Benas, Aranda Secure CGA Weekly Awards

NORMAN – A pair of Oklahoma men's gymnasts picked up national awards for their performances in leading the Sooners to the highest team score in the nation this season, as redshirt senior Fuzzy Benas was named CGA Specialist of the Week, and redshirt freshman Colby Aranda was named CGA Rookie of the Week, the College Gymnastics Association announced Wednesday.

Benas and Aranda helped lead Oklahoma to a 328.650 team total and victories over No. 3 Ohio State (317.700) and No. 13 Air Force (303.050) Saturday night at McCasland Field House. OU's score on Saturday eclipsed the previous national high score this season by more than two points (326.450 by Stanford on Jan. 24).

Benas scored a 13.950 on high bar and a 13.850 on floor exercise to win both individual event titles. He also added a 14.250 on vault and a 13.600 on parallel bars, notching season-high scores on both events. His 8.900 execution score on parallel bars and 8.750 execution score on high bar were both the highest in their respective rotations. The Richmond, Texas, product ranks seventh nationally on floor exercise (13.667) and eighth on parallel bars (13.550) and high bar (13.600).

Aranda, who is from Grapevine, Texas, scored a career-high 14.500 on pommel horse to win his first career event title in his McCasland Field House debut. His start value of 5.5 was the highest on any apparatus in the meet, while his execution score of 9.000 was the highest on pommel horse by 0.350. The performance helped Aranda take over the number one ranking in the nation on pommel horse (14.183) and lead the Sooners to the number one team ranking on the event (54.813).

The honor marks Benas' second national weekly award of the season and Aranda's first. Oklahoma has now earned three national honors from the CGA. Freshman Nathan Roman won CGA Rookie of the Week on Jan. 28.

Up Next

Oklahoma is off next weekend before Benas, Bogonosiuk and Roman take part in USA Gymnastics Winter Cup, which will be held Feb. 21-22 in Louisville, Ky. Alumnus Yul Moldauer and signees Dante Reive and Hunter Simpson are also qualified for Winter Cup.

The Sooners return to McCasland Field House on Feb. 28 to face No. 5 Nebraska. The meet is set to begin at 6 p.m. CT, with introductions at 5:45 p.m. It will be Educator Appreciation Night and Greek Night, featuring an OU hat giveaway and $2 takeover (beer, soda and popcorn). The team will sign autographs after the meet.

For updates and more information on Oklahoma men's gymnastics, follow the Sooners on Twitter and Instagram (@OU_MGymnastics) and like Oklahoma Men's Gymnastics on Facebook.