OU Gymnastics: OU defeats Michigan while Oklahoma’s Ragan Smith sets a record for perfection.

NORMAN — No. 1-ranked Oklahoma defeated No. 7 Michigan 198.65-197.325 on Friday night at Lloyd Noble Center, maintaining their perfect record. Senior Ragan Smith set a program record with an eighth perfect score on beam.

Following the competition, Smith remarked, “I just feel like I know when I do my best routine and when I hit the landing.” “It seems like that sensation never goes away.”

Smith got off the beam to an explosive cheer from the Oklahoma crowd. Not only had Smith performed a faultless routine, but all 8,900 spectators at LNC, including Smith and Sooners head coach K.J. Kindler, were aware that Smith had broken Maggie Nichols’ 2020 record of seven career perfect 10s on beam.

Smith’s third straight week of flawless beam scores was also a school record.

Smith remarked, “I just feel so supported and like they have my back no matter what when K.J. gives me the biggest hug and my teammates as well.” “It’s impressive,” Kindler remarked, “and what bothers me is that (Smith’s) routine nearly always looks the same, so she can access that score virtually whenever she hits.”

Friday night’s 49.8 team program record on beam by the Sooners was tied with their previous high of 198.675 against West Virginia last week. After the first two events, OU was up by less than a point.

“When it’s that close, I love it,” Kindler remarked. This year, we’ve fallen behind and have to work harder. It has been that tight at times, but I believe they give it their all during such times, so I don’t think we should be fearful of it. It is something to which we must react when it occurs. Audrey Davis, a senior, set a career high with a score of 9.975 in the event, but she acknowledged that her warm-up was not up to pace. Five other Sooners scored higher than 9.9.

“I simply convinced myself that following the warm-up… I was really focused on just depending on everything I do inside the gym tonight, Davis said. “I just reminded myself to trust my training because I haven’t done that in practice in a long time.”

Davis received an overall score of 39.65. In her first year of competing in the all-around, Katherine LeVasseur set a personal record with the team’s best score of 39.775. She received scores of 9.975 on the beam and vault, although Kindler, Davis, and Smith felt that her vault score was very close to a perfect 10.0.

LeVasseur remarked, “It’s just an amazing experience.” “I’m simply incredibly appreciative that I can compete in the all-around this year. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, so it’s really great to go out there and perform the daily routines that I practice.

With a score of 49.725 on bars and 49.525 on vault, the Sooners’ performances were their second and third best respectively this season. With bars, all six Sooners exceeded 9.9. At 9.925, Faith Torrez tied her career and season highs in the vault.

Kindler is pleased with her team’s position in regards to a third consecutive national title. Her squad is undefeated going into a three-team meet on Sunday in Denton, Texas, versus Texas Women’s, Clemson, and Penn. They have also scored their two greatest performances of the year on consecutive weeks.

“I think they’re doing really well, but more significantly, they’re doing it consistently,” Kindler remarked. “What sets this team apart is their consistency. It’s what keeps them fantastic week after week. Little things exist. Every week, the squad remains the same despite certain modifications. Thus, I believe that to be the future’s key as well.