April 7, 2006

Norman, Okla. - The California men's gymnastics team finished fifth at NCAA Championship Team Finals Friday night, which are being held at the University of Oklahoma. Cal was one of six teams to advance from yesterday's field of 12. Oklahoma, who recorded a team score of 221.400, was crowned NCAA Champions and have now won four of the last five NCAA titles. Illinois came in second (220.975), followed by Stanford (218.375), Penn State (215.125), California (215.000) and Iowa (211.800).

Freshman Kyson Bunthuwong and sophomores Colin Christ and Tim McNeill will advance to the NCAA Individual Event Finals, which are being held Saturday night. To qualify for Saturday's individual event finals, an individual must have finished in the top 10 on his respective apparatus in Friday night's competition with no more than three gymnasts per school qualifying in each event. Bunthuwong finished seventh on the parallel bars, while Christ tied for fifth on the high bar and McNeill placed fourth on the pommel horse.

On the parallel bars the Bears recorded a team score of 36.675, with all four competitors scoring above a 9.000. Bunthuwong led Cal in scoring, recording a 9.300 and placing seventh. Christ followed with a 9.200, tying for 12th. Fellow sophomore McNeill posted a 9.175 and senior co-captain Shawn Mowry chipped in with a 9.000.

Sophomore Aaron Moy led the Bears on vault, posting a 9.075. Kyle Brady and Tyler Block both recorded an 8.900, while Bunthuwong tallied an 8.675.

Cal posted its highest team score of the evening on the high bar, recording a 37.650, with three Bears posting new career-bests on the apparatus. Chirst guided the Bears on the event, posting a new career-best of 9.600 and tying for fifth. Jason Pierce also set a new career-best mark and placed 11th, after tallying 9.425. McNeill, the third Bear to set a new career-best, recorded a 9.375. Bunthuwong chipped in with a 9.250.

On the still rings Cal was led by Block, who posted a 9.150 and tied for 14th place. Brady recorded an 8.950, while McNeill chipped in with an 8.900 and Bunthuwong tallied an 8.675. Cal recorded a team score of 35.550.

On the pommel horse, McNeill placed fourth after recording an 8.900. Christ chipped in with an 8.550, but the Bears were forced to count two low scores, in Bunthuwong's 7.700 and Mowry's 7.950.

The Bears finished competition on the floor exercise, with Bunthuwong tying for 12th after recording a 9.250. Moy came in 14th after tallying a 9.175.

The competition will come to a close on Saturday with the NCAA Event Finals, which crowns the NCAA individual event champions and All-Americans. Competition begins at 7 p.m. (CST).

Team Results:
1. Oklahoma (221.400)
2. Illinois (220.975)
3. Stanford (218.375)
4. Penn State (215.125)
5. California (215.000)
6. Iowa (211.800)