California Golden Bears Athletics

SALT LAKE CITY – After collecting a team-high nine titles and earning a league-leading four weekly honors, Milan Clausi's stellar rookie debut culminated with the title of Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.
 
The Pac-12 bestowed the award upon Clausi in front of her hometown crowd in Salt Lake City, Utah, Saturday evening at the Pac-12 Women's Gymnastics Championships. She is Cal's third Freshman of the Year selection in seven seasons, joining teammate Toni-Ann Williams (2015) as well as Serena Leong (2013).
 
"It means the world to us, and to me, especially just to go out and accomplish everything that I wanted to and even things that I didn't expect to happen," Clausi said. "I'm so grateful for the team and the support, and I'm so glad I got to be here and be a part of this amazing meet with these amazing teams."
 
No other freshman in the Pac-12 has had greater impact on her team than Clausi this season, who leads the league's newcomers in numerous categories. Based on number of routines alone, Clausi's 37 competitive routines this season are the most among Pac-12 freshmen. What's even more impressive is that the Cal workhorse is a perfect 37-for-37 in her performances for a 100 percent hit percentage and ranks within the top 15 on all three of her main events among all Pac-12 gymnasts, not just freshmen.
 
"We are so happy for Milan! This award is voted on by all of the coaches in the conference, so it carries a great deal of significance. It is very meaningful that Milan's impact and body of work this season has been recognized by some of the greatest coaches in NCAA gymnastics," said California co-head coach Liz Crandall-Howell.
 
Clausi's nine scores of 9.90 or higher are tied for the most among the Pac-12's freshman gymnasts, and she is the only Pac-12 freshman to record a 9.90 or higher on three different events – vault, beam and floor. Her 9.95 on vault is the highest vault score among league freshmen, and she is the conference's leading freshman gymnast on vault (6th overall). On her other two main events, Clausi ranks within the top three among freshmen – second on floor (14th overall), and third on beam (14th overall). She is one of three freshmen with a 9.90 or higher on beam, and one of four with a 9.90 or higher on floor.
 
Clausi is also one of three Pac-12 freshmen to appear as an all-arounder this season and has tallied the second-highest all-around score among freshmen with a 39.300, ranking just behind teammate Maya Bordas' 39.45.
 
"Milan continues to challenge herself and grow in every area. As a freshman, she has already stepped into a leadership role and we cannot wait to see what lies ahead for her," Crandall-Howell added.
 
Clausi collected four Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors this season – the most of any gymnast in the conference.