March 25, 2006

Air Force Academy, Colorado - The fifth-ranked California men's gymnastics team finished third at the 2006 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships Saturday night at the Air Force Academy in Colorado. The Bears, with a team score of 216.450, finished behind top-ranked Oklahoma which came in first (219.175), followed by No. 2 Stanford in second (217.075). Nebraska took fourth (209.725), while Air Force placed fifth (184.725).

Cal's Tim McNeill won the all-around competition with a combined score of 55.325 and posted above a 9.000 on five out of six events. The sophomore took two individual event titles, winning the pommel horse with a score of 9.325 and took top honors on the parallel bars (9.700). McNeill's parallel bars score was the highest total of the night on any event.

On the floor exercise the Bears tallied a team score of 36.050. Chipping in for Cal was freshman Kyson Bunthuwong who recorded a 9.100, while senior co-captain Chris Rodriguez posted a 9.200, tying him for fifth place.

On the still rings, sophomore Tyler Block placed fourth after recording a 9.525. Kyle Brady tallied a 9.150 and Caleb Kirk chipped in with an 8.850. The Bears posted a team score of 36.675.

McNeill tied for eighth on vault after posting a 9.200. Sophomore Aaron Moy tallied a 9.000 on the apparatus, while Rodriguez recorded an 8.700 for Cal.

On the parallel bars, the Bears posted a meet high score of 37.350. McNeill led Cal with a 9.700, while Bunthuwong recorded a 9.275 and placed third. Senior co-captain Shawn Mowry tallied 9.125, and Tyler Block helped out with a 9.250.

On the high bar, four Cal gymnasts recorded a 9.000 or above. Colin Christ led the Bears with 9.375 and placed fourth. McNeill recorded a 9.050, while Bunthuwong posted a 9.050 and Jason Pierce chipped in with a 9.000.

The Bears travel to the NCAA Championships, which take place in two weeks. The competition is being hosted by the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., April 6-8.