Oklahoma Gymnasts Post Strong Performance at Day 1 of U.S. Olympic Trials

Yul Moldauer sits third in the all-around is second in two events, while Allan Bower, Gage Dyer, Vitaliy Guimaraes and Matt Wenske also are in solid position.

John E. Hoover | Jun 24, 2021

Thursday was a big day for Oklahoma.

Five current and former Sooner gymnasts had a strong opening day at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials in St. Louis.

OU's five representatives, plus head coach Mark Williams and assistant coach Josh Yee return to The Dome at America's Center on Saturday for the second and final day of trials.

Yul Moldauer, a 2019 OU grad, leads the Sooner contingent as he stands third place in the all-around with a 83.650. Moldauer scored 14.000 or better in five of the six routines. He sits in second place in the pommel horse and parallel bars.

“It's amazing (competing with OU teammates), Moldauer said in an OU press release. “”hose guys are my brothers and teammates. To be at the Olympic Trials with the teammates and guys you grew up with the last five years, talking about dreams and the Olympics and to be on the same floor with them at Olympic Trials, is incredible and gives off this certain type of energy.

“We all know what to tell each other and know each other's energy levels, and so to be back out there especially with Mark and Josh, too,” he said.

Allan Bower, a 2017 OU grad, sits in seventh place in the all-around competition with a 82.500. Bower scored three 14.000-plus routines and registered top-five finishes in three events, including his biggest score of the night on vault in the final rotation as he stuck a 14.500.

OU senior and two-time NCAA individual national champion Gage Dyer, who’s competing for a spot as an event specialist in Tokyo, had a strong night on the floor and vault events. Dyer posted 14.250 and 14.650 in those respective events and holds a share of fifth on both events after day one.

Vitaliy Guimaraes finished the opening day competition in 13th place in the all-around with an 80.250. His 14.700 on the vault ranks second going into Saturday’s action.

Matt Wenske, a 2021 grad, is just behind Guimaraes in 15th place in the all-around after scoring a 77.600. He score of 13.900 on the parallel bars has him tied for eighth in that event.

Due to an injury sustained in warmups, 2017 OU alum and World Championships team member Colin Van Wicklen had to withdraw from the Olympic Trials competition this weekend.

The Sooner contingent did suffer a setback, as 2017 OU alumnus Colin Van Wicklen was forced to withdraw after an injury during warmups.

Saturday's meet starts at 2 p.m. on The Olympic Channel, and coverage shifts to NBC at 3.

Live results are available via stlouis2021.com/results. Fans can also watch on NBCsports.com/live, the NBC Sports App and apparatus feeds will stream on NBCOlympics.com.

Published Jun 24, 2021

JOHN E. HOOVER

John is an award-winning journalist whose work spans five decades in Oklahoma, with multiple state, regional and national awards as a sportswriter at various newspapers. During his newspaper career, John covered the Dallas Cowboys, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, the Arkansas Razorbacks and much more. In 2016, John changed careers, migrating into radio and launching a YouTube channel, and has built a successful independent media company, DanCam Media. From there, John has written under the banners of Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Fan Nation and a handful of local and national magazines while hosting daily sports talk radio shows in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and statewide. John has also spoken on Capitol Hill in Oklahoma City in a successful effort to put more certified athletic trainers in Oklahoma public high schools. Among the dozens of awards he has won, John most cherishes his national "Beat Writer of the Year" from the Associated Press Sports Editors, Oklahoma's "Best Sports Column" from the Society of Professional Journalists, and Two "Excellence in Sports Medicine Reporting" Awards from the National Athletic Trainers Association. John holds a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications from East Central University in Ada, OK. Born and raised in North Pole, Alaska, John played football and wrote for the school paper at Ada High School in Ada, OK. He enjoys books, movies and travel, and lives in Broken Arrow, OK, with his wife and two kids.