BERKELEY – California men's gymnastics approaches its final meet of the season this week as a battle-tested squad of Golden Bears heads east to State College, Pennsylvania, for the NCAA Championships. Friday will consist of two qualifying sessions at Penn State's Rec Hall – the Bears will meet host Penn State, Oklahoma, Michigan, Ohio State and Springfield in the second of these at 4 p.m. PT – while Saturday's 3 p.m. session will feature the top-three teams from each qualifying round as well as each of the top-three additional event finishers that are not from an already-qualified team.
 
This will be the first time in a decade that Cal has traveled this far east – the Bears' last appearance at Penn State was in 2013 at that year's NCAA Championships, where they finished seventh as a team. For junior Collin Cunane, the chance to compete in his native Pennsylvania is not one that he takes for granted.
 
"Being back in my home state at Penn State University is so nostalgic for me," he said. "I remember being a nervous, yet ambitious nine-year-old level-5 gymnast competing in Rec Hall at my very first state championships. Now, as a junior in college, I feel so grateful to be back at the same venue fulfilling my 9-year-old self's ambitions of competing on the biggest stage of NCAA men's gymnastics. By reaching this goal, I feel that I've already won because I have the opportunity to go out there and inspire all of the young gymnasts in Pennsylvania to keep working hard to achieve their goals."
 
Various injuries to a number of Cal's most experienced gymnasts throughout the year have necessitated substitutions throughout the lineup, providing several other athletes with the opportunity to gain competitive experience – and in some cases, learn new routines – that will be beneficial throughout the rest of their collegiate careers. This is most apparent in the case the three freshmen traveling to their first national championships – Khalen Curry, Theodor Gadderud and Harrison Gregory – who now have a solid foundation to build upon after appearing a combined 18 times in the Blue & Gold this year.
 
"We've had our share of adversity this year, but I think it's really fired the guys up," said associate head coach Bryan Del Castillo. "They've realized that everyone will need to contribute, and they're excited to take up the challenge. The team has been looking confident and prepared in its routines, and I think we can take that energy into this weekend."
 
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