Jan. 14, 2009

BERKELEY -With a solid core of returners and a bright freshmen class of eight recruits, the California men's gymnastics team looks to have a solid foundation for the upcoming 2009 season. Although the Golden Bears lost eight letterwinners from the 2008 season - including five-time NCAA champion Tim McNeill, who is helping coach this year's team as a graduate intern - the team returns nine letterwinners and welcomes seven newcomers.

"It is always the goal is to be competing the last day of the year in the finals of the NCAA Championships," Weiner said. "We need to see if we can be a good enough team together to be one of the final six teams and give ourselves again the chance to have a shot at winning the championship. Now, having said that, we lost a lot, but we also have a lot back."

The talented senior class of four gymnasts - Kyle Brady, Kyson Bunthuwong, Justin Franklin and Evan Roth - will provide leadership and depth for the Bears. Brady, who is a three-year letterwinner and is in his first year at Cal's Boalt Hall School of Law, joins the team to close out his collegiate eligibility. Franklin joined the squad last season as a junior and his season best score came in the upset over Penn State (March 15), with a 14.150, and the Vallejo, Calif., native is hoping to add floor and vault to his repertoire in 2009.

Captaining the squad this year are Kyson Bunthuwong and Roth. Kyson Bunthuwong, who will return to the all-around for Cal, excels at both pommel horse, on which he is a two-time All-American. Roth had the team's best result of the year on vault with a 16.150 at the NCAA team qualifier (April 17). Weiner notes that Roth has matured since coming to Cal and that he has the ability be an NCAA ring and vault finalist this season.

Some of Weiner's plans for the team hinge on the health of junior Bryan del Castillo. He was the 2006 junior national champion and an extremely talented gymnast - especially on high bar but has been limited by injuries.

"Injuries limited Bryan to just one meet last year and that hurt us," Weiner commented. "Now, he is still is not 100 percent just yet, but if he can give us what we hope he can, then we should be fine on most events."

The squad's second junior Daniel Geri is looking to compete on parallel bars, high bar, pommel horse and vault. He notched his career high of 14.200 on pommel horse Jan. 26 at the Stanford Open to lead the Bears to victory on that event.

Sophomore Kyle Bunthuwong was a key contributor as a true freshman and will compete all-around this year for the Bears. He had the team's highest marks of the season on floor with a 15.150 at the Stanford Open (Jan. 26).

"The nucleus of our team will be the all-arounders, and that's Kyson and Kyle Bunthuwong," Weiner said.

Sophomore Eric Haeussler is Cal's standout on the floor-exercise team and boasts one of the most difficult routines in the nation on high bar. Redshirt freshman Michael del Junco has impressed the team with his development and skills on parallel bars and pommel horse.

Weiner signed eight freshmen to his recruiting class including the No. 1 recruit in the nation in Glen Ishino. Ishino brings a lengthy resume to Cal, competing at the 2008 Pan American Gymnastics Union Individual Event Championships, taking second the 2007 Junior Olympic Nationals in the all-around, and earning a spot on the U.S. Junior National team at the 2007 U.S. Championships after taking second in the all-around and finishing first on rings.

"I'm thrilled with [Glen] because not only is he really talented, but he's got a great work ethic. So, he becomes a big, important part of our nucleus," Weiner said. "We also bring in seven outstanding freshmen this year, many of whom we hope will make contributions this season."

Nic Blair out of Kernersville, N.C., is a strong gymnast who is expected to make the pommel horse team. Weiner hopes for freshman Daniel Culpepper to help the Bears on floor and vault. Another freshman looking to make an impact is Jacob Jizrawi - a local product out of San Rafael, Calif., who trained at Golden Bear Gymnastics in high school. Freshman Jim Kerry is expected to help the Bears on floor and high bar and build upon other events. Raion Sabo looks to make the high bar lineup this year. Michael Salipante looks to be a regular on the vault team.

Floor Exercise
Weiner is looking to add some newcomers to the mix this season. "Jim Kerry has the potential to be very good on floor and give us extra depth," Weiner noted. Roth will become a permanent fixture in the lineup after competing six times on the even in 2008 and notching a career best of 14.850 at Stanford (March 8). Haeussler will also return to his starting role on floor and will be joined by the all-arounders, who will fill in the holes.

Pommel Horse
While the Bears will be without three-time pommel horse NCAA champion McNeill, Cal spent much of the 2008 season ranked in the top five of pommel horse teams. Weiner is looking to Kyson Bunthuwong, Ishino, Franklin, Geri and del Castillo to perform strongly and serve as Cal's core on the event. Blair is also expected to make the pommel horse team.

Rings
Roth and Brady will combine with the all-arounders for the mainstays of the rings team, an event which Weiner hopes the Bears can see some improvement on this season. Brady scored his 2008 season high on rings in the team qualifiers at NCAAs with a 15.550. Del Castillo can also contribute high scores on rings if he is healthy.

Vault
Cal looks to put a strong team of contenders together with the all-arounders again providing the base. Freshman Michael Salipante has a chance to make the vault lineup, according to Weiner. Junior Daniel Geri, who did not compete once on vault last year, has added a vault to his repertoire. Eric Haeussler will return to the floor after competing at every meet on the apparatus in 2008.

Parallel Bars
Cal will once again boast one of the top, if not the top, parallel bars teams in the country. Last season, the Bears' p-bars team spent all 11 weeks of the season in the No. 1 spot in the national rankings. Although they will be without the skills of McNeill, Cal returns two Bears who were in the NCAA finals on parallel bars - Kyson Bunthuwong and Brady. Haussler, Geri, Kyle Bunthuwong and Ishino will also add depth and talent to the rotation.

High Bar
The h-bar lineup will depend on del Castillo, whom Weiner notes is "amazing" on high bar. Kerry has the potential to be included in the rotation and could become the Bears' top contender on the bar. It is another very good event for Haeussler, who has one of the most difficult routines in the country. The all-arounders will fill out the remaining spots.

All-Around
The Bunthuwong brothers will be Cal's top two all-arounders, and they look to excel on all events. Both Kyson and Kyle competed in the all-around several times in 2008 with Kyle winning his first collegiate all-around title Feb. 16 in the victory at Ohio State. Kyson won the all-around in the defeat of Stanford (Jan. 19) and notched the team's highest all-around score of 2008 in the upset of Penn State (March 15) with a 90.200. Ishino should also compete all-around.

Schedule
The Bears host just two home meets - Stanford on Jan. 16 in the season opener and Ohio State on March 6. Cal will see some of the nation's top gymnastics programs multiple times at such meets as the Pacific Coast Classic and the Gold Country Classic.

"It's good for the team to compete elsewhere because it helps prepare us for the MPSF and NCAA Championships, which will not be on our home floor," Weiner said. "The Ohio State meet will be very important as it is our last home meet and the Buckeyes will be a championship caliber team."