March 10, 2007

BERKELEY - The No. 7 California men's gymnastics team defeated third-ranked Ohio State, 213.000-212.300, Saturday night at Haas Pavilion. The Golden Bears, in their second home meet of the season, improved to 7-5 on the season, while the Buckeyes dropped to 6-4.

Cal won high bar by the score of 36.650 - 31.650. The other event that the Bears took was still rings, 37.550 - 36.950. The Buckeyes won the other four events, but they were all by a close margin. It was the victory on high bar that set the Bears apart to earn the win.

Junior Tim McNeill posted two new career-high scores. The reigning national champion on pommel horse recorded career bests on pommel horse and still rings, both by the score of 9.650. The 9.650 scores were the highest scores for any Cal player in the meet. He also scored a season best of 9.000 on high bar.

McNeill wasn't the only junior to set new personal bests. Sean Bryan tied his career best on still rings (8.900) and set a new career high on parallel bars (9.050). Colin Christ tied his career best on parallel bars with a 9.350. Christ also scored two season bests, an 8.750 on floor exercise and an 8.700 on pommel horse. Kyle Litow's 9.050 on floor exercise was a new career best for him as well.

Sophomore Kyson Bunthuwong returned to action and scored a new career best on still rings (8.800) and a new season high on high bar (9.250).

Cal heads to the east coast next weekend for a dual meet against Penn State on Saturday, March 17. In three weeks, the Bears will host the MPSF Championships at Haas Pavilion on Saturday, March 31, at 7 p.m.