Conference Recognition The Sooners have had at least two first-team Academic All-Big 12 members all 17 years of the conference’s existence. Five or more Sooners have been named to the team every season of K.J. Kindler’s tenure as head coach at Oklahoma, including a conference and program-best of nine in both 2014 and 2015.
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In 2015, OU had at least five National Association of Collegiate Gymnatics Coaches (NACGC/W) Scholastic All-Americans for the ninth straight season. Nine Sooners received the accolade, matching the 2009 squad for the most selections in a single season in program history. The Sooners have 57 selections to the team under head coach K.J. Kindler and 82 in program history.
The women’s gymnastics team was one of three OU programs to be recognized for posting a perfect 1,000 multi-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) last May, marking the second straight year the Sooners accomplished the feat.
The Sooners have enjoyed continual success in the classroom. Their efforts reached new heights when, in fall 2014, Oklahoma posted a program-record grade point average of 3.42.
Three-time honoree Rebecca Clark
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Last season, three of OU’s freshmen were named to the Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team, highlighting the program’s continued commitment to academics. Natalie Brown, Brenna Dowell (placed on list with 4.0 GPA) and Ali Jackson made up three of OU’s conference-leading 60 selections to the conference honor listing.
Recent University of Oklahoma graduate Rebecca Clark was rewarded a 2015 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, becoming the second gymnast in as many seasons to earn the honor (Lara Albright, 2014). Clark was a three-time NACGC/W Scholastic All-American and a CoSIDA/ Capital One Academic All-American.
Two-time honorees Chayse Capps, Maile’ana Kanewa and Haley Scaman First-time honorees Stefani Catour, Samantha Craus, Brenna Dowell, Kara Lovan and Haley Sorenson
SOONERS IN THE COMMUNITY OU lives by a clear and strong motto in dealing with its studentathletes: Inspiring Champions for Today, Preparing Leaders for Tomorrow. To fulfill that promise, the athletics department and student-athletes take an active role in a number of community service projects. Sooner student-athletes are exposed to life outside of sports and school work with opportunities to serve and help others. The Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) is a committee made up of student-athletes from all 21 intercollegiate athletic teams at the University of Oklahoma. The group coordinates community service programs for the Sooners each month.
“Giving back is something that benefits us as much as those we’re helping,” says OU head women’s gymnastics coach K.J. Kindler. “It brings us back to reality and makes us realize that there is more to life than collegiate athletics.”
“I want our student-athletes to learn through their experience here,” says Coale, “how important it is to volunteer to be a part of whatever community they decide to reside in when their playing days are over.”
Oklahoma women’s basketball teams have been extremely active in the community since head coach Sherri Coale’s arrival in 1996. In addition to projects with the United Way, Coaches vs. Cancer, Mission of Hope for Haiti and Food and Shelter for Friends, Coale implemented the Sooner Big Sis Program which places women’s basketball players at elementary schools in Norman to serve as mentors and teachers’ aides.
Oklahoma’s student-athletes recognize that wearing the Crimson and Cream means representing a popular sports program and themselves as individuals. They are encouraged to respond to a public that adores them, while learning important lessons about making a positive impact in the lives of others and in the community in which they live.