BERKELEY - It's safe to say that Aidan Giusti's time as a collegiate gymnast has been irregular.
 
The COVID-19 pandemic may have abruptly ended the 2020 season, but for Giusti, it even started differently. He was a late transfer and joined the team just before the start of the campaign.
 
Getting up to speed in a new environment with not much time to get acclimated is a daunting task for anyone, but Giusti had the support of his teammates from day one.
 
"My time at Cal has been unconventional, but the team treated me like family from day one," Giusti said. "My experience has reminded me how fortunate I am to be here. I am extremely grateful that JT [Okada] gave me this amazing opportunity. It was my lifelong goal to compete in Division I gymnastics, and every day I wake up I am reminded that I am living my dream. Cal is incredible. The team is amazing and it all feels like home. It is kind of crazy to think my time here is almost halfway done, but time flies when you're having fun and I am just super excited for the next two years."
 
Giusti has stepped up in his second year in Berkeley. After competing in two events in 2020, he has been in lineups in five of the six events, including posting season highs of 13.750 on vault and a 13.500 on floor.
 
He and the rest of the Bears will be tested this week. In the final home meet of 2021, the 11-ranked Bears host No. 1 Oklahoma at Haas Pavilion on Saturday, March 20, at 3 p.m. Due to local health guidelines, fans are not allowed to attend home events this season. Click here to view a live stream of the meet. 
 
"I'm really excited to host Oklahoma this weekend," Giusti said. "It's another opportunity to compete in-person and show off all the hard work we have been putting in the gym. This season has really been about focusing on ourselves and staying locked in, but Oklahoma is a phenomenal team and it's always motivating to see great gymnastics. It should be a lot of fun this weekend."
 
Cal defeated Air Force last Saturday with its highest team total of the season (389.700). Giusti picked up a personal best on rings (12.200).

"Last weekend we had a great mindset and atmosphere throughout the entire meet, and we are going to look to carry that attitude into training and into the rest of the season." Giusti said. 

The Bears earned more national recognition this week. Freshman Noah Newfeld was named the College Gymnastics Association Rookie of the Week for the third time this season. It was also Cal's fifth CGA weekly award this season after Will Lavanakul earned Specialist of the Week honors on Feb. 23 and Yu-Chen Lee was tabbed MPSF Gymnast of the Week on Feb. 9. 
 
Newfeld has been counted on all season long as one of the Bears' two all-arounders with Kyle Abe, and he posted his best score of the season last week, a 13.550 on parallel bars. It was one of three personal bests for Newfeld last week, and he also was the top Bear on still rings (12.800).
 
"I am so honored to have received this award for the third time," Newfeld said. "I never thought I would be in this position, especially after such a tumultuous 2020, but I am grateful for the opportunity to compete this season and show what I've got."
 
Cal stays in the Bay Area next weekend in the final competition of the regular season. The Bears face Stanford in another dual on Saturday, March 27, at 2 p.m. from Burnham Pavilion at Stanford. The following Saturday, the Bears head to Air Force for the MPSF Championships.