BERKELEY – The Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association released its Preseason Coaches Poll Friday morning naming Cal the No. 8 team in the nation ahead of the 2023 season.
 
The eighth-ranked Bears have now begun the new year as a top-ten national team in six of the last seven years and have been top-eight or better in four of the last five. They garnered 1325 points in this year's poll and trail only one Pac-12 team in No. 3 Utah.

Last season the Bears finished as the No. 11 team in the country and placed third in the NCAA Regional Final where they broke the program balance beam record and narrowly missed an NCAA Championship appearance.
 
Cal returns a handful of members of that young, successful team this year including an All-American from last year in junior Andi Li, a five-time All-American in senior Nevaeh DeSouza, and Pac-12 All-Conference team member in sophomore Maddie Williams. Sophomore Mya Lauzon also returns, who after battling injury early last season came storming back in the postseason posting a 9.85 or higher in nine of her last 10 routines.  An exciting addition to the squad is freshman eMjae Frazier who has been a USA National Team member since 2019 and competed in the 2021 World Championships.
 
The 2023 season begins on the weekend of January 6^th as the Bears head to a meet that will be announced this coming Monday.