California men's gymnastics' Matteo Bardana, the nation's 11th-ranked gymnast on floor, was honored Tuesday with the MPSF Freshman of the Week award to celebrate his standout performance against Air Force last Saturday. He joins teammate Aidan Li (MPSF Specialist of the Week – Feb. 4) as conference weekly award winners this season.
 
Bardana started off his day at the Air Force Academy with a personal-best (and event-winning) 13.800 on floor, the best by a Golden Bear this season, followed by another personal best of 12.800 on rings and a 13.000 on parallel bars. Cal outscored Air Force on both floor and rings and posted its highest team score of the season (312.350), rising to a No. 7 national ranking this week on Road to Nationals.
 
"Matteo did an excellent job for us this past weekend," said associate head coach Bryan Del Castillo. "In his first year as a Golden Bear, Matteo has proven time and time again to be a reliable competitor. He is a smart athlete who is incredibly talented. I can't wait to see what he can accomplish in the second half of the season."
 
Bardana and Li will vie for national team recognition this weekend at Elite Canada in the artistic gymnastics competition, with sessions scheduled for Friday and Sunday at the Markham Pan Am Center in Markham, Ontario.
 
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