Cal Earns Highest Preseason Ranking In History - California Golden Bears Athletics

GO BEARS!

Ondine “2025 Beam Champion” Achampong pic.twitter.com/hvEHfP7vFU

— Casey Magnesium (@caseymagnesium) December 15, 2024

I was at the meet. I would say it was a combination of inconsistent scoring (it was like a roller coaster, and almost laughable at times!), and missed dismounts on beam and bars. I'm talking very clean routines but even a little hop at the end can cost four-tenths an event.

It does not feel like scoring is down nationally. Most of the top-10 teams scored a mid-197 this weekend. I try to watch a lot of the SEC meets as well as any UCLA/Stanfurd meets that are televised to get a better sense of where we truly fit in. Judging is *supposed* to be tighter this year, as the judges are actually being evaluated themselves by a panel this year. I have seen specific instances this year where they actually *have* deducted for a split leap not being full split, a missed connection, etc. And we went a whole 2 weeks (gasp) this season without a single perfect 10.0. That said, I'm also seeing a lot of routines where if the vault (or dismount) is stuck, the score goes WAY up. I get that it's the last impression, but I'd like to see the judges evaluate the overall performance!

Cal has had two meets with significantly tight scoring this year (Oceanside and Davis), but they can't control that. I'm sure they have a laundry list of things to focus on in the gym this week. Their gymnastics is so technically clean that getting a hold on those landings will make a significant difference. Jayden Silvers also vaulted a nice Yurchenko 1.5 in exhibition yesterday. I'd hope to see her back in the lineup again soon, which would have Cal starting five out of six 10.0 vaults.

Thank you for that insight!!!

I didn't see this meet. Hoping to make it out Sunday. Will be at Cal for the MBB. Not sure I can go back to back. I'll see if I can get the Calgorithm tweeting about the meet