ISU sophomore Michelle Browning’s performance was deemed the most beautiful when she placed first in the all-around competition Friday at Oklahoma’s Beauty and the Beast event, where the Sooner gymnastics and wrestling teams competed simultaneously.

Coach Jay Ronayne described Browning earlier in the season as a “very special gymnast” whom he expects to be All-American.

Browning herself hopes to be All-American, but not until later in her career. However, winning the all-around at Oklahoma, the No. 1 school in the nation, isn’t a bad start.

“I was really excited,” Browning said. “It was definitely an accomplishment, especially after this being my first year [competing in the all-around]. It kind of surprises me when I do as well as I did.”

Browning’s teammates say she is the hardest worker in the gym during the week.

“[Her win] is nothing we didn’t expect,” senior Jody McKellar said. “She puts everything out in competition and she is a very consistent gymnast.”

Senior Ashley Kent said the team is proud of Browning and that her hard work is paying off, not only on personal level, but also for the team as a whole.

“She’s a bonus, definitely,” Kent said. “We go in as a team first, and then all those other things are just bonuses for us. If it helps her confidence, then it helps all of us in the end, so it’s definitely a good thing.”

Browning’s performance buoyed a team effort that resulted in a season high 196.225 for the Cyclones (4-5), which still wasn’t quite enough to beat the Sooners (8-0), who had a season-high 197.250.

Not only did the Cyclones earn a season-high total score, but they also notched a 49.000 or higher on all four events for the first time this season.

This was especially meaningful for the gymnasts who were off their game at their meet at Pittsburgh last Friday due to some mistakes and an injury.

Compared to last week, Kent said, the difference this week was that the team knew it was going to do well instead of just going out and doing the routines.

“We had a really good week of practice,” Kent said. “We went into the meet feeling really good, even from warm-ups you could tell. We came in and we just knew we were going to hit it.”

The team managed its season-high score without McKellar, who usually competes in the all-around.

McKellar was only able to perform on bars this week because of the ankle injury she sustained a week ago at Pittsburgh. After the first rotation on bars, she looked on as her team continued on floor, vault and beam.

“It was actually more nerve-racking just watching my team,” McKellar said. “Usually I’m more focused on my routines and what I have to do, but it was more nerve-racking just sitting there not being able to contribute on every other event.”

McKellar’s bruised ankle is on the mend, and she is hoping to be back on the vault and the beam this week.

“Of course we missed having Jody in the lineups,” Browning said. “But we had other girls who were ready to step up. They did their jobs, so we’re happy that we’re back, but we know even without her we can do good things and score high.”