Utah gymnastics

Although Cal entered the semifinals as a strong contender for a spot in the national final, fatal mistakes ended the team’s historic season.

Cal begins the end of its season Thursday at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, looking for its first NCAA finals appearance and its best finish in history.

Cal finished third at the Pac-12 championship with a 197.825, its highest road score this season and the best conference championship mark in program history.

Though the Cal women’s gymnastics team will enter the Pac-12 championship as the No. 3 seed, it has just as much capability as No. 1 and 2 seeds UCLA and Utah.

Over the weekend, Cal showed it has all the makings of a national championship contender, breaking several program and NCAA records.

With scores from the two meets, Cal could drop a 197.525 and a 197.6 from its national qualifying score, raising its ceiling before the Pac-12 championship.

The Bears kept their focus and stayed within their “Bear bubble,” ultimately finishing second behind the fierce home team.

After securing its first Pac-12 regular-season championship, Cal women’s gymnastics will look to continue its record-breaking year. The next goal: a conference title at the Pac-12 championships Saturday.

Although the Bears enter Monday’s matchup against Arizona as the clear favorites, the meet is crucial in determining where Cal sits entering the postseason.

In front of perhaps the largest crowd in Haas Pavilion this season, No. 11 Cal posted a season-best 197.525 to best No. 3 Utah and maintain its undefeated record.