BERKELEY – With a third-place finish at the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships Berkeley Regional, California fell shy of a team berth to the NCAA Championships, but freshman Toni-Ann Williams claimed an individual spot as an all-arounder. Georgia won the meet with a 197.025 and Utah also advanced with a 196.575 ahead of Cal's 196.000, which marks the Bears' highest team total at an NCAA regional event in program history. Boise State (195.375) was fourth, Utah State (195.150) was fifth and BYU (194.150) was sixth.
Williams punched her ticket to the NCAA Championships as an individual with her 39.275 all-around showing and a first-place vault finish. She placed third all-around and shared the vault title with Utah's Georgia Dabritz with a 9.95. The top two all-around competitors not on an advancing team earn spots at the national championships, as well as the champions on each event. Sophomore Charlie Owens was just .075 short of claiming the second spot as an all-arounder, as Boise State's Kelsey Morris also turned in a 39.275 to earn her trip to nationals alongside Williams.
Williams is the first gymnast since Kristen Smyth in 1991 to win a regional vault title. It is just the second regional title on the event for the Golden Bear program, and fifth title on any event at regional competition in school history.
After the meet, Cal swept the NACGC/W West Region honors. Justin Howell repeated as the regional Coach of the Year for the third consecutive season. Associate Head Coach Elisabeth Crandall-Howell was named Assistant Coach of the Year for the first time, and Williams was named Gymnast of the Year. Associate athletic director for performance, health and welfare Ryan Cobb claimed his second-straight Administrator of the Year honor.
The Bears drew floor to open the meet after a first-rotation bye, where consistency reigned supreme for a solid 48.875 team score. Senior Crystal Paz and Alicia Gallarzo were forced to step up big for injured sophomore teammates Zoe Draghi and Desiree Palomares, out with ankle injuries. Both Paz and Gallarzo rose to the challenge. After sophomore Dana Ho and Owens led off with a 9.725 and 9.775, respectively, Paz showed off her veteran composure to earn a 9.70. Freshman Arianna Robinson added a 9.80 and Williams led with a 9.875 before Gallarzo stepped in at the anchor spot and delivered a 9.60.
Cal matched its fourth-highest vault team score of the season, a 49.350, in the second rotation. Williams' meet-best 9.95 led the Bears, followed by a pair of 9.85s from Robinson and junior Kristina Heymann. Like Paz and Gallarzo, Heymann stepped into the lineup to replace Palomares and turned in a season-high.
At the halfway point of the meet, Cal was in prime position to nab the second NCAA Championship berth. Georgia led 98.275, with Cal checking in second with a 98.150. Trailing behind were Utah (97.700), Boise State (97.525), Utah State (97.475) and BYU (97.400). However, the Bears knew they were in for a dogfight heading into their final two rotations.
The Bears matched their fourth-best score of the season on bars as well, logging a 49.150 total. Sophomore Amber Takara matched her career-high 9.90, finishing as one of four runners-up on the event behind Dabritz. Owens continued yet another strong and consistent night with a 9.85.
While Georgia charged ahead, Utah gained some ground in its final two events of the evening – floor (49.375) and vault (49.500). After five rotations, the Utes finished their portion of the meet with a 196.575. Georgia was at a steady 147.625 and needed just a 48.95 on vault to tie Utah. Meanwhile, Cal needed a 49.275 on its weakest event – the balance beam – to tie the Utes. Cal's season-high on beam was a 49.100.
The Bears poured their best efforts into beam but some landing issues and balance checks proved to be costly. Cal's top beam total of the night came as a 9.80 from Ho. Sophomore Jessica Howe set a season-high 9.775, and Owens was not far behind with a 9.75. Ultimately, it wasn't enough to catch up to Utah or Georgia, and the Bears ended up with a 48.700.
Georgia and Utah will compete at the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships April 17-19. Oklahoma, LSU, Florida, Alabama, UCLA, Auburn, Stanford, Oregon State, Michigan and Nebraska each claimed NCAA Championships berths at their regional sites.
NEXT UP
Williams will head to Ft. Worth, Texas for the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships on April 17-19. She will compete for the all-around title on Friday, April 17 and will have a chance to contend for an individual NCAA title and All-America status on Sunday, April 19.
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