Big 12 Championship

Recap

The Big Storyline: Oklahoma dominated to reclaim the Big 12 title while Denver posted season-bests on bars and beam to take second.

Postseason Implications: Oklahoma clinched the overall No. 1 seed heading into regionals and will host in Norman. Denver remained in the top 16 with its performance, securing a top 4 seed. Iowa State and West Virginia also qualified, with the Mountaineers squeaking into the top 32 based on performances this weekend.

Records: Oklahoma’s winning score of 198.200 is the highest team score in Big 12 championship history. Denver’s 49.500 on bars was a season high and 49.550 on beam tied its season high. Denver freshman Momoko Iwai posted a season best 9.950 to tie for the beam title while Oklahoma freshman Danielle Sievers set a new season high of 9.950 to tie for the floor title. Denver sophomore Jessica Hutchinson matched her career high of 39.625 to win the all-around title.

Conference Awards

• Gymnast of the Year: Jessica Hutchinson (Denver)
• Event Specialist of the Year: Carly Woodard (Oklahoma)
• Newcomer of the Year: Jordan Bowers (Oklahoma)
• Coach of the Year: K.J. Kindler (Oklahoma)

Preview

• No. 1 Oklahoma | 198.080 NQS | 198.475 season high
• No. 15 Denver | 196.870 NQS | 197.600 season high
• No. 26 Iowa State | 196.430 NQS | 196.875 season high
• No. 34 West Virginia | 196.185 NQS | 196.575 season high

If you can only watch one meet, here’s why it should be this one…

Last year’s Big 12 championship provided one of the most shocking upsets of the postseason, as Denver took down top-ranked Oklahoma to win its first title in the conference. This year, the Pioneers will host the event for the first time, and after a season of devastating injuries, they will fight hard to repeat. Iowa State hit its stride in recent weeks and could be a potential spoiler for second place or even the trophy if the stars align. Don’t count out West Virginia, either. The Mountaineers have scored above 196 in five straight meets and boast an exciting floor lineup that could challenge for individual accolades.

If this is one of many meets you’ll be watching, don’t miss this…

Oklahoma has climbed into the top five on all events but is the nation’s top-ranked team on bars. Against Michigan a few weeks ago the Sooners crushed their school record with a 49.825, and the team averages over 49.500. Oklahoma also has a share of the No. 1 individual ranking on three of four events, with freshman Jordan Bowers leading vault, sophomore Audrey Davis tied for the bars lead and junior Ragan Smith tied for the top spot on beam. Iowa State is the only other team in the Big 12 that has received a perfect score this year, with juniors Makayla Maxwell and Maddie Diab posting 10s on vault and floor, respectively. West Virginia’s No. 18 ranking on floor is also worth mentioning. The Mountaineers have big tumbling and clean form, scoring as high as 49.525 this season.

What’s the bigger picture to keep an eye on?

Oklahoma, Denver and Iowa State are pretty much locked into regionals, but at No. 34, West Virginia is on the bubble. The Mountaineers will have to score above a 195.925 to raise their NQS, and perhaps score even higher to guarantee a spot in the top 36 with teams behind pushing to make the final cut as well. Also keep an eye on Denver’s depth. After losing all of their returning seniors to Achilles injuries, the Pioneers only put up five athletes on vault, bars and floor in last weekend’s regular season finale. If Denver can’t find a sixth athlete to add to each lineup, the pressure will be on to perform perfectly if it wants to finish well in 2022.

By the Numbers

Past Champions

• Oklahoma: 12 titles, last won in 2019
• Iowa State: 2 titles, last won in 2006
• Denver: 1 title, last won in 2021
• West Virginia: 0 titles

Records Watch

• Team: 198.050 (Oklahoma, 2016) | Vault: 49.575 (Oklahoma, 2014) | Bars: 49.725 (Oklahoma, 2016) | Beam: 49.650 (Oklahoma, 2015) | Floor: 49.650 (Nebraska, 2003)
• All Around: 39.80 (Richelle Simpson, Nebraska, 2003) | Vault: 10.000 (Maggie Nichols, Oklahoma, 2017) | Bars: 10.000 (Bree Dority, Nebraska, 2001 & 2003; Keeley Kmieciak, Oklahoma, 2016; Lynnzee Brown, Denver, 2021) | Beam: 9.975 (Richelle Simpson, Nebraska, 2003; Chayse Capps & Erica Brewer, Oklahoma, 2016) | Floor: 10.000 (Kim Mazza, Iowa State, 1997; Richelle Simpson, Nebraska, 2003)

Last Time Out

Denver won its first Big 12 championship in 2021, snapping Oklahoma’s streak of eight-consecutive titles. The Pioneers’ Lynnzee Brown scored a perfect 10.000 on bars to seal the victory and secure the all-around crown.