Oklahoma Sooners Secure Seventh NCAA Gymnastics Title with Free-Spirited Performance
The Oklahoma Sooners women’s gymnastics team climbed back to the top of collegiate gymnastics by winning the program’s seventh NCAA Championship at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. After last season’s semifinal heartbreak, the Sooners delivered a commanding performance and captured the national title with a score of 198.0125—outpacing UCLA, Missouri, and Utah.
This win marked Oklahoma’s third championship in four years. It also kicked off a comeback story built on resilience and unity. (Source)
The Road to Redemption: From Setback to Supremacy
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Last season, the Sooners came into the NCAA Championships as favorites. They had an unbeaten record and a Big 12 Championship performance that shattered scoring records.
But the semifinals went sideways. A rare misstep on the beam ended their title hopes.
This year, head coach K.J. Kindler focused on growth and freedom instead of redemption. She wanted her gymnasts to compete with joy, not pressure.
That shift made a difference. The Sooners moved through all four events with confidence and composure.
Senior leaders like Jordan Bowers and Audrey Davis fueled the team’s resurgence. Davis, especially, showed consistency and grace, finishing her collegiate career with 267 consecutive hit routines.
That’s a wild achievement. Her finals routines on beam, floor, and bars brought in critical scores and showed off her poise.
Embracing Freedom and Focus
Coach Kindler’s mantra of *competing with freedom* really stuck with the team. After a tense but solid semifinal, the Sooners walked into the finals determined to perform without fear.
Davis described the difference as being *joyful and present in the moment*. That mindset let the athletes show their best gymnastics when it mattered most.
You could see that freedom right from the start. The Sooners opened on the balance beam—a notoriously nerve-wracking event—with four consecutive scores of 9.9 or higher.
The beam, once the site of last year’s heartbreak, became their foundation for championship success.
Lily Pederson’s “Angry Beam” Moment
Freshman Lily Pederson delivered one of the night’s most memorable moments. In the semifinals, she slipped on the beam and scored a 9.275—her lowest of the season.
Known for her precision, she took the mistake hard and wanted to redeem herself in the finals. Kindler urged her to channel that emotion into what they call *angry beam*—a fierce, focused approach with sharp execution and strong finishes.
Pederson’s finals routine was all mental toughness. She nailed her landing, let out a burst of emotion, and sprinted to her coach before her teammates swarmed her.
Kindler called it the *biggest moment of the night*, a shift that lit up the team and set the tone for the rest of the meet.
Turning Pressure into Power
Pederson’s comeback summed up the Sooners’ theme of resilience. The team didn’t let past failures define them—they used those moments as fuel.
Kindler often says, *people fail all the time—the glory is in getting back up again.* That idea threaded through every practice and performance.
Dominating the Competition
After the first rotation, UCLA tied the Sooners with a strong floor performance. But Oklahoma quickly pulled away.
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The Sooners’ consistency across all four events—beam, floor, vault, and bars—made the difference. Their final event scores say it all:
- Beam: 49.6125
- Floor: 49.5875
- Vault: 49.4375
- Bars: 49.3750
Every gymnast pitched in. No event turned into a weakness.
The Sooners managed to keep their cool and stay sharp across every rotation. That separated them from the rest of the field.
Vaulting to Victory
The vault had been tricky all season because of inconsistent landings. But in the finals, it became a highlight.
Faith Torrez and Addison Fatta delivered near-perfect vaults, scoring 9.9625 and 9.925. Kindler called the vault *huge* for the team’s confidence.
The energy from those early vaults seemed to carry through the whole meet. By the last rotation, Oklahoma’s lead was out of reach.
The Legacy of Oklahoma Gymnastics
With this win, the Oklahoma Sooners cemented themselves as one of the most dominant programs in NCAA gymnastics history. The 2025 title is their seventh national championship and their third in four years.
Kindler’s leadership, blending technical skill with emotional intelligence, keeps setting the standard for college gymnastics coaching.
But honestly, the Sooners’ story goes deeper than trophies. It’s about perseverance and unity. Davis’ consistency, Pederson’s redemption—each gymnast’s journey fed into a team built on trust and belief.
They turned last season’s disappointment into motivation. That says a lot about their character and culture, doesn’t it?
Looking Ahead
The Sooners are still soaking in their championship, but you can feel the shift toward what’s next. Oklahoma’s got this blend of seasoned vets and fresh faces, which honestly keeps them in the running for more titles down the line.
They picked up a lot this season—freedom, emotion, trusting the process. Those lessons will stick with the program and probably shape what comes next.
The 2025 NCAA Championship wasn’t just another win. It sent a message: Oklahoma gymnastics runs on resilience, passion, and a drive for excellence. From that *angry beam* routine to the wild celebration, the Sooners showed what it means to fall, get up, and take the crown again.
For all the event details and the official scoring breakdown, check out the full coverage on The Oklahoman’s report.