FORT WORTH, Texas- An incredible 2023 season came to an end for the No. 4 California gymnastics team Saturday afternoon as the Golden Bears placed third in the semifinal round of the NCAA Championships.
 
An unlikely pair of falls on the uneven bars saw Cal suffer a 196.9125 in what was otherwise another fantastic outing for the team. LSU (197.475) and Florida (197.400) placed first and second, respectively, and punched their tickets to Saturday's Four on the Floor Final. Denver finished fourth with a 196.500.
 
The day began on floor for the Bears who collected five solid scores of 9.8375 or better to secure a 49.4125. Senior Nevaeh DeSouza performed in the lead-off spot as she's done most of the year and accomplished that 9.8375 in the final floor routine of her career. Sophomore Maddie Williams added a 9.8500 and junior Andi Li notched a 9.875 to set the table for the anchors. The two final Bears in the lineup did not disappoint as sophomore Mya Lauzon and freshman eMjae Frazier capped off the rotation with back-to-back scores of 9.9375.
 
Trailing Florida by just 0.05 points, Cal moved on to vault and once again recorded a handful of strong, consistent scores. The Bears' 49.3500 would end up as the top vault score of the session and put the team in first place after two rotations. DeSouza and Williams each earned a 9.8625 and Frazier anchored the lineup with a 9.8875. The top score came from Lauzon in the fifth slot as she notched a 9.900 that was good for third place in the session.
 
Cal took a small lead to the bars, but unfortunately suffered two falls and was forced to use one of those scores. Li earned the team's top score with a 9.900, but the Bears scored a 48.7125 as a team dropping them into third place.
 
With their backs against the wall the Bears bounced back on the final rotation, not allowing their bars woes to affect their beam routines. DeSouza, Li, and Frazier each collected a 9.850. Williams performed an outstanding routine that scored a 9.925 and Lauzon led the way with a 9.9375 that was good for second in the session. Cal capped off the day with a 49.4125, but LSU and Florida were strong enough on their final event to remain ahead.
 
Lauzon and Frazier both have a chance to take home some hardware tonight depending on the individual scores that come through during the second semifinal session.