BERKELEY – The ninth-ranked Golden Bears finally got a chance to compete in their official home gymnasium on Sunday, with their first meet at Haas Pavilion.
 
And, as eagerly as the evening began with a strong floor routine anchored by a pair of season bests, it ended with more exhilaration as California posted four career bests and hit five of six dismounts on high bar to highlight the meet.
 
Sophomore Ben Allins opened with a 12.550 career-high, followed by career notes from Roshan Toopal (12.600), Caleb Rickard (12.450) and Kyte Crigger (12.600), who matched his collegiate high. Angel Haro posted a season-high 12.650, before Aaron Mah, who returned to the all-around for the first time this season, hit for a high bar score of 13.650. Mah also finished second in the all-around with an 80.100.
 
In total, Cal collected 10 career highs Sunday during its first televised regular season meet since 2017.  
 
"It means we're going in the right direction," said head coach JT Okada. "We had a lot less consistency tonight, but the hit routines were cleaner and we scored better. That allowed us to maintain.
 
"If we up our consistency now, with that cleanliness in the routines we're going to get an even better team score. I'm not unhappy with this team performance, but it gives a direction and focus for our next meet."
 
Cal (395.400) was unable to overcome Stanford (417.800) in their third meeting of the season to give the Bears a 1-3 record so far this season. However, there was much to be celebrated throughout the Big Meet.
 
A demonstrative effort on the floor gave the Bears momentum to open the night ahead of the Cardinal after the first rotation 67.750-65.500. Mah anchored the floor with a season best 14.100 to finish fourth overall in the meet. Darren Wong also impressed with a 14.000, hitting his entire routine and finishing with boisterous cheers from his teammates as he flexed as he ran off the mat.
 
Wong's momentum carried the Bears as he led in the pommel horse with a 13.550, finishing third overall. The freshmen lifted Cal in its most difficult apparatus, as Matthew Randolph pulled in a career best 13.250 sticking a strong landing after Cal suffered from untimely falls in two routines. Mah again anchored with a season-high 13.150 as Cal rounded out a year-high 63.750 on the pommel.
 
"We've been working really hard to up our consistency on this event first and foremost," Okada said. "It's going to come together. We know we're capable of it, but it's just a matter of us putting it all together consistently in every meet. We have to start with one meet first and we're almost there."
 
The still rings provided another opportunity for Wong to flex his muscles as he stuck for a team- and career-high 13.350, while junior Crigger (12.900) and sophomore Jonathan Wang (12.700) posted season bests. Mah and sophomore Shane Sadighi both hit to score 13.150.
 
The Bears collectively recovered this week with an improved score on vault, recording a 68.850 score, ahead of last week's 67.900. Freshman Yu-Chen Lee led off with a career best 13.800 to build Cal's confidence as transfer junior Asad Jooma (13.750) and Mah (13.250) followed with season bests. Wong (14.300), once again, topped the event for Cal with his second career performance of the night.
 
Cal will head to the desert next in its first "true" road contest on Saturday, Feb. 2 in Tempe, Ariz., for the Pac-12 Invitational. The meet begins at 1 p.m. (PT).
 
For more information on Cal men's gymnastics, follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @CalMGym.