April 16, 2022 Issue, Page 5 of 14

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Sports April 16, 2022 u OU women’s gymnastics: Compared to last season, Sooners ‘in a different place’ heading into national meet Jesse Crittenden, The Nor- step in basically for the first The success of this year’s who have continued to be pro- need them. Those pushed us nificant impact. man Transcript time in her career.” freshmen class is not surpris- ductive while helping lead the forward this year. When we Jordan Bowers has been Not only do the Sooners’ ‘one of the more impressive ing to Kindler. underclassmen. were on the road early on in As Oklahoma prepares for enter this year’s NCAA semi- freshmen in the country this “Our staff definitely knew “T think obviously experi- the season against Utah, that its 18th consecutive appear- final as the top overall seed, season. She’s second on the that they would make a huge ence can never be underesti- was definitely a moment where ance in the NCAA semifinal, they boast the top-ranked bars team in points scored on vault impact and obviously that was mated,” Kindler said. “Their we said, ‘We've got to change KJ. Kindler made one thing Tineup. They also rank no. 3 on and bars, third on floor and the plan going in,” Kindler said. experience, that’s what they'resome things here.” clear. beam, No. 4 on vault No. 5 on she leads the Sooners in total “They certainly haven't disap- going to bring this weekend is The Sooners have earned ‘This year’s team is not in the floor. points scored. She competed pointed... They're really, re- calmness. You really have to another chance at a national same place as last season. Plus, they're mostly healthy, in all four events in the Soon- ally amazing and as freshmen, be calm in these moments and championship, and there’s a The Sooners’ narrowly which is a big difference from ers’ first six meets, and she fin- they've done a lot. Danae had not project too much impor- lot of differences compared to missed out on their fifth last season. ished with a score of 9.900 or COVID at the beginning of the tance on them because we've last season. championship last year, fin- “We're in a different place higher in all three events she year and missed the first meet, worked hard all season. This is Kindler’s excited to see how ishing second to Michigan by this year,” Kindler said. “In competed in during the Soon- so she had to recover from that the seventh season we've been it will all unfold. .0875 points. Though Kindler terms of health, we've been ers’ regional championship vic- physically to get her stamina the No. 1 team at the end of “I'm looking at a totally dif- would've preferred her team incredible healthy... We have tory last month. ick. the regular season. We've done ferent group with a totally dif- win it all, it didn’t feel like a much better depth and we're in “I think for Jordan, her “(Sievers) had that little the work.” ferent dynamic,” Kindler said. disappointment as the team a much better spot. If we need strong will and her desire to be fracture in her foot. If not for ‘The Sooners will face some “It’s not better or worse, just battled adversity. to dig into that depth, we're the best she can be definitely those two things for those two familiar foes this week, includ- different and I’m just excited “It felt like a win for us,” the ready... In total, we're just a stands out,” Kindler said. women, they may be doing ing second-ranked Florida, No. to see what they can do.” Sooners’ coach said. “It was re- completely different team than Danae Fletcher has been even more right now. I look 3 Michigan and no. 4 Utah. ‘The Sooners will compete in ally incredible because we had ‘we were last year. We have alot a strong contributor for the at this class as one of the best ‘The Gators and the Utes were ‘Thursday's semifinal at 12 p.m. seven walk-on routines. We of youth.” Sooners in recent weeks, scor- we've brought in, with Jordan the only teams to knock off the in Fort Worth. If they place in had health issues throughout ‘The youth she mentioned is ing a 9.950 on vault in the re- obviously on board. They're go- Sooners during the regular sea- the top two, they'll move on to the year. We really were almost another key reason why this gional semifinal and a 9.900 ing to be incredible down the son, which Kindler said helped Saturday's final at 12 p.m. down to no bar workers when year’s team is different. Along ‘on floor in the championship. line. Just look at what they've her team grow. Jesse Crittenden is the we got to the national meet. with sophomore standouts Danielle Sievers competed in done as freshmen.” “We've lost twice on the sports editor of The Transcript We only had seven total, with Katherine LaVasseur, Audrey three events during regionals, ‘The Sooners also have sev- road to really incredible teams. and covers OU athletics. Reach Jordan Draper stepping in at Davis and Bell Johnson, sev- posting a 9.920 on bars in the eral seniors, including Olivia ‘Those were learning moments. him at jesse@normantran- the last minute and having to eral freshmen have made a