Jan. 10, 2012

Friday, Jan. 13
7:30 p.m. - No. 5 Cal vs. No. 4 Stanford
Haas Pavilion - Berkeley
Promotions - Free to Attend

BERKELEY - The road to Norman, Okla., and the national title publically begins Friday for the No. 5 California men's gymnastics team. The Golden Bears open their 2012 campaign against rival No. 4 Stanford with the first event scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley. The event is free for all to attend.

Bears Begin 2012 Ranked Fifth
In the preseason poll, Cal earned a No. 4 national ranking. The Bears finished fourth at the 2010 NCAA Championships and No. 4 in the final 2011 rankings. Oklahoma topped the preseason rankings with Illinois and Michigan filling out the medal stand at second and third, respectively. Just ahead of Cal is Stanford in fourth.

Cal Sports Report Highlights Cal Squad, Nic Blair
With the start of the 2012 campaign just days away for the California men's gymnastics team, the Cal Sports Report featured the Golden Bears in a recent airing. In the video below, host Todd McKim talks to head coach Tim McNeill as well as senior Nic Blair.

To watch the video, please click here.

International Golden Bears
This winter, three members of the Cal men's gymnastics squad returned to Berkeley with new worldwide experience under their belt. Jean and Christian Monteclaro traveled to the World Championships in October as representatives of the Philippines. Donothan Bailey donned the Red, White and Blue of the U.S. at the Pan American Games during the fall. Both Bailey and Ishino were named to the U.S. senior national team in August.

2011 Rewind
The Bear squad closed its 2012 campaign in fourth place in the NCAA Team Championships. Six Bears - Christian Monteclaro, Kyle Bunthuwong, Bryan del Castillo, Glen Ishino, Donothan Bailey, Steven Lacombe - earned All-American status. At the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships, Cal finished third with del Castillo taking third on high bar and Bailey finishing sixth in the all-around. Additionally garnering conference honors, seven Bears made the MPSF All-Academic Team for Cal to place second amongst all programs.

Next Time in the Gym
The Bears face off against the Cardinal for the second meet of the season, this time on the peninsula. Things are set to get underway in Stanford, Calif., at 7 p.m. on Jan. 21 in the dual meet.