No. 1 Oklahoma defeated No. 2 Florida 198.325-198.025 Friday night in the Lloyd Noble Center, and did so in front of a school record-breaking crowd of 5,082.
“This is a big win for our program,” head coach K.J. Kindler said after the meet.
Freshman Olivia Trautman was the star for the Sooners, posting career highs in all four events and an all-around score of 39.725 en route to capturing her first career all-around title. Sophomore Anastasia Webb also posted a career high all-around score of 39.650.
Vault proved to be the difference-making event in the meet. The Sooners scored a 49.575 on vault, compared to the Gators' 49.150.
“I thought it was our best vault of the year,” Kindler said. “That is where we were able to pull ahead the most. That was probably the game-changer at the end of the day.”
One rotation in, the Sooners trailed by just one-tenth of a point. The record crowd in Lloyld Noble Center held their breaths, eagerly awaiting the first bombshell routine of the night. They wouldn't have to wait much longer.
From the five-spot, senior Nicole Lehrmann delivered a show-stopping uneven bars routine. The crowd erupted when she stuck the landing, and delivered an even louder aftermath just moments later when the judges revealed her score, a perfect 10, just the second of her career.
“Nicole was dead-set on her dismount," Kindler said. "She could get a 10 every time she goes. She legitimately is one of the best bar-swingers I have ever seen."
In that moment, the Sooners grabbed all the momentum of the meet and the full attention of the crowd. They did not relinquish that for the rest of the night.
Both teams remained close to perfect in the third rotation, setting the stage for a high-stakes final rotation with the Sooners on the floor and the Gators on beam.
The final routine of the night belonged to Trautman. Moments before Trautman began, Florida’s Alyssa Baumann delivered a stunning beam routine, earning a 9.975 and giving the Gators a slight lead. All the pressure was on Trautman’s shoulders. After delivering career-highs in the three prior events, the freshman needed at least a 9.900 to clinch the all-around title and win the meet for the Sooners.
Trautman delivered in stunning fashion. She posted a 9.975 on the floor, clinched the meet for the Sooners, won the all-around title and set another career high, her fourth of the night.
Kindler had high praise for Trautman.
“I’m impressed with her mental toughness," Kindler said of Trautman. "For a freshman, anchoring the floor squad, knowing she has to nail it for us to win. There’s a reason we’re putting a freshman in that position: because she’s special."
After the meet, Kindler delivered a message to Sooner Nation.
“This was a big win for us, attendance-wise. This has been the most energetic, fun crowd that we have ever had. I know our athletes appreciate it, they have fun when everyone comes out. It’s just an amazing environment and we hope that Sooner fans will keep coming out and will come out for UCLA.”
The Sooners go to Denver for their next meet on Sunday. That begins a three-week road trip before Oklahoma comes back to Lloyd Noble to face No. 3 UCLA Sunday, March 3.
