2024 Big 12 Gymnastics Championship Recap: Oklahoma exit conference with NCAA team record
The 2024 Big 12 Gymnastics Championship saw No. 1 Oklahoma in its most dominant state, shattering the NCAA team record with a 198.950, earning five perfect 10s, and winning the title by nearly a point over No. 8 Denver.
#1 Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Sooners’ exit from the Big 12 was, mathematically, the best performance in NCAA history, with a 198.950.
This is the Sooners’ third straight title at the Big 12 Gymnastics Championship and 15th overall.
Starting on vault, Jordan Bowers earned a perfect 10 to start the night off strong and help the team achieve a 49.675 – a season high.
Keeping that momentum and perfect streak going, Bowers grasped another perfect 10 on bars with her aggressive piked Jaeger and clean dismount to the roar of the home crowd at Lloyd Noble Center. The team would keep rising with a tally of 49.725
On beam, Ragan Smith was once again perfect, with her 10 leading the way as the team scored a 49.775.
The team would stay exceptionally consistent on floor, notching another 49.775 to close the meet as Bowers and Faith Torrez each went 10.
With their perfect 10s, it was a clean sweep for the Sooners, individually. Bowers won the all-around (39.925), vault, bars, and tied Torrez for the floor title. Smith won beam.
Bowers became the first Oklahoma gymnast to earn three 10s in one meet, while Ragan Smith brought her program-record tally for beam 10s to 10.
In addition, Bowers was named the Big 12 Gymnast of the Year, and K.J. Kindler was named Big 12 Coach of the Year.
#8 Denver
Coming in hot in second place, the Denver Pioneers fought a good fight despite finishing nearly a point behind the Sooners. Denver’s 197.975 was their highest away score this season.
Starting on bars, four 9.9s contributed to the team’s 49.475.
Beam was where Bella Mabanta received a 9.950 to top the team’s nearly season-high rotation (49.500).
Moving to floor for their third rotation, Hutchinson blew the crowd away with her amazing performance to notch a team-leading 9.975 on the event.
On vault, there was a lineup change: Mabanta went in the second spot instead of Maddison Reidenbach. It paid off as Mabanta and Hutchinson snagged 9.9s to pace the team.
Denver rounded out the conference awards, with Madison Ulrich winning Big 12 Newcomer of the Year Award and Rylie Mundell achieving Event Specialist of the Year.
BYU
Competing for the first time at Big 12s, the Cougars held their own as they placed third with a season-high 197.050.
On bars, Anna Bramblett anchored and scored the team’s highest individual score of the night with a 9.950.
Moving to beam for the second rotation, Elease Rollins scored a 9.900 to lead the team on the event. Gaining a pair of 9.9s of their own on floor, Sophie Dudley and Kylie Eaquinto helped the team score a 49.325.
Capping off the night on vault, both Eaquinto and Sydney Benson scored 9.850s to close out their performance.
Iowa State
A bubble team, the No. 1 goal here for the Cyclones was to lock-in a spot in the NCAA tournament, and they did that with a 196.350 to finish fourth and sneak into the 36th and final spot for the tournament.
The team’s event leaders were Kaia Parker and Ella Schell (9.9 – floor), Parker on vault (9.85), Laurent Thomas on bars (9.85), and Rachel Wilke on beam (9.9).
West Virginia
In their final bow as a team this season, West Virginia finished fourth with a 195.125.
Starting their meet on beam, Emma Wehry and Julia Brown both put up 9.85s to lead the Mountaineers. On floor, Abbie Pierson paced the rotation with a 9.900. Moving to vault, Kiana Lewis scored a 9.900, and concluding with bars, freshman Jayden McDonnell scored a 9.825 – a career high.
2024 Big 12 Gymnastics Championship Results
Team:
1. Oklahoma – 198.950*
2. Denver – 197.975
3. BYU – 197.050
4. Iowa State – 196.350
5. West Virginia – 195.125
*NCAA team record
Individual:
- All-Around: Jordan Bowers (Oklahoma) – 39.925
- Vault: Jordan Bowers (Oklahoma) – 10.000
- Uneven Bars: Jordan Bowers (Oklahoma) – 10.000
- Balance Beam: Ragan Smith (Oklahoma) – 10.000
- Floor Exercise: TIE Jordan Bowers (Oklahoma) – 10.000, Faith Torrez (Oklahoma) – 10.000
