11/13/2026 1:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
Golden Bears Add 4 to 2027 Class, 1 to 2026 Class
The California women's gymnastics team has signed five members to its latest recruiting class, as announced Wednesday by head coach Gerelan Stack-Eaton. The class includes Ema Kandalova, Ashlyn Tejeda, Anna Shepherd, Amaya Adaranijo and Cailin Dewell.
"We are thrilled to welcome this outstanding group of student-athletes to Cal," Stack-Eaton said. "This is a well-rounded class that brings graceful, powerful and dynamic gymnastics. We look forward to watching them finish their senior seasons strong. Their time training on campus will be here before they know it!"
Ema Kandalova | London, United Kingdom | Ursuline HS | Tolworth Gymnastics Club
Kandalova will join the Bears' roster this upcoming January from Tolworth Gymnastics Club, where she is coached by Carla Gale-Parks. Kandalova brings an impressive national team resume, having competed on the English National Squad from 2022-23 and 2026-27 and the British National Squad from 2023-26. Most recently, she competed at the British Championships, where she placed second on balance beam and third on floor exercise. She also earned a seventh-place all-around finish at the 2023 British Championships. At the 2023 English Championships, she placed third on vault and fourth on both uneven bars and floor exercise.
Kandalova also brings extensive international competition experience, highlighted by third-place finishes in both the all-around and team competitions at the 2023 European Youth Olympic Festival in Slovenia. That same year, she competed at the Junior World Championships in Turkey. In 2024, she helped her team secure first place at the Leverkusen Cup in Germany while placing second in the all-around. She continued her success at the 2025 DTB Pokal Cup in Germany, earning third-place finishes in both the team competition and on balance beam.
Kandalova is the daughter of Jozef Kandala and Jana Kandalova and has a sister, Ruby. Outside of gymnastics, she enjoys listening to music, shopping and baking. She plans to study psychology and pursue a career in forensics or forensic psychology.
Ashlyn Tejeda | Chino, CA | Chino Hills HS | Azarian Gymnastics
Tejeda comes to Cal from Azarian Gymnastics as a three-time national qualifier. Most recently, she placed fourth on the balance beam, ninth on uneven bars and 11th in the all-around at the 2026 Women's Development Program National Championships. She also claimed the state title on uneven bars in 2026 after winning both the balance beam and uneven bars state championships in 2025. In 2024, Tejeda was crowned the national champion on balance beam at the Women's Development Program National Championships.
Tejeda is the daughter of Sabrina and Michael Tejeda and has three siblings, including her twin. Outside of gymnastics, she enjoys going to the beach, spending time with friends, baking and scrapbooking. She plans to study psychology and pursue a career in radiology or sports medicine.
Anna Shepherd | Cypress, TX | Cy-Fair HS | Cypress Academy of Gymnastics
Anna Shepherd joins the Golden Bears from Cypress Academy of Gymnastics as a two-time regional qualifier. Throughout her club career, Shepherd earned three first-place finishes, 20 top-five finishes and seven top-five all-around finishes.
Shepherd is the daughter of Melissa and Fred Shepherd. Outside of gymnastics, she enjoys reading. She plans to study business and pursue a career in finance.
Amaya Adaranijo | Laurel, MD |Atholton HS | Hills Gymnastics
Adaranijo joins the Bears from Hills Gymnastics as a two-time state vault champion and one-time national qualifier. She was crowned the state vault champion in both 2025 and 2026 and earned a runner-up finish in the all-around. Adaranijo also qualified for the 2026 Women's Development Program National Championships, where she competed on vault. Throughout her club and high school gymnastics career, she was twice named Hardest Worker and earned Most Improved and Most Valuable Player honors.
Adaranijo is the daughter of Jubril and Danielle Adaranijo. Outside of gymnastics, she enjoys dancing, doing hair, biking and baking. She plans to study integrative biology and pursue a career in physical therapy.
Cailin Dewell | Belmont, CA | Carlmont HS | San Mateo Gymnastics
Cailin Dewell joins the Golden Bears from San Mateo Gymnastics, where she competes under coaches Armen Astoian and Oksana Bystrova. A three-time Level 10 national qualifier (2024-26), Dewell was crowned the 2026 Level 10 national balance beam champion while also placing ninth in the all-around and sixth on uneven bars. She previously captured the balance beam title in the All-Star Session at the 2025 National Championships.
In 2023, Dewell swept the all-around, vault, uneven bars and floor exercise titles at the Level 9 Western Championships. She also claimed the all-around, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise titles at the Region 1 Championships. A four-time Region 1 balance beam champion, Dewell has earned 24 Northern California state titles, including six all-around championships. Most recently, she captured the all-around, balance beam and floor exercise titles at the 2026 Northern California State Championships.
Dewell is the daughter of Esther Song and Scott Dewell and has a brother, Weston. Outside of gymnastics, she enjoys reading, baking and learning to play guitar. She plans to study behavioral neuroscience at Cal.
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