BERKELEY – California women's gymnastics bolsters its incoming class of freshmen with a trio of top California talent, adding Kennedy Quay, Elise Byun and Blake Gozashti to its roster, the program announced today.
 
"We are thrilled to welcome Kennedy, Elise, and Blake to our Cal family," said co-head coach Justin Howell. "All three of these young women will be wonderful additions to our team and our culture. They are academically and athletically driven, and they are so excited about being a part of Cal Athletics, and an integral part of the campus community."
 
Quay, from San Diego, is a two-time Nastia Liukin Cup qualifier and claimed silver on vault at Junior Olympic Nationals in both 2017 and 2018. In 2018, she finished sixth all-around and on bars, and seventh on beam. Quay also finished top five at JO Nationals in 2017, where she was fifth all-around as a junior.
 
She helped guide her Southern California Elite Gymnastics Academy (SCEGA) squad to a top-three team score nationally in 2019, and top-five score in 2018. She was named the 2016 Athlete of the Year.
 
A student at Torrey Pines High School, Quay was accepted into Cal's mechanical engineering program.
 
"Kennedy is a born leader and incredibly driven," Howell said. "She will enter Cal as an engineering major, which has been a goal of hers since day one. In the gym, she's a worker and a great example to her teammates.  Kennedy is going to do big things at Cal and we are so happy to have her on our team."
 
A product of Los Altos and local club Airborne Gymnastics, Byun is a two-time JO National qualifier and the 2019 Region 1 uneven bars champion. She also claimed third all-around and third on floor at 2019 regional competition. In 2020, Byun has posted four Top 10 all-around performances, including 10^th at the California Grand Invitational, fifth at the Metroplex Challenge, second at Brestyans Las Vegas Invitational and fifth at the Pacific Classic. This year, Byun also helped steer Airborne to a record-breaking team score of 117.300.
 
She is a three-year member of the National Honor Society at Mountain View High School
 
"Elise is a Bay Area standout with gorgeous lines and the potential to add another 10.0 start value to our vault lineup," Howell said. "She's also an excellent student with a passion for academics. We are excited to watch her thrive in Berkeley!"
 
Gozashti, from nearby Penngrove, trains at Gymnastics Zone. In 2017, she took fifth all-around and was fourth on vault, bars and floor at NorCal State competition and was a regional qualifier. Earlier this year, Gozashti was seventh all-around at the Brestyan's Las Vegas Invitational, and a runner-up on vault at the Metroplex Challenge.
 
She has earned highest academic honors each of her four years at the Laurel Springs School
 
"We have had the pleasure of watching Blake really blossom as an athlete over the last few years," Howell said. "Her persistence to continually push herself in the gym and the classroom is what will make her successful at Cal. Blake brings with her a world of travel which allows her to see all things through many different lenses."
 
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