BERKELEY – There was pandemonium at Haas Pavilion Friday night as the No. 7 California women's gymnastics team won the first Big Meet in the ACC era in dramatic fashion defeating No. 13 Stanford 197.550-197.400. Both the Golden Bears and the Cardinal had their best performances of the season in a contest that came down to the final routine. With the meet on the line senior
Mya Lauzon anchored the floor exercise lineup with a walk-off perfect 10, the first of her career on that event.
"The scores were close, but at the same time that's not something we really pay attention to during the meet," Lauzon said. "The five girls in front of me all hit such good routines, so I just went out there and competed with freedom and joy and had a lot of fun. I guess that's what happens when you do those things."
With 10s on the vault and balance beam in her last two seasons, Lauzon became the first Bear in program history to earn a perfect score on three different events. She is the first ACC gymnast to record a 10 and is now just one perfect uneven bars routine away from the "gym slam", which would put her in elite company.
Lauzon's floor routine was just the crescendo of an already impressive night as all four of the senior's routines scored a 9.9 or higher. She won the all-around with a score of 39.750, which is the second-highest mark in the nation this season and is tied for third all-time in Cal history. The senior also won the uneven bars and a share of the vault title while placing third on the balance beam.
The Golden Bears (9-2, 3-0 ACC) took on the events in Olympic order and had a solid showing on vault posting a 49.250, which is their second highest score on that event this season. It was led by none other Lauzon who scored her first 9.90 of the night and sophomore
Kyen Mayhew who earned a share of third with a 9.875. Stanford (6-1, 3-1 ACC) took a 0.125 lead after the first rotation, recording a 49.375 on bars.
Cal quickly took the lead with a strong bars rotation earning a season-high tying 49.400 compared to the Cardinal's 49.075 on vault. Lauzon (9.925) notched the top score of the night in the leadoff spot followed by junior
eMjae Frazier (9.900), who earned a share of silver on the event. The Bears did not have to count anything lower than a 9.850 as they headed to the beam with a 98.650-98.450 lead.
The third rotation called for some clutch moments as Mayhew stepped off the beam in the third spot in the lineup, putting pressure on the final three Bears to all hit. Frazier was first getting the job done with a 9.800 and Lauzon followed with another 9.925. Anchoring the lineup was senior
Abbey Scanlon who made an electric collegiate debut last week at NC State scoring a 9.95 on the final routine of the day. In just her second ever routine, Scanlon showed up again for the Bears posting a 9.875 to keep her team in the running.
Stanford regained some ground in the rotation earning a 49.325 on floor that made it a 147.925-147.775 contest heading into the final event.
The fourth rotation was as exciting as can be in the sport of gymnastics with both teams trading huge scores all the way till the end. Both teams posted their highest event scores of the year by a long shot with a 49.625.
Mayhew, who had just missed on her beam routine, got the rotation going with a season-high 9.95 that was good for second place. Senior
Maddie Williams (9.85) and
CJ Keuneke (9.825) added solid performances to keep the ball rolling, but the Cardinal continued to creep in with four straight 9.9+ routines to get started on beam. Senior
Ella Cesario was next posting a 9.925 that tied her for third place and Frazier added her second 9.90 of the night.
After Sienna Robinson anchored the Stanford lineup with a 9.925 to put her team up 197.400-197.375, it would come down to Lauzon who needed a 9.875 or better to win the meet. Fortunately for the Bears, Lauzon has yet to get a sub-9.90 on floor this year. The senior stepped on to the carpet, nailed every pass and leap, and was mobbed by her teammates as they and the rest of Haas Pavilion chanted, "ten, ten, ten!" When the judges turned their placards towards the center floor the Bears' wishes were granted.
"This is my favorite floor routine I've had in my collegiate career and becoming a performer on floor has become a thing for me this season because I love to express my personality," Lauzon said. "I honed in all the little details and took it skill by skill till the end and really channeled the energy from Haas and my teammates."
Cal will now take a brief break from ACC competition and head to Dallas, Texas this week for the Metroplex Challenge. The Bears will face Utah State and Texas Woman's Friday at 5 p.m. PT.
