No. 6 Cal Takes First In NCAA Regional Semifinal

Friday, April 4

Tuscaloosa, AL

11:00 AM PT

California

197.550

197.275

Alabama

Photo by: Jason Homan / KLC Fotos

4/4/2025 4:11 PM | Women's Gymnastics

Bears Advance To Sunday’s Final

By: Cal Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The No. 6 California gymnastics team put together a well-rounded performance to place first in the semifinal round of the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional Friday afternoon at Coleman Coliseum.

The Golden Bears finished the session with a team score of 197.550 to advance to Sunday's regional final along with host No. 12 Alabama, which placed second at 197.275. North Carolina (196.250) and Iowa (196.000) placed third and fourth, respectively.

Cal led from start to finish and had the top event score in three of the four disciplines. The Bears won five individual event titles and had 12 podium finishes.

Senior Maddie Williams took home two event titles and had two second place finishes as well. She notched a season-high 39.625 to win the all-around and posted a 9.95 to win her seventh bars title this year. A 9.875 on vault and a 9.90 on beam were enough to earn her a share of silver and she added a third 9.90+ routine on floor.

The Bears began the day on floor and got themselves out to a hot start with a score of 49.475. The rotation was anchored by senior Mya Lauzon and junior eMjae Frazier, who both posted a 9.95 that earned them a share of the event title.

Cal tied the Crimson Tide for the top vault score of the meet at 49.150, which featured two impressive routines from a pair of underclassmen. Sophomore Kyen Mayhew and freshman Mya Wiley, who made her NCAA postseason debut, both secured 9.85s in the two leadoff spots to tie for fourth place.

Although it wasn't their highest score of the day, the Bears had possibly their most sound showing on bars as they managed to drop a 9.80 for a team score of 49.450. Lauzon and junior Casey Brown bookended the rotation with two 9.90s that earned them a share of second place.

The Bears closed out the session with another 49.475 on beam as senior Ella Cesario led off with a 9.875, followed by Williams' 9.90 and a 9.85 from Frazier. After experiencing a fall in the fourth spot, the pressure was on the final two gymnasts to hit – and hit they did. Lauzon was first showing why she is the ACC Gymnast of the Year and balance beam champion, scoring her event-winning 9.95. Then it was Ondine Achampong's turn, and the freshman did not waver in her postseason debut anchoring the rotation and the meet with a career-high 9.90 that earned her a share of silver.

One of the unsung heroes of the meet was Cesario, who bounced back from a rough outing at the ACC Championship and posted three 9.875s on bars, beam, and floor.

Cal and the Crimson Tide will be joined on Sunday by the top two finishers of tonight's session, which features No. 3 Florida, No. 14 Oregon State, No. 19 NC State and Clemson. The top two finishers in Sunday's final will advance to NCAA Championships in Fort Worth, Texas, which begin on April 17. First routine is set for 3 p.m. PT/5 p.m. CT on ESPN+.