EDMOND —
More than 100 gymnastics enthusiasts young and old packed into the Oklahoma Gold Gymnastics training center, 711 S. Kelley Ave. in Edmond, as the University of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Gold gym bid farewell to OU gymnasts Jacob Dalton and Steve Legendre, who will represent the United States at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
“It’s a sense of pride, just a big sense of pride,” Oklahoma Gold owner Steve Hoehner said. “That a sport like men’s gymnastics in a state like Oklahoma, where we have two guys that comprise almost a third of the team, it is just a sense of pride that we can do things here.”
Hoehner and OU men’s gymnastics coach Mike Williams hosted a small presentation for the two Olympians. Afterward, Dalton and Legendre signed autographs and took photos with fans.
“It’s really awesome, just the support that we’re getting from the local community,” said Legendre, a native of New York. “Both Jake and I are from pretty far away, it’s really cool just to be able to have this group thing where everyone is getting together and sending us off, it definitely makes us feel at home even if we really aren’t.”
Dalton, who will be competing in his first Olympics, enters as the 2012 U.S. floor exercise and vault champion, as well as the 2012 NCAA all-around and parallel bars champion, team and floor exercise silver medalist, and a still rings and high bar bronze medalist.
Legendre, who is one of three alternates for the Olympic team, is the 2012 U.S. silver medalist in floor exercise, as well as the 2012 Winter Cup Challenge champion in the floor exercise and vault, as well as the all-around silver medalist.
A third OU gymnast, Alex Naddour, also is an Olympic alternate.
“I was ready (to go to London) before visas, before trials,” Dalton said. “You’re so physically prepared, it’s a mental game now, just wait it out and do everything you can to make sure that you’re prepared and enjoy the process.”
Dalton and Legendre will depart for London with the team on Thursday. The 2012 Olympics opening ceremony will be July 27, with the gymnastics events set to begin July 28.
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BRYAN TRUDE | SPECIAL TO THE SUN Olympians Jacob Dalton, left, and Steve Legendre sign autographs for the crowd assembled to see them off to the 2012 Olympic Games in London at Oklahoma Gold Gymnastics in Edmond on Saturday.
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BRYAN TRUDE | SPECIAL TO THE SUN Steve Legendre, left, and Jacob Dalton pose together for photos from the crowd at Oklahoma Gold Gymnastics in Edmond on Saturday.
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BRYAN TRUDE | SPECIAL TO THE SUN Olympians Jacob Dalton, left, and Steve Legendre sign autographs for the crowd assembled to see them off to the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
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VIDEO: Edmond gives send-off to OU Olympic gymnasts
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Edmond's Valuck ties for third after opening round of Mid Amateur
Oklahoma Golf Association
Mid Amateur Championship
Stillwater Country Club
June 17-18, 2013
Round 1 Results
Don Clark, Shawnee, Okla. - 34-35--69
Austin Hannah, Jenks, Okla. - 33-38--71
Kacey Threet, Grove, Oklahoma - 34-38--72
Jeff Tyrrell, Duncan, Okla. - 34-38--72
Jon Valuck, Edmond, Okla. - 34-38--72
Tyler Hall, Moore, Okla. - 34-39--73
Tom Zeiders, Tulsa, Okla. - 35-38--73
Brad Christianson, Jenks, Okla. - 36-37--73
Justin Jang, Norman, Okla. - 40-34--74
Phillip Bryan, Mustang, Okla. - 35-39--74
Jim Davis, Stillwater, Okla. - 34-40--74
Shawn Barker, Bartlesville, Okla. - 34-41--75
Brent Taylor, Bartlesville, Okla. - 38-38--76
Jeff Coffman, Oklahoma City, Okla. - 37-39--76
Blake Gibson, Yukon, Okla. - 33-43--76
Brent Gregg, Okc, Okla. - 37-39--76
Don Howard, Ponca, Oklahoma - 39-37--76
Ryan Munson, Edmond, Okla. - 39-38--77
Aaron Wilson, Stillwater, Okla. - 36-41--77
Jose Delgado, Tulsa, Okla. - 37-40--77
Brett Alcorn, Edmond, Okla. - 39-38--77
Max Showalter, Oklahoma City, Okla. - 36-41--77
John Stansbury, Edmond, Oklahoma - 35-42--77
Neil Metz, Edmond, Okla. - 38-39--77 -
Broncho wrestling program signs 7
Perennial national wrestling power Central Oklahoma has added five Oklahoma All-Staters and a pair of junior college All-Americans to the program for 2013-14, including locals Josh Breece of Edmond North and Alec Warren of Edmond Memorial.
