No. 7 Cal Opens Season By Hosting Stanford

The seventh-ranked California women's gymnastics opens the 2022 campaign on Sunday by hosting rival Stanford at Haas Pavilion. It will be a delayed start for the Bears after they decided not to participate in their original scheduled opener at the Collegiate Challenge on January 8, due to COVID-19 protocols on the team. 

Cal will now face off with the Cardinal for the first time in a dual meet since 2020, when Cal defeated Stanford in three separate meets. The Bears did defeat Stanford at the 2021 Pac-12 Championships as Cal took second place with a score of 197.375.

The Bears return 15 student-athletes from last year's historic team, that set multiple school records. The Bears totaled program bests on bars, beam, floor and all-around. They tallied a 197+ score in their final 11 meets of the season and made their fourth-ever team appearance at the NCAA Championship, finishing seventh. Cal just missed qualifying for the final day by .075 of a point. 

Cal returns 23 of the 24 routines that competed at the NCAA Championship including eight All-American routines and National Champion Maya Bordas. Bordas won the title with a 9.95 score on uneven bars, becoming Cal's first-ever National Champion. 

Cal welcomed five freshmen to the fold this year as Ella Cesario, Jordan Kane, Mya Lauzon, Abbey Scanlon and Madelyn Williams joined the blue and gold.

FOLLOW THE ACTION FROM AFAR: 
Sunday's contest will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Network. Live stats will be available on CalBears.com

RETURNING GREATNESS
The Bears had a record-breaking season in 2021 that saw the team post six of the top ten total team scores in program history, and tie an NCAA record on uneven bars. Kyana George, Nina Schank and Emi Watterson all elected to come back for a fifth season, meaning Cal will sport 23 of the 24 routines that competed at the NCAA Championships. The Bears return uneven bars NCAA Champion Maya Bordas as well as AAI Award Finalist and Pac-12 Champion Kyana George. Neveah DeSouza was a three-time All-American while Andi Li and Nina Schank were both All-Americans on the uneven bars.  

CAL PICKED SEVENTH IN PRESEASON POLL 
The Bears were ranked seventh in the WCGA Preseason Coaches Poll. That is the highest Cal has ever been ranking in the preseason poll after being ranked eighth in both 2019 and 2021. The Bears finished the 2021 season with a NQS of No. 5, and were ranked inside the top 10 in all four events. Including, the nation's best team on bars. 

CAL PICKED THIRD IN PAC-12 POLL 
Cal was chosen in the top three of the preseason Pac-12 Coaches Poll for the fifth consecutive season. The Bears have tallied more points in each successive season and were just one point behind UCLA and eight behind Utah. Cal finished second at the 2021 Pac-12 Championships and defeated UCLA three times during the 2021 season.  

TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Tickets to all California home meets are available for purchase online at CalBears.com. Admission to the meet is also still available for purchase at the ticket window on Spieker Plaza beginning 90 minutes prior to the start of each home meet.

STAY POSTED
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