(c) OU Gymnastics

Gymnastike recently spoke with head coach of Oklahoma's Women's Gymnastics Team, K.J. Kindler. 

How has training been going this summer? Who have you seen in the gym?

Training has been going really great, we have seen everyone in the gym for some part of the summer sessions (except Keeley Kmieciak). We have lots of girls working new upgrades and exciting new skills for next year. Chayse Capps is working on upgrades everywhere- 1 ½ on vault, double layout on floor and some fun new combinations on beam. Chayse is also working hard on bars to make the lineup this year. Haley Scaman is working really hard this summer on beam to be able to complete AA for us next year. McKenzie Wofford has made some changes to her bar routine this summer that I think will really help her see action in our lineup. She has gotten rid of the toe-blind and has moved to a giant full-blind-jaeger instead. She has also changed her giant tap swing from above to bar to below the bar, which has really helped her dismount be more consistent.

Congratulations on winning your 1st National Championship. What do you think was the key to winning your 1st title?  

We have been patiently and impatiently knocking at the door for the past few years. Our program has only made it to the super six, four times. Each time we have made it we have had success- 1st place, two 2nd place finishes and a 3rd place finish. I think the 2nd place finishes are what made us hungry and want it that much more. We saw how close we have been. It has been the goal since we started on campus to win a national championship. Our motto every year is to outwork every other team in the nation.  We have now broken into the political group and elite group of the few programs that have won a national championship and hope to stay there. 

What do you think your team needs to do to have the same success next year? 

Honestly I think we need to leave last year behind and move forward this year. We are a new team, have new challenges and it is a new season. We will need to earn it again this year as we want to repeat. I think the girls need to remember the feeling of finishing 2nd to help drive them to repeat. We lost 6 routines from last year and I can see 11 new routines coming in to contend for the lineup. 

Who do you see leading your team this year? 

Rebecca Clark is a leader by voice especially in the locker-room. She is very self-confident and the girls really look up to her. She works very hard and never gives up. Haley Sorensen and Erica Brewer are both great leaders by example and are “doers”. 

 

Oklahoma is known for their beautiful lines and choreography on beam and floor. Can you walk me through the process of that? 

I do all the choreography for both beam and floor. It really needs to be teamwork between the athlete and myself. We both need to love the music, I might find the music or the gymnast might bring it to me. Once the music is found we then work in 4 segments to complete the routines. We are still in the process of completing these routines for next season.  

 

                         Gymnastike also caught up with senior, Rebecca Clark. 
                                           

How has your training been going this summer? Any new skills? 

Training has been going great. I have been working on improving my routines and upgrading skills. I have also been playing with upgrades on both beam and bars. 
 

As a senior what kind of leader do you see yourself being? 

I hope I can motivate and inspire my team. I want to lead by example and not just by saying or being a vocal leader. 

What are your personal goals for next season? 

As I senior I really want to do the best I can for the team. I want to have no regrets and leave everything out there. I want the team to succeed and do everything I can to help them.

Congrats on your first National Championship. What was it like winning and your thoughts on a repeat? 

It was incredible to win! With the delay and the tie it was very emotional and dramatic. It honestly took a while to sink in for me. It was fantastic to win with my team. It is always a goal for our team to win. We have a new team this year and we need to take one day, one practice at a time. We need to continue to put our best out to there in order to win another national championship.  

What is unique about this team? 

Our team has great chemistry. The freshmen are bringing great new talent and personality. We have already started to see that from them this summer. We are excited for the season! 

Stay tuned to Gymnastike for more summer updates from the top teams around the nation! 

Related:
Summer Update- MICHIGAN