with that, and happy with the crowd and the presentation of the competition being on television. So overall I’m really pleased with the team’s effort tonight.”

Opening up the meet with floor, the Sooners posted a 75.650 with sophomore Alec Robin and junior Raymond White both posting 15.500.

The strong start continued to the pommel horse event where the team had season high of 73.750. Sophomore Michael Reid (15.100) and Robin (14.750) both posted career highs.

One of the best moments of the night was when sophomore Michael Squires got a 16.000, one of the best scores of the season, on rings.

“It’s something I’ve been aiming for all season,” Squire said. “I scored 16.000 in the preseason when our coaches judged, so it’s been my goal so far to pass that barrier.”

This is the highest mark of the season for any team.

Rings, the team’s best event, led to sophomore William Clement posting 14.500, a career high, and senior Chris Stehl posting a 15.500, a season high.

“That’s one of the highest scores out there on any event this year,” said coach Williams on Squire’s record high. “It’s his best routine by far this year, and bodes well for the rest of the season. I said from the beginning I think he’s going to be an All-American, and that jumps him right in the middle of things.”

Sophomore Danny Berardini also reached a career-high on parallel bars as well as high bars. Robin and sophomore Stanton Rehkemper also posted career-highs on high bars.

Minnesota sophomore Steve Jaciuk got first on high bars, second on parallel bars and third on rings proving to be the toughest competition of the meet.

The team will be competing against No. 12 Air Force at 7 p.m. Saturday in Norman.