Epic Showdown: Bears and Cardinals Kick Off the Season!

Peter Fukumae

Matteo Bardana achieved Cal’s highest score on floor along with two precise dismounts in his inaugural collegiate competition.

MGYM1/13/2025 9:11 PM | By: Cal Athletics

Cal’s Aidan Li Triumphs On Pommel Horse

BERKELEY – The men’s gymnastics team from California commenced its 2025 season on Monday evening with a home contest against the defending national champion Stanford, achieving a collective score of 303.950 compared to the Cardinal’s national best of 318.450. It was the first encounter with the NCAA’s updated scoring model for both teams, which mandates only eight skills per routine instead of ten, along with the implementation of four-man lineups.
 
The Golden Bears outscored Stanford, 52.250-51.600, on pommel horse, with anchor athlete and Canadian Champion Aidan Li continuing his success with a winning score of 13.850. Senior Tyler Shimizu also performed admirably in his sole event of the evening, registering a 13.550 that outperformed each competitor from the opposite lineup.
 
Three freshmen – Matteo Bardana, Trigg Dudley, and Troy Nuesca – made their college debuts on Monday, with Bardana participating in floor, rings, and parallel bars. The native of Oakville, Ontario, recorded an impressive floor score of 13.650, completed with a stick, leading the team; he also executed a solid dismount on rings.
 
Junior Theodor Roald Gadderud, who was honored as team MVP in 2024, was the top scorer for the Bears on high bar (13.050), parallel bars (13.050), and rings (12.900). Classmate Khalen Curry achieved Cal’s highest score on vault (13.600).
 
Stanford’s Colt Walker and Taylor Burkhart tied with an all-around total of 80.400, while Walker also secured wins on floor (14.100) and vault (13.950); concurrently, Brandon Nguyen captured the highest scores on parallel bars (13.850) and high bar (13.700). Olympic bronze medalist Asher Hong attained the leading score on rings with a 13.800.
 
JANUARY 13, 2025
CAL 303.950
STANFORD 318.450
 
FLOOR – Cal 49.400, Stanford 52.600
Tomo Kawada 10.500
Matteo Bardana 13.650
Carter Kim 12.700
Khalen Curry 12.550
 
POMMEL HORSE – Cal 52.250, Stanford 51.600
Tucker Yasunaga 12.350
Trigg Dudley 12.500
Tyler Shimizu 13.550
Aidan Li 13.850 (winner)
 
RINGS – Cal 48.650, Stanford 53.000
Theodor Roald Gadderud 12.900
Matteo Bardana 11.600
Jaxon Mitchell 12.800
Tomo Kawada 11.350
 
VAULT – Cal 52.600, Stanford 55.100
Theodor Roald Gadderud 13.250
Troy Nuesca 13.200
Carter Kim 12.550
Khalen Curry 13.600
 
PARALLEL BARS – Cal 51.350, Stanford 53.200
Tucker Yasunaga 13.000
Matteo Bardana 12.550
Sean Shimizu 12.750
Theodor Roald Gadderud 13.050
 
HORIZONTAL BAR – Cal 49.700, Stanford 52.950
Jaxon Mitchell 12.350
Carter Kim 11.750
Theodor Roald Gadderud 13.050
Tucker Yasunaga 12.550
 
STAY INFORMED
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