A presidential visit
Oklahoma’s four 2017 national championship teams — men’s golf, men’s and women’s gymnastics and softball — visited the White House on Friday. Shown here is the golf team.
College athletes flooded the White House on Friday morning, spilling into gardens and hallways for their visit with President Donald Trump.
One room, however, was completely dedicated to a large contingent from Oklahoma.
Four OU teams — softball, men’s golf, and men’s and women’s gymnastics — made the trip from Norman to Washington, D.C., along with Athletic Director Joe Castiglione, to be a part of the day celebrating national champions from the 2016-17 season.
It was the first time an OU team visited the White House since the softball team made the trip in 2014 to be honored for their 2013 title.
The four Sooner teams were part of the 18-team celebration Friday, and the Sooners had a chance to tour the Oval Office, pose for photos and meet Trump and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.
“A lot of great athletes,” Trump told reporters in the middle of the visit, according to an Associated Press report.
The men’s golf team brought along a crimson golf bag embroidered with an interlocking OU and the president’s name.
“Got to be at the White House today and it’s safe to say that @realdonaldtrump loved the golfers,” tweeted Brad Dalke, a junior on the golf team. “So cool getting to chat with the POTUS, just another perk of being at #ChampU…#MAGA.”
The softball team presented Trump with a crimson and black glove, his name stitched in gold on the outside. The presidential seal was in the pocket of the glove.
During their time with Trump, the softball team asked if they could pray with him.
The president obliged, and Hannah Sparks led the prayer, according to an account from OU Senior Associate Athletics Director Kenny Mossman, who accompanied the Sooners on the trip.
Then, according to Mossman, Trump kissed Sparks on the cheek.
“Stopping for a moment of prayer for this country with the @POTUS was one of the most powerful moments I’ve ever been apart of,” tweeted catcher Lea Wodach. “God is alive.”
After the visit, the Sooners stopped by national landmarks like the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and Arlington National Cemetery before hopping on a flight back to Oklahoma.
The South Carolina women’s basketball team and North Carolina men’s basketball team did not attend Friday’s gathering of national champions, and the Clemson football team made its visit earlier this year.