sig- championship. ‘Trautmen and Carly Woodard, We needed them and we still script.com or at 405-366-3580 OU football: Jaden Davis focusing on playing to his strengths heading into senior season Jesse Crittenden, The Nor- everything that anybody has Brent Venables. tention to detail and his past with your coaches off the field really working on that as well, man Transcript ever said about me, I've prob- “During high school, Clem- experience as a defense back, and you bring it on the field, too, and fitting what he needs ably said something 10 times son recruited me,” Davis said. which has helped him focus it's a whole different mindset to get done on the field.” Jaden Davis wasn’t himself worse to myself in my head. “But it’s a different experience more on improving. toward everything” That's gotten through to last season. ‘That type of stuff doesn’t really when he's actually here. First “It’s great to have somebody ‘The focus for Valai has been Davis, who said he tried too The Oklahoma cornerback bother me as much, but I’m re- meeting, he’s like, ‘What's up, who can relate,” Davis said. “Ev- helping Davis, listed at 5-foot- recorded 25 tackles, which ally hard on myself. Like, really, J? Tmlike, ‘What's up, Coach?’ erything you're going through, 10, better utilize his smaller often last season to play big- ranked 11th on the team, while really hard. He just says, ‘Let's get to work.’ he’s been through it. He was frame. Valai’s emphasis for Da~ ger than he is. and the empha- starting six games and appear- “I feel like it just wasn’t good T'm like, ‘OK, let's get to work at Wisconsin. He was All-Big vis has been on using his speed sis on playing to his strengths ing in all 13. It was a step back enough as a whole [with] where then.’ That's what it is. It’s just Ten. He’s been in the position and quickness to disrupt op- has been his mindset through from his freshman campaign I want to go, where my aspira- all work. You throw work at it. where he’s had to fight for a po- posing receivers. spring practices. in 2019 when he recorded 33 tions are... It’s just constant It’s crazy. sition, [He's been through] ups “You ain't 6-2, don’t play like “With Venables, [defensive tackles and an interception, improvement. When you have “He's probably the best de- and downs and everything, you're 6-2,” Valai said about but it was an improvement on a mindset that it’s constant fensive guru I’ve ever seen. He he understands. When you Davis. “Working at the line of coordinator Ted] Roof and Va- his 2020 campaign. improvement and you need to talks fast, too, but as you get have somebody who has been scrimmage [is important] be- lai, you learn that you play to For Davis, it wasn’t the sea- improve no matter if you have to know him and be around through the exact same thing cause the deeper the ball goes, your strengths,” Davis said. son he was hoping to have, a great game, a poor game, a him, everything starts to slow you're going through, it’s just a [the smaller] you get and I “You don't play in a shell of and a constant issue for him great season or a not great sea~ down. It’s just amazing. I'm big difference. know that, too. So [it’s about] “This is how you do everything” last season was a lack of confi- son, when you step back you'll just grateful for this opportu- “T can go up to his office and understanding creating turbu- You play to your strengths and dence. realize, ‘OK, I'm really growing nity to be here.” talk to him about just life be- lence at the line of scrimmage, you do what you have to do to “[It was] not good enough,” as a player. I'm growing as a An even bigger reason for his cause he understands every- pte-snap, moving around, taxi- Davis said Monday. “I'm my person and as an individual.” confidence is his relationship thing I’m going through. That ing and just giving yourself a make a play. hardest critic. I read a lot of It’s been a different feeling with his new position coach, also helps with everything. It’s better opportunity at the play “It’s just really exciting when stuff, and it’s hard to shut ev- for Davis this spring, and a big Jay Valai. The thing that’s not just about football. When by playing chess instead of you can see yourself visibly erything completely out. But part of that is new head coach stood out to Davis is Valai’s at- you have those relationships checkers. So [Davis has] been growing every single day.” Financial issues facing women business owners ‘As a business owner, you're much as you can afford to a emotional and financial costs. always busy, so it’s understand- retirement account, such as To help avoid entangling your able if you've put off thinking an “owner-only” 401(10, a SEP- finances with those of the fam- about events that won't occur TRA or a SIMPLE IRA. A finan- ily members to whom you're until far in the future ~ such cial professional can help you providing care, you may want as your retirement, the sale choose an appropriate plan. or transfer of your business Planning an exit strategy - to consider creating a durable and the settling of your estate. 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