(Photo Courtesy: California Women’s Gymnastics/Facebook)
The Golden Bears of the University of California have concluded their record-breaking regular season and will now head into the Pac-12 Championships as a top-25 team.
Smashing school records and exceeding career-bests in nearly every meet, the gymnasts of Cal rank 19 in the nation as it currently stands. The team has won 7 out of 11 total meets.
California not only shines as a team, but individually as well. Freshman Toni-Ann Williams has won six Pac-12 Freshman of the Week Awards. Williams has scored a perfect 10.000 on vault twice this season, leaving her as the only Cal gymnast to ever score two 10.000s on any event.
The Cal Bears are bound to put up a fight, and fans should expect nothing less come March 21. The momentum from their record-breaking season will only push the team harder in the championships.
Biggest Strength
PERSERVERENCE
California’s consistent ability to set team-highs, career-bests, and school records sets them apart. Even when discouraged by uncharacteristically low scores on events, the team stays focused and preserves to go on to set team season highs on one of their weakest events. In its loss against Arizona, the team scored low on vault and floor but set a team high of 49.100 on beam. The Bears keep their eyes on the prize. California’s perseverance will serve the team well in the face of higher ranked teams.
Biggest Weakness
TECHNICALITY
The team performs best when they give 100 percent and make mistakes versus losing points by not giving events their all. Often, unique routines and diverse lineups set the team apart and make all the difference in final scores. However, uniqueness and diversity do not make up for weak execution.
Prediction
California placed third in last year’s Pac-12 Championships. Considering the Bears have broken numerous team records this season, they are set to meet or exceed last year’s standing. Williams’s perfect scores on vault and other scores, like freshman Arianna Robinson’s 9.950 on floor at California’s win over UC Davis, have paved a solid standing into the championships. Since the team is often not fazed by setbacks, they will be a force to be reckoned with.
Agree? Disagree? We want to hear your input. Tweet the author @ChloeRanshaw using #Pac12GymSpotlight or eMail her at cranshaw@asu.edu.
