Oklahoma Wins Rocky Mountain Open

1/19/2011 12:00:00 AM

Jan. 19, 2011

#4 OKLAHOMA claimed the Rocky Mountain Open Title for the 12th-straight year by finishing first of three in Colorado Springs, CO last Saturday. The Sooners scored a 346.500 to win the event, placing ahead of No. 9 Nebraska (334.500) and host No. 13 Air Force (327.300). The Sooners claimed five of six team titles, winning floor (57.300), rings (57.600), vault (63.800), parallel bars (57.400), and high bar (55.600). Steven Legendre and Jake Dalton each posted all-time RMO highs, with the former's 16.400 on vault and the latter's 15.100 on bars. In addition to each of those individual titles, Dalton also won floor (15.700) and an all-around title (88.500). Ohio State visits Norman on Saturday (Jan. 22) in OU's home opener.

#9 NEBRASKA opened the 2011 season by earning a second-place finish at the Rocky Mountain Open with a score of 334.500. The Huskers finished behind No. 3 Oklahoma and ahead of No. 13 Air Force. Wyatt Baier tied for second on vault (15.900) while Eric Schryver captured the bronze on horse (14.000) and Wyatt Aycock claimed fifth (13.700). The Huskers join Illinois on Saturday (Jan. 22) in a tri-meet at Minnesota.

AIR FORCE opened 2011 by surpassing last year's best-ever season-opening team score (327.300) in its annual Rocky Mountain Open. The Falcons placed behind Oklahoma and Nebraska. After placing fourth on horse in his collegiate debut in the 2010 meet, sophomore James Okamoto turned in this year's top routine (14.300). Senior Nash Mills and sophomore Tory Brown tied for second on vault (15.900), career-highs for each gymnast and just .05 shy of an all-time academy record. Air Force stays home to face Army Saturday (Jan. 22).

#2 CALIFORNIA junior Glen Ishino claimed an all-around title (90.300), lifting the Bears to an upset over top-ranked Stanford in last Saturday's season opener in Palo Alto (349.650-348.700). Ishino handily took first on parallel bars (15.550), with Dennis Mannhart finishing second (14.700). Ishino won two other titles on high bar (15.900) and pommel horse (14.75). The Bears and Cardinal do battle again this Saturday (Jan. 22).

#3 STANFORD scored a 348.700 in Saturday's dual home loss to No. 5 California to begin 2011. Josh Dixon led on floor (15.000), pacing the Cardinal to a 58.700 in that event. Tim Gentry posted a 15.400 to lead the rings and a team score of 58.600. Four Stanford vaulters recorded marks of 15.500 or better, widening its lead, before Cal came back on the high bar rotation. Dixon and Alex Buscaglia hit a 15.800 on vault. The Cardinal gets a quick rematch with the Bears this Saturday (Jan. 22).

GLEN ISHINO MPSF GYMNAST OF THE WEEK
California junior Glen Ishino (Santa Ana, CA) won individual titles on horse (14.750), parallel bars (15.550), and high bar (15.900), on his way to a dominating all-around victory (90.300), in a season-opening upset at top-ranked Stanford last Saturday. Cal was trailing the meet by 3.5 points with two rotations left, before Ishino nailed the p-bars and high bar to seal the team win. Also Nominated: James Okamoto (AFA); Jake Dalton (OU); Tim Gentry (Stan)