CHICAGO – History made. The Oklahoma men’s gymnastics team continued its rule over the NCAA, winning its fourth consecutive national title Saturday night.
The Sooners cemented their dynasty with a 414.858 first-place finish at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago.
They become just the third program in history to win at least four consecutive national titles (llinois from 1939 to 1942 and Nebraska from 1979 to 1982). The title is also OU’s 12th overall – tying them with Penn State for most in NCAA history – and ninth during head coach Mark Williams’ 19-year tenure. Williams is now tied with Penn State’s Gene Wettstone for most national championships of any coach in history.
MORE MGYM: Full results from 2018 national championship
Yul Moldauer had a massive night, earning four NCAA individual championships (floor, vault, parallel bars, all-around).
The team defeated Minnesota (411.923) Illinois (411.689), Stanford (408.725), Nebraska (403.589) and Penn State (401.991) in Saturday’s final.
The Sooners’ title capped the team’s fourth straight undefeated season. In that span, Oklahoma has racked up 97 straight victories which currently stands as the fourth-longest winning streak in NCAA history.
Your 2018 National Champions! #All4One pic.twitter.com/HWRfpdVQbk
— Oklahoma Men's Gym (@OU_MGymnastics) April 22, 2018
After posting the highest score in either preliminary session Friday, OU elected to start the night on floor once again. The team came out of the gates sharp with Moldauer hitting his most complete routine of the year, posting a season-high 15.166, earning All-America honors and winning the NCAA floor title. Levi Anderson was also tabbed an All-American on the event after earning a 14.100. The Sooners totaled a 69.798 in the first rotation, only trailing Stanford – who started on vault which is considered the highest scoring event in gymnastics – by a little over 0.200 points.
As it did on Friday night, Oklahoma’s pommel horse lineup put on a show in the second rotation, hitting all five routines and keeping the momentum rolling with a 68.566. Moldauer earned his second All-America nod of the night, scoring a 14.533. Genki Suzuki hit his routine and was named All-American, earning a 14.000. The Sooners still trailed Stanford heading into the third rotation.
OU fell into third place after posting a 67.565 on still rings. Moldauer continued to dominate, hitting his routine for a 14.433 and claiming his third All-America honor on the day.
REPLAY: Still Rings | Pommel Horse | Floor
Down by nearly five points, Oklahoma needed a massive rotation on vault and Moldauer, Hunter Justus and Tanner Justus delivered, claiming three of the top four spots on the event. Moldauer won his second NCAA title and third All-America honor of the night with a phenomenal 14.900. Tanner Justus came through with a 14.800, earning the first All-America honors of his career. Hunter Justus notched 14.766 in an All-American effort for his last vault as a Sooner. No Sooner scored below a 14.000 as OU finally grabbed the lead, up by less than 0.600.
The Sooners all but sealed their fourth straight national title on parallel bars, totaling a 69.832 and extending their lead to nearly five points. In typical fashion, Moldauer dominated again hitting a 14.733 and earning another NCAA individual championship and . Suzuki anchored with a solid performance and earned a 14.133. Peter Daggett stuck his landing for a 14.066 in just his second meet of the season.
OU put the finish touches on its historic season with a 66.531 on high bar. Anderson notched a 13.933, earning All-America status.
In addition to his three event titles, Moldauer claimed the all-around crown with an 87.298.
