Cal and Stanford Gymnasts Compete with International Teams in Final Regular Season Meet

BERKELEY, CA – The California Golden Bears men’s gymnastics team returns to action this Saturday, March 21, 2026, hosting Stanford, Air Force, Team France, and members of Team Quebec at Burnham Pavilion in Stanford. The competition is set to begin at 4:00 PM PT, with live streaming and scoring available on Virtius.

Golden Bears Prepare for Championships

Cal will be starting on the pommel horse and will feature several new faces in their lineups as many of their top gymnasts rest in preparation for their senior night on March 28th and the MPSF Championships on April 4th. At their recent meet at Oklahoma, the Bears achieved their highest score of the year with a 315.700, setting season bests on floor and rings, and a program record on pommel horse (53.950). Sam Cirlincione led the Bears on rings with a score of 13.550, while Khalen Curry achieved a season-high of 13.750 on floor. Kaien Orion tied a Cal season best on horse (13.750) and earned a personal best of 13.600 on parallel bars for second place. Jasper Smith-Gordon, ranked third nationally on vault, scored 14.350, his second-best of the year.

Stanford’s Reigning Champions

Stanford, led by 24th-year head coach Thom Glielmi, is currently ranked No. 2 nationally with a four-score average of 321.583 and a season-high of 326.450. The Cardinal has won five of the last six NCAA championship titles. Key gymnasts include U.S. National Team members Asher Hong and David Shamah. Nick Kuebler ranks among the nation’s best on rings (first), floor (second), and high bar (third), while Arun Chhetri and Wade Nelson are both ranked No. 4 on parallel bars and vault, respectively. Stanford’s freshman class, led by U.S. Senior Development Team member Jun Iwai, adds further strength to the team.

Air Force Falcons in Action

Air Force, coached by Josh Loeser, is ranked No. 13 with a four-score average of 304.067 and a season-high of 310.100. Senior Tai Gopaul is nationally ranked on high bar (No. 12) and parallel bars (No. 22). Sam Brown and Jack Matlock are ranked No. 9 and No. 12, respectively, on pommel horse. The Falcons boast a large rookie class, with Isaac Koo leading the way.

Recent History

Cal last competed against Stanford at the Stanford International Collegiate on February 28, where Stanford outscored the Bears 232.900-312.850. Stanford leads the all-time series 155-128-2. Cal last met Air Force at the NCAA Championships on April 18, 2025, winning 319.091-313.526. Cal leads that series 52-5.

Cal’s Rising Stars

Freshman Nathan Underhill was named Co-Rookie of the Week by the CGA after his debut on January 9th. Sophomore Matteo Bardana was named the CGA Gymnast of the Week after his performance at the Stanford International Collegiate on February 28th, earning a score of 78.050.

Experienced Coaching Staff

Cal’s coaching staff includes head coach Bryan Del Castillo, and assistant coaches Karl Ziehn and Donothan Bailey, all of whom are program alumni with extensive experience at the collegiate and national levels.

International Representation

Senior Theodor Roald Gadderud of Norway and sophomore Matteo Bardana of Canada both competed internationally in the summer of 2025. Gadderud competed at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, while Bardana helped Canada win a silver medal at the FISU World University Games.

Returning Gymnast Power

Cal returns several key gymnasts for the 2026 season, including Jasper Smith-Gordon, Khalen Curry, Carter Kim, and Jaxon Mitchell. Trigg Dudley likewise returns after competing in the British Championships.

New Additions to the Team

Cal’s roster includes six rookies – Nathan Underhill, Davide Comparin, Liam DeWeese, Finley Chin, JD Ehinger, and Will Horenziak – and graduate transfer Kaien Orion, formerly of Stanford.

Stay Connected

Follow Cal men’s gymnastics on X (@CalMGym), Instagram (@CalMGym), and Facebook (@Cal Men’s Gymnastics) for updates.