SEC Champs Again; Sooners Down Auburn for Regular Season Title

Friday, February 27

Norman, Okla.

6:30 PM

University of Oklahoma

197.975

196.150

Auburn

SEC Champs Again; Sooners Down Auburn for Regular Season Title

February 27, 2026 | Women's Gymnastics

By: Lindsey Magness

NORMAN — For the second year in a row and the first time outright, the Oklahoma women's gymnastics team is the SEC regular season champion. The Sooners posted a 197.975-196.150 victory over No. 15 Auburn on Friday night at Lloyd Noble Center to claim to the 2026 league crown.

"I can't tell you how difficult it is to win this," said OU head coach K.J. Kindler. "Last year, we won a share of the regular season title and that was very difficult to do when you have eight of the top 10 teams in the country. It's an incredible conference. I can't say enough about the other teams and the way they're coached and the talent on their rosters. For this team to earn this is huge for the university and it's something they should be extremely proud of."

With only one conference meet remaining and all other SEC opponents having at least two losses, the Sooners clinched the title outright with a 7-0 record. This is the 22nd conference title in program history and 16th for Kindler.

"The plan was to make a statement," said Kindler. "Moving into the SEC allows us to be challenged every single week against the best of the best. These environments we're going to are wild and crazy and loud. You have to set aside distractions and be dialed in. It makes your program rise when you join a conference like that."

Five athletes combined to sweep the event titles for the Sooners. Addison Fatta's 39.500 gave the sophomore her sixth all-around title of the year. Hannah Scheible secured the vault title with a 9.925, sharing it with Auburn's Paige Zancan. Lily Pederson tied her career high with a 9.95 to take the bars title, while Faith Torrez won her sixth beam title with a 9.95. Mackenzie Estep claimed floor with a 9.95 of her own.

"Every day I go into practice with this mindset of being so grateful and honored to be here and be on this team," said Estep. "To see all the hard work we put in every day to get to this moment, it's super special to be a part of that."

A 49.475 on vault had the Sooners in front by .300 after the first rotation. Scheible led the squad with a stuck front handspring pike half for a 9.925. Estep and Fatta recorded matching 9.90s on their Yurchenko 1.5s, while Keira Wells and Elle Mueller added 9.875s to the team score. In the leadoff spot, Elizabeth Blessey tallied a 9.80.

The Sooners used a 49.550 on bars to extend their lead to .550 at the halfway point. For the second week in a row, Pederson led off with an impressive routine for a 9.95. Fatta recorded her seventh score of 9.90 or higher with a 9.925 in the No. 4 spot. Scheible and Torrez drilled their dismounts for a pair of 9.90s. Freshmen Estep and Ella Murphy recorded a 9.875 and 9.850, respectively.

"I want to recognize Lily Pederson because in the history of our program, I don't know that we've had a starter go 9.950 as many times as she has," said Kindler. "Dani Sievers was so consistent, but this score of 9.950, that is huge for a starter to get and very difficult for a starter to get that score. It was very impressive and definitely sets up the rest of the lineup for some big moments."

For the sixth time this season, OU tallied a 49.500 or better on beam. A 49.550 had the Sooners ahead 148.575-146.350 heading into the final rotation. Torrez anchored with her fifth 9.95 of the year and seventh mark of 9.95 or higher. Mueller earned her third straight score of 9.90 or better with a 9.925 in the No. 5 spot. Wells recorded a 9.925 of her own after a 9.90 from Fatta in the leadoff spot. In the middle of the lineup, Murphy and Pederson added back-to-back 9.850s.

"I thought this balance beam performance was amazing," said Kindler . "It was Faith's best routine of the year. What you work on with Faith are the smallest of things. She is so good on beam, but the smallest of things were so very good today."

A 49.400 on floor secured the win and the regular season crown. The front of the lineup showed out with Pederson kicking things off with a 9.90, followed by a season-best 9.925 from Murphy. Estep's high energy was on full display as she recorded a career-high 9.95. Mueller tallied a 9.850 and Fatta added a 9.775.

A double weekend awaits the Sooners with a road trip to No. 8 Arkansas on Friday, March 6, followed by the final home meet of the season against TWU on Sunday, March 8.