ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Dozens of the nation's finest gymnasts crowded into the Crisler Center on Saturday, ready to give their best for a raucous crowd and for each other as the "Super Six" teams – Nebraska, Oklahoma, Penn State, Michigan, Stanford and Illinois – took aim at the national championship
 
Inspired by a buoyant home atmosphere, host Michigan claimed the team title with a score of 332.224, snapping Stanford's five-year winning streak.
 
But for California men's gymnastics, the night belonged to pommel horse specialist Aidan Li, who competed as an individual capped off his collegiate career with the highest finish by a Golden Bear at the NCAA Championships since 2015.
 
Li's routine was the very first of the evening. As the broadcasters marveled at his seemingly effortless technique, the reigning Canadian Champion finished his performance, saluted, and clapped his hands with the satisfaction of a job well done. Indeed, only Air Force's Patrick Hoopes, the 2024 NCAA champion, was able to surpass Li's score of 14.466 for his second-straight title. Li's runner-up honor was not only the top finish by a Cal gymnast since Kevin Wolting's second-place vault finish ten years ago but also the best on pommel horse since Glen Ishino's 2012 national title.

"I'm proud of what I've been able to accomplish, but I know that it wouldn't be possible without the huge amount of support from the people around me: teammates, coaches, trainers, friends and family," Li said. "I owe any and all of my success to them."
 
In total, seven individual Cal gymnasts competed one last time in the Blue & Gold this season, following a stellar season-best team performance in Friday's qualifying round. Redshirt junior Jasper Smith-Gordon, who posted the best vault score of any man in either qualifying session, ripped off a score of 14.366 to finish in ninth place; classmate Theodor Roald Gadderud, competing in the all-around, landed an impressive vault of his own in the next rotation with his second stick of the season, a fist pump, and a score of 14.166. Roald Gadderud finished the night with a 10th-place all-around score of 78.132, just behind senior Tyler Shimizu's 78.198.
 
Freshman Matteo Bardana was the only non-all-arounder to qualify in two events, posting a massive season best of 13.300 on rings as well as a share the Bears' highest floor score of the day (13.233, tied with junior Khalen Curry). Graduate student Tomo Kawada, competing in his first NCAA Final, scored 13.266 on rings.
 
"We didn't have a missed routine all weekend, which was really special," interim head coach Bryan Del Castillo said. "The guys stayed focused and were able to pull it off, get those sticks.  This group showed a lot of growth and development – they're talented. The past two days should be a real confidence boost for us."
 
AT NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS FINAL – April 19, 2025
 
ALL-AROUND
9. Tyler Shimizu 78.198
10. Theodor Roald Gadderud 78.132
 
FLOOR
26. Matteo Bardana 13.233
27. Khalen Curry 13.233
28. Tyler Shimizu 13.200
33. Theodor Roald Gadderud 12.800
 
POMMEL HORSE
2. Aidan Li 14.466
20. Tyler Shimizu 13.333
37. Theodor Roald Gadderud 11.633
 
RINGS
19. Theodor Roald Gadderud 13.433
23. Matteo Bardana 13.300
26. Tomo Kawada 13.266
36. Tyler Shimizu 12.500
 
VAULT
9. Jasper Smith-Gordon 14.366
13. Theodor Roald Gadderud 14.166
29. Tyler Shimizu 13.766
 
PARALLEL BARS
21. Theodor Roald Gadderud 13.400
28. Tyler Shimizu 13.033
 
HORIZONTAL BAR
30. Theodor Roald Gadderud 12.700
34. Tyler Shimizu 12.366
 
 
STAY POSTED
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