SALT LAKE CITY, UT –  For the second time in three seasons, California women's gymnastics is headed to the NCAA Championship. The Golden Bears, who broke a 24-year championship drought by advancing in 2016, punched their ticket with a 196.725 second-place finish at the NCAA Salt Lake City Regional.
 
Utah won the regional with a 197.475 and will also advance. Auburn was third with a 196.525, followed by BYU (196.300), Stanford (195.60) and Southern Utah (194.625).
 
Cal's 196.725 is its highest total at an NCAA Regional in school history, and the Bears' NCAA Salt Lake Regional showing solidifies one of the most successful seasons in school history as the Bears have elevated themselves among the nation's elite.
 
Just like the 2016 NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional, Salt Lake City was not without drama as the Bears' chances at nationals came down to the final rotation. Entering the last set of performances, Cal owned a 147.700-147.425 edge over Auburn. The Bears wrapped up their last rotation first, going 5-for-6 with a fall in their final performance on the uneven bars, With a 196.725 total all but finalized for the Bears, Auburn would need a 49.300 on beam to tie the meet, and the Tigers were well within range after five performances. A miss by their event anchor sealed Cal's second-place finish.
 
All-Arounders Toni-Ann Williams and Kyana George each finished in the top 10, with Williams earning a 39.400 for fifth and George going 39.325 for ninth.
 
Cal started the meet on beam, where Chelsea Shu led off with a 9.70 to start off a solid rotation, capped by three consecutive 9.85s from Alicia Gallarzo, Williams and Sofie Seilnacht at the back of the beam lineup for a 49.125 team total.
 
Cal used the fourth-highest floor total in school history to power to a second-place standing halfway through the meet. Sofie Seilnacht led off by matching her career-high 9.85, one of five scores of 9.85 or higher in the rotation. Arianna Robinson matched her season-best 9.875 in the No. 2 spot, and the Bears rolled on with another 9.85 from Sylvie Seilnacht and a 9.90 from George. Williams, the seventh-ranked floor gymnast in the country, anchored the lineup with a 9.925 to push the Bears to a 49.400 total, matching the fourth-highest score in school history and second-best all season.
 
The Bears' record floor performance put the Bears right where they wanted to be halfway through the meet – among the top two teams. Utah led with a 98.950, while Cal sat at second place with a 98.525, past Auburn's 98.350. BYU (98.275), Southern Utah (97.275) and Stanford (97.175) rounded out the group.
 
A 49.175 vault showing helped the Bears maintain their momentum, led by another 9.875 from Robinson. Sylvie Seilnacht was second among her teammates with a 9.85, and all-arounders Williams and George each contributed a pair of 9.85s.
 
Entering the final rotation, Cal sat at 147.700. The Bears tallied four scores above 9.80, including a team-high from second team All-Pac-12 uneven bars winner Nina Schank. Though a fall by Sofie Seilnacht in the anchor spot forced the Bears to count a 9.75, Cal still topped the 49.0 mark, going 49.025 on the event.
 
Next up, California heads to the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championship, set for April 20 and 21 at Chaifetz Arena in Saint Louis, Mo.
 
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