OU women's gymnastics bracing for 'bittersweet moment' in 1-2 clash at Metroplex Challenge

NORMAN — The top-ranked OU women’s gymnastics team returns to action at 7:15 p.m. Saturday at the Metroplex Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas.

The Sooners will take on No. 2 Cal, No. 16 Arkansas and No. 29 Washington at the event.

OU has already knocked off Cal, winning 198.375-197.950 on Feb. 2 in Tempe, Arizona.

Here are three things to know about the Sooners going into the event.

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End of an era?

This could be the final time the Sooners take part in the Metroplex Challenge

“This is kind of a bittersweet moment,” Sooners coach K.J. Kindler said. “Unfortunately I don’t know what that looks like moving forward into the SEC in terms of staying in this competition.”

The Sooners have participated in the event in all but one season since Kindler arrived, and it’s seen as a key piece of preparation for the postseason, as it gives teams a chance to compete on podium.

Kindler said she knows that the event doesn’t line up with an OU bye week in the SEC schedule in either of the next two seasons, but there’s still a chance they could take part, if both schools agree to participate in the event and use the event to count as their SEC meeting, subject to conference approval.

It might be difficult to get their opponent to agree to that, though, if the Sooners are scheduled to be on the road for the matchup.

More: OU women's gymnastics: Three takeaways from Sooners' win over BYU, Utah State, TWU

Remembering Dave Richardson

Monday marks the fifth anniversary of the death of Dave Richardson — the “Norman dad” for many of the OU gymnasts and the husband of long-time Sooners’ trainer Jenn Richardson — of colon cancer.

“Dave was the one who really propelled them to their national championship in 2019,” Kindler said. “He really pushed them to believe they would win that year.”

The Sooners will wear their 2019 leotards this weekend to honor Richardson’s memory.

The Metroplex Challenge takes place at the Fort Worth Convention Center Arena, the same site as the 2019 NCAA Championships.

Jenn Richardson remains an integral piece for the Sooners.

“I’ve never met a stronger woman,” Kindler said.

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Keira Wells breaking through

Earlier this week, Sooners freshman Keira Wells was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week after earning a 9.925 on the fault, her first career 9.9 or higher score. She also earned a 9.875 on the balance beam.

“What I love about her is she does kind of fly under the radar,” Kindler said. “She’s not getting a lot of attention but she has no issues with that. She’s just keeping on doing what she does best and really helping with the team. I love that attitude that she has. She just doesn’t waver.”

Wells has handled the pressure of competing at the collegiate level well.

“She doesn’t burden herself with expectation,” Kindler said. “So that lightness and that place she can put herself mentally has been hugely advantageous to her team and to her.”

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU women's gymnastics bracing for 'bittersweet moment' in 1-2 clash