May 23, 2000
BERKELEY -
The young Cal Women's Gymnastics team broke a total of nine school records throughout their stellar millennium season! Overall, six team and three individual records were broken, and the Bears posted the three all-time best team scores. Prior to this year, the previous team record was a 194.325 scored in 1997. This year's team out scored that total on four different occasions. The first record was at Davis with a score of 194.750, the second time was at San Jose State with a score of 195.325, the third time was in Boise with a score of 195.975, and the fourth time was at the Pac-10 Championships with a score of 194.675.
California also placed fifth as a team, the Bears' highest Pac-10 finish in 10 years, defeating both Stanford and Arizona. Two team event records were also broken. The 1992 record on bars was broken with a 49.400 as well as the 1996 record on the floor exercise with a score of 49.30, both of which were achieved at San Jose State. Individually, senior Leila Khoury broke the 1997 floor record with a 9.95 and shared the All-Around record with junior teammate Pari Olver, who also scored a 39.300. Three all-time best scores (top 5 record scores in Cal's history) were also achieved. Leila Khoury now ranks third on vaulting with a score of 9.90. Pari Olver now ranks second on bars with a 9.95. Freshman Carrie Kreifels now ranks second on balance beam with a score of 9.875. Three individual all-around gymnasts - Leila Khoury, Pari Olver, and Carrie Kreifels - also qualified to the NCAA Regional Championships. 2000 was an incredible record breaking season. More important, this year's success served as a critical turning point, representing the future, a higher standard for California Women's Gymnastics and many more records to come.
Cal's annual awards banquet held in Haas Pavilion was a great culmination to a record season. Freshman Carrie Kreifels received "Rookie of the Year recognition, freshman Genine Ishino received Cal's "Heart Award", junior Parizad Olver was honored as our "Most Valuable Athlete" and senior Leila Khoury received two very prestigious awards, "Most Improved" and "Gymnast of the Year".
Top incoming recruits Stephanie Kim and Karissa Chock also finished off their high school/club seasons by qualifying for the Junior Olympic Nationals in May. Congratulations to Stephanie who finished second in the country! We look forward to Stephanie, Karissa, Carolyn Thompson and Lindsay Cuaresma joining us in the very near future.
In addition to Cal's amazing team records, head coach Trina Tinti was voted Region 1 Coach of the Year by her fellow peers and acknowledged at the NACGC/W (National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches for Women) convention in Lansing, Mich. Our loyal Golden Bear fans also led the Cal Women's Gymnastics program to its highest attendance record in years, ranking second only to basketball among all of our 15 intercollegiate women's sports. The generous support of our California alumni and donors also enabled Cal Gymnastics to reach its highest ever fundraising total, doubling the amount raised last year.
