Big 12 Championship

Recap

The Big Storyline: This meet shook out just about as anticipated, with the Sooners taking the title yet again. Oklahoma came out on the floor and never looked back as it set a new Big 12 championship record with a 198.400. Denver had a good but not perfect meet, showing there’s still room for the Pioneers to improve come regionals. West Virginia overcame adversity with an injury in the first rotation, while Iowa State left much to be desired.  

Postseason Implications: Maddie Diab secured her position as Iowa State’s only individual qualifier to regionals on floor exercise with a 9.950, while West Virginia will likely find itself in the play-in round after failing to raise its NQS at this meet. 

Records: 198.400 sets a new Big 12 championship record for the Sooners. They also set a program record on the balance beam with a 49.800. 198.400 is tied for the tenth highest NCAA score all time. 

Controversies: During its bars rotation, Oklahoma’s Ragan Smith and Olivia Trautman went out of order, causing a one-tenth team deduction at the end of the meet, bringing the original 198.500 down to a 198.400. 

Conference Awards

• Gymnast of the Year: Jessica Hutchinson (DU)
• Event Specialist of the Year: Katherine Levasseur (OU)
• Newcomer of the Year: Faith Torrez (OU)
• Coach of the Year: KJ Kindler (OU)

Preview

• No. 1 Oklahoma | 198.300 NQS | 198.575 season high
• No. 13 Denver | 197.445 NQS | 198.150 season high
• No. 29 West Virginia | 196.515 NQS | 197.350 season high
• No. 43 Iowa State | 195.670 NQS | 196.300 season high

If you can only watch one meet, here’s why it should be this one… This Big 12 championship, while deceiving in terms of rankings, has four teams that are looking to make a statement. Oklahoma has been dominant most of the season and is expected to take the title again this year, but Denver has shown moments of greatness. If the Sooners are off, the Pioneers can easily take advantage, just like they did in 2021. West Virginia has started to find its groove toward the back half of the season; with the championships being in Morgantown, it has just as much of a chance as the other teams. Iowa State, while mathematically out of the regionals picture, will want to end its season on a good note and aim to send individuals to regionals with a good showing.

If this is one of many meets you’ll be watching, don’t miss this… Floor exercise will be the event to watch at these championships. Oklahoma is ranked in the top five nationally on this event and has scored as high as 49.750. Denver shattered its previous floor record this season with a 49.825, and West Virginia has consistently scored above 49 all season. Iowa State has several floor specialists that will be vying for an event title, highlighted by senior Maddie Diab, who has a career-high 10.0. Oklahoma leads the way as the country’s No. 1 team on vault and bars, but Denver is also in the top 10 on three events.

What’s the bigger picture to keep an eye on? While West Virginia has mathematically locked itself into a position at regionals, one more mid-to-high 196 could keep it out of the play-in round and send it directly to day two. There are also two regionals hosts in this championship, so the seeding for Norman and Denver could be affected based on the outcome of this championship.

By the Numbers

Past Champions

• Oklahoma: 13 titles, last won in 2022
• Iowa State: 2 titles, last won in 2006
• Denver: 1 title, last won in 2021
• West Virginia: 0 titles

Records Watch

• Team: 198.200 (Oklahoma, 2022) | Vault: 49.575 (Oklahoma, 2014) | Bars: 49.725 (Oklahoma, 2016) | Beam: 49.650 (Oklahoma, 2015) | Floor: 49.650 (Nebraska, 2003)
• All Around: 39.800 (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

Oklahoma showed dominance at last year’s Big 12 championship, winning by almost a full point. However, it was Denver’s Jessica Hutchinson who took the all-around title, beating out her teammate Rylie Mundell by 0.125.