April 17, 2007

BERKELEY - Nine members of the California men's gymnastics team have been selected as Academic All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation's scholar athletes for the 2007 season, MPSF executive director Al Beaird announced Tuesday. This is the second-straight season that the Golden Bears have had nine selections for conference academic honors.

Receiving honors are senior Caleb Kirk (integrative biology) juniors Tyler Block (integrative biology), Kyle Brady (psychology), Sean Bryan (physics), Colin Christ (undeclared), Mark Freeman (sociology), Tim McNeill (psychology), Aaron Moy (mass communications) and sophomore Kyson Bunthuwong (undeclared).

"It exemplifies who we are," Cal head coach Barry Weiner said. "It shows that we excel in every way, in and out of the classroom."

Out of all five teams in the MPSF, Cal's nine selections were the most in the conference. Stanford had eight gymnasts earn academic honors, while Air Force had two, Nebraska four and Oklahoma five.

The student-athletes were nominated for this award by their institution based on the following criteria: 3.0 or better cumulative grade point average and at least a sophomore academically, the student-athlete must have completed one full academic year at the institution prior to the season for which the award is being received and the student-athlete must have competed in 50 percent or more of the institution's competition.

Cal finished the 2007 season with an 11-10 overall record and placed third in the MPSF Championships. The Bears came in fourth in the preliminary session in the NCAA Championships. Individually, McNeill won the NCAA title on pommel horse and parallel bars. Along with McNeill, Christ and Bunthuwong earned All-America honors.