OU women's gymnastics - extremely impressive

[NMSooner'80]

My mom still loves her OU women's basketball team, but she's become a huge fan of women's gymnastics. This current team is so good that some "starters" from a couple of years ago barely see the mat.

Maggie Nichols may be more dominant in her sport for OU than any of the basketball and softball players are, at least this year. We have a lineup of All-America caliber people up and down the starting lineup, based on my limited exposure to the rankings this year. And it's something fun to watch, unlike the killing machine from UConn in women's hoops. I think more and more people are getting tired of that, but that's just an educated guess.

It's also kind of fun to watch a collegiate sport, male or female, where there's definite sportsmanship involved. At least it's been that way at every meet I've seen in Norman or OKC the last couple of years.

I'm still waiting for my mom to ask me to take her to the nationals, since we lost my dad in late November. But, I think she'll settle for staying in Oklahoma to see the Big 12 women's basketball tourney, instead. Still, I know she'll be watching it one way or another, when our girls go for a repeat title.

 

[Stringmusic]

KJ has coached that team - for years - into a well-oiled machine. She is technically brilliant and a skilled motivator and probably the best floors coach in the country (so creative). Gymnastics is even more mental than basketball and our team is so poised.

 

[j2d2]

She is also an excellent recruiter obviously. She and Gasso are at the head of the class. I sense another dynasty in the making.

 

[sybarite]

Bringing in Maggie Nichols to a #1 team seems unfair. Now that she is #1 in every event except vault, where she is only ranked #3, you have to wonder why Simone Biles was visiting last weekend?

 

[NMSooner'80]

Bringing in Maggie Nichols to a #1 team seems unfair. Now that she is #1 in every event except vault, where she is only ranked #3, you have to wonder why Simone Biles was visiting last weekend?

They said on TV that Biles and Nichols are good friends. Too bad Simone probably has no college eligibility. She was seen wearing an OU t-shirt at the meet in OKC. If nothing else, she has good taste in colleges.

 

[sybarite]

They said on TV that Biles and Nichols are good friends. Too bad Simone probably has no college eligibility. She was seen wearing an OU t-shirt at the meet in OKC. If nothing else, she has good taste in colleges.

Rejected her UCLA scholarship to turn pro after the olympics.

 

[NMSooner'80]

Speaking of impressive, who is that young lady, who I think is a former OU gymnast, who kind of MC's the "pregame" at the LNC? She is gorgeous.

 

[sybarite]

Speaking of impressive, who is that young lady, who I think is a former OU gymnast, who kind of MC's the "pregame" at the LNC? She is gorgeous.

Kelly Garrison? http://wagymnastics.wikia.com/wiki/Kelly_Garrison-Steves

 

[NMSooner'80]

No, this is someone a lot younger. I think Kelly is less than 10 years younger that I am (and I'm 59). This young lady has kind of an exotic look, and I'd guess she's in her mid-20's.

 

[sybarite]

No, this is someone a lot younger. I think Kelly is less than 10 years younger that I am (and I'm 59). This young lady has kind of an exotic look, and I'd guess she's in her mid-20's.

I guess that I've not seen her. I have seen Kelly twice doing color on the gymnastics telecasts.

 

[sybarite]

http://www.soonersports.com/mediaPortal/player.dbml?id=5949303&db_oem_id=31000
?

 

[soonerpd]

I'll probably butcher the spelling, but it is Maile'Ana Kanewa, a fifth year senior that sat out last year due to injury. She was expected back this year to compete, but gave up competition and is acting as a student coach. They have lost a few highly regarded gymnasts to injury over the past six or seven years.

I was very disappointed she couldn't compete this year because she was one of my favorites.

 

[tycat947]

No, this is someone a lot younger. I think Kelly is less than 10 years younger that I am (and I'm 59). This young lady has kind of an exotic look, and I'd guess she's in her mid-20's.

Megan McDonald???

 

[bob the nailer]

Its only fun to watch UConn if you are UConn. Which in gymnastics we are. The UConn of women's gymnastics

 

[NMSooner'80]

I'll probably butcher the spelling, but it is Maile'Ana Kanewa, a fifth year senior that sat out last year due to injury. She was expected back this year to compete, but gave up competition and is acting as a student coach. They have lost a few highly regarded gymnasts to injury over the past six or seven years.

I was very disappointed she couldn't compete this year because she was one of my favorites.

That's her. I'm sure the OU male student population also likes the attractiveness of some of the other girls still on the team. But, they are all incredible athletes for us.

 

[tycat947]

Its only fun to watch UConn if you are UConn. Which in gymnastics we are. The UConn of women's gymnastics

We're not really the UConn of women's gymnastics. Alabama, Georgia, Utah and UCLA have all won multiple NCs and have long histories. We have 2 NCs at this point and are just a recent successful program. In 10 years and if KJ is still coach, we'd be a lot closer.

Now, the men's team, you can probably call THEM the UConn of men's gymnastics!

 

[sybarite]

We're not really the UConn of women's gymnastics. Alabama, Georgia, Utah and UCLA have all won multiple NCs and have long histories. We have 2 NCs at this point and are just a recent successful program. In 10 years and if KJ is still coach, we'd be a lot closer.

Now, the men's team, you can probably call THEM the UConn of men's gymnastics!

I suspect that Georgia might be closer to the UConn status, but their wins are ten years ago. But, they won a lot. We can talk about UConn if we win the next three or four.

 

[tycat947]

I suspect that Georgia might be closer to the UConn status, but their wins are ten years ago. But, they won a lot. We can talk about UConn if we win the next three or four.

I agree. We LOOK to become the UConn of women's gymnastics at this point but we have a few years to go in order to prove it.

 

[SoonerSpock]

I suspect that Georgia might be closer to the UConn status, but their wins are ten years ago. But, they won a lot. We can talk about UConn if we win the next three or four.

Win the next 3 or 4 and the Sooners would move up to #4 or #5 all time. The men's program is tied with Illinois for #2 all time with 10 championships behind Penn State but the Sooners have won 7 of the last 15 national championships.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

I love this photo of senior Chayse Capps showing off her championship rings (see link). Great bio also.

http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=208843160&DB_OEM_ID=31000

Five-time 2016 All-American … First-Team All-American (All-Around, Bars, Beam, Floor) … Second-Team All-American (Vault) … Second Sooner in program history to grab five All-America accolades in one season, joining Kelly Garrison (1988)

The team had a great weekend in a high powered 4-team meet:

http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31000&ATCLID=211482853