High school stars signing with the Bronchos were Josh Breece of Edmond North, Zac D’Amico of Southmoore, John Jacob Finn of Westmoore, Tyler Tustin of Poteau and Alec Warren of Edmond Memorial, while Jeromy Davenport and Spencer Rutherford of Labette Community College also inked letters of intent. -
6 Edmond golfers hit pro links in Norman
Six Edmond golf professionals will tee it up Wednesday in the Second Annual OK Kids Korral Championship at Belmar Golf Club in Norman.
One hundred-eight players make up this year’s event on the Adams Golf Pro Tour Series. This includes five amateurs and 15 of the top 25 players on the 2013 AGPTS money list including last week’s winner in Miami, Okla. Mark Walker of Hurst, Texas, who is currently third among the money leaders.
Players from Edmond include William Kropp, Andrew Green, Dillon Rust, Wilhelm Bogstrand, Jackson Ogle and Cameron Meyers. -
UCO Endeavor Games athletes qualify for 2014 world championship powerlifting team
At the University of Central Oklahoma’s Endeavor Games for Athletes with Physical Disabilities June 6-9, four athletes qualified for the 2014 World Championships in the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) powerlifting competition.
The qualifying athletes include Trevor Bunch from O’Fallon, Mo.; who is making his World Championships debut; Scott Danberg from Cooper City, Fla., a five-time Paralympian; Bryce Segura from New Iberia, La., who is competing in his first World Championships; and Mary Stack from Ann Arbor, Mich., a four-time Paralympian. -
Two UCO rowers named All-American
Central Oklahoma rowers Jenna Goodner and Michaela Stam have been named to the NCAA Division II All-America Team, it was announced by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association.
Goodner was a first-team selection, while Stam was a second-team choice. All-America selections take into account a candidate’s strength of schedule, regular season record, end of season regatta results, nomination rank, coach’s comments and 2,000-meter ergometer score. -
The remembrance remains fresh
The celebration is not over.
The Deer Creek girls basketball team continued to relive March’s state basketball championship Friday at Deer Creek High School with a Class 5A state championship ring ceremony.
Head coach Totsy Manning greeted each of her players by presenting them with a title ring.
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Traffic shouldn’t be an issue with upcoming national soccer tournament
About 15,000 people are expected at the U.S. Youth Soccer Southern Regional at the Edmond Soccer Complex on Danforth Road near Kelly Avenue June 21-27.
The number of out-of-state guests should not be a problem according to Assistant City Manager Steve Commons. The tournament will attract more than 200 boys and girls teams, ages Under-13 through Under-19, from the 12 state associations that make up U.S. Youth Soccer Region III (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, north Texas, Oklahoma, South Carolina, south Texas and Tennessee).
As a matter of fact, Commons feels very upbeat about the prospect of Edmond hosting the national tournament. -
LaFaye takes Pick-A-Partner crown with 135
The KickingBird Men’s Golf Assocation’s Pick-A-Partner was won by Robert LaFaye Saturday with a 135.
Sean Conrad took second (136) while Kevin Wright and Kevin O’Neil deadlocked for third place at 137. -
UCO overtakes Division II foes for national title
Starting out the postseason, the University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos softball team puttered out in the MIAA Tournament.
But UCO shifted it into another gear when the rounds of regionals began and rode the wild momentum going undefeated en route to securing the NCAA II national championship over Kutztown (Pa.) in Salem, Va.
The Bronchos dominated, going 9-0 straight through to the national title contest on May 27. -
2013 US Youth Soccer Region III Championships to bring more than $8 million to Edmond area
he 2013 US Youth Soccer Region III (South) Championships presented by the National Guard, to be played June 21-27, will provide an estimated economic impact of more than $8 million to the Edmond area.
Local restaurants, hotels, retail stores and others will benefit from the more than 3,600 players, coaches, teams and tournament officials, along with an estimated 12,000 spectators attending the seven-day tournament. Visitors to the Edmond area will book an estimated 10,000 room nights at area hotels.
The top 200 Boys and Girls US Youth Soccer teams from Region III, including at least 19 teams from the host Oklahoma Soccer Association, will compete at the Edmond Soccer Club Complex. - More Sports Headlines
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Edmond's Valuck ties for third after opening round of Mid Amateur
