Home | Schedule/Results | Rosters | Coaches | Statistics | News Releases | History

Aug. 6, 1997

Four Bears to Compete in U.S. Gymnastics Championships

Alex Chansky, David Kruse, Joshua Landau and Trent Wells, all members of the University of California's NCAA Champion men's gymnastics team, are slated to compete for one of the six open slots on this year's U.S. National team at the 1997 John Hancock U.S. Gymnastics Championships. The event, which is scheduled to take place Aug. 13-16 at McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colo., pits 49 of America's best gymnasts against one another to determine who will be selected to represent the USA at the 1997 World Gymnastics Championships, Aug. 31-Sept. 7, in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Also vying for spots on the squad are four 1996 Olympians, including John Roethlisberger, Chainey Umphrey, John Macready and Blaine Wilson.

Cal won the 1997 NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championship with a record setting performance of 233.825 . The Bears beat strong teams from Oklahoma (232.725) and Iowa (231.800) en route to its first NCAA title since 1968 and third in school history.

For the upcoming collegiate season, Chansky and Landau return as the 1998 co-captains to lead what should be another highly rated Golden Bear team to defend of its title. While Kruse and Wells have concluded their careers at Cal, both plan to return to the program next season as volunteer assistant coaches.