Oklahoma Sooners showcase!
Recent world team members Steven Legendre and Jake Dalton led a stacked team in a preseason intrasquad just a few weeks ago. I was amazed by their floor routines in particular…the kind of physical shape it must take to do six world class tumbling passes was simply unthinkable ten years ago. I remember when four was exhausting! And not to mention the fact that the season hasn’t even started.
Let’s take a look at some of the highlights:
Steven Legendre Floor Oklahoma Intrasquad
Jake Dalton Floor Oklahoma Intrasquad
Bobby Shortle Floor Oklahoma Intrasquad
Amazing stuff!! Not sure what Legendre was planning on that first pass before bailing out (maybe double full immediate double front?), but that Hypolito was incredible, and I love the height on his laid-out Thomas – probably the best one ever done. And it’s great to see him do the piked double Arabian dismount – he usually did it tucked last year. This was actually the first time I had seen Dalton on floor. I assumed he was strong on floor because of his power on vault, but this definitely confirms that. I would expect both of these guys to be in contention for worlds next year, but it will be interesting to see if there will be room for both since they’re both strong on the same two events. Perhaps it might take a third event for one of them to seal a spot. And I was extremely impressed with Shortle! Beautiful tumbling on every single pass…love his form and technique.
Corey English Pommel Horse Oklahoma Intrasquad
Pretty long set and a great line…would be even way better if he pointed his toes but still very impressive.
Steven Legendre Vault Oklahoma Intrasquad
Jake Dalton Vault Oklahoma Intrasquad
Bobby Shortle Vault Oklahoma Intrasquad
Again our two world team members showing their stuff…I really would like to see Legendre do a half out of that vault this year. And hopefully Dalton will put the triple full back in at some point as well. The vault from Shortle is one we don’t see two often…half on layout rudi off.
Steven Legendre High Bar Oklahoma Intrasquad
Jake Dalton High Bar Oklahoma Intrasquad
Jeremy Adams High Bar Oklahoma Intrasquad
Legendre shows that high bar will likely be the third event he’ll try and put behind his name in the next couple of years. Dalton is clearly a floor and vault guy, but I do love the Tcatchev half turn as well as the Markelov-Gienger combo. And I like Jeremy Adams for the long lines and big release moves – he seems like a real team player and a great competitor too.