H1: Oklahoma Sooners Redeemed: A Year After Disastrous Fall, They’re Back in NCAA Gymnastics Finals
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حالیKJ Kindler and the Oklahoma Sooners had waited 364 days for this moment. A year ago, they infamously stumbled at the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships, failing to defend their title due to multiple falls on vault and beam. But on Thursday, in the very same arena, they silenced their critics and booked their ticket to the 2025 final, scoring a total of 197.550.
Exorcising the Demons of Last Year
“It’s been a long 364 days,” said Kindler. “And I don’t ever want to see TV footage of Oklahoma falling over and over again on vault. That dragon is slayed and we’re past it.”
The Sooners began their redemption arc on the uneven bars, delivering a steady 49.400. A slip on the balance beam by Lily Pederson caused a momentary panic, but senior leader Jordan Bowers stepped up with a near-perfect effort, securing a 49.350 on the event.
The Road to Redemption
On the floor exercise, the Sooners picked up their highest total of the day, a 49.525. Their total score of 197.550 was enough to top the first national semi-final, with the University of Missouri following at 197.300. The University of Florida and Alabama rounded out the top four with totals of 197.300 and 196.825 respectively.
Looking Ahead to the Finals
“It’s definitely been a challenge, especially being a senior trying to lead the team,” said Bowers. “It’s a new year, it’s a new team, what happened last year doesn’t matter, what the day before doesn’t matter.”
With their ticket to the 2025 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships secured, the Oklahoma Sooners will face off against Utah and UCLA in the final. Defending champions LSU disappointingly missed out, posting a score of 197.525 for third, while Michigan State rounded out the standings with 197.3625.
Meta Description: Oklahoma Sooners redeemed: A year after their disastrous fall, they’re back in the 2025 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships final, scoring a total of 197.550.
Internal Link: Catch up on the 2024 season recap
External Link: NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships official website
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<p><em itemprop="datePublished">April 18, 2025 Updated 3:07 p.m. ET</em></p>
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Did you know? Oklahoma Sooners have won six NCAA titles in Gymnastics, with their last win in 2023.
FAQ:
Q: What caused Oklahoma’s downfall in the 2024 championships?
A: Three falls on vault and two on beam in the opening minutes of the national semi-final led to their elimination.
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Image: Oklahoma Sooners’ Jordan Bowers (bottom) and Lily Pederson (top) compete on the balance beam at the NCAA Gymnastics Championships. (Photo by Getty Images)