Oklahoma gymnastics: OU women claim 5th national championship

As expected, the 2022 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championship came down to the final participants in the fourth and final rotation. And in the end, it was the Oklahoma gymnastics squad that was standing tallest.

For the championship Sooner squad, it represented the fifth national title in the past eight seasons and it came in dramatic fashion. The Sooners dug themselves an early hole starting out in last place after a shaky performance in floor exercise in the first rotation. The 49.1875 OU score was its lowest score of the season in the floor event.

The Sooners followed up the season-low performance on the floor with a season-high score on vault in the second rotation. Four different OU gymnasts scored 9.90 or better, led by a near-perfect 9.9625 by senior Olivia Trautman, who anchored the event for the Crimson and Cream.

Utah and Florida were one and two after the first two rotations, with Oklahoma moving up one position into third place. It was going to take a fantastic finish in the second half of the competition for the top-ranked and No. 1 overall seed Sooners to capture their fifth national title.

As it turned out, the Oklahoma women were just getting warmed up. The uneven bars have been one of OU’s best events throughout the season, and the Lady Sooners cashed in another stellar performance. This time, five OU gymnasts scored 9.90 or higher Freshman Danielle Sievers got things started with a 9.975.

That was enough to vault the Sooners into the lead entering the final rotation, holding a .200 advantage over the No. 2-seeded Florida Gators. Florida was on the floor in the final rotation while OU was on the beam. Florida All-American Trinity Thomas, who had already posted the day’s highest score on both vault and bars, saved her best for last, scoring a perfect 10.0 in her floor exercise routine and put the pressure squarely on the Sooners’ backs.

Junior Ragan Smith was OU’s rotation anchor on the beam. Unfazed by the pressure, including having to perform through the loud cheers that were raised following Thomas’ floor performance. Smith delivered a 9.9625, the highest beam score of the finals competition.

It was a fitting ending that came down to the final Oklahoma performer. The Sooners had fought their way all the way back from fourth after the first rotation to the top spot after the third, and then held on to the dramatic end.

The OU women avenged a loss to Florida in a dual meet earlier in the season and handed the Gators their only loss this season. The Gators were 29-0-1 this season entering the championship finals on Saturday.