DAVIS, Calif. – In 1976 UC Davis gymnastics took the floor for the first time and for the past 50 years the Aggies have been competing at a national level, so when it was time to bring everyone together at the 2026 home opener, over 200 former Aggies returned to Davis to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of UC Davis gymnastics. On Jan. 18, the Aggies welcomed San Jose State to the University Credit Union center and around that meet the celebration took place.
 
Hosted and organized by former coach Ray Goldbar and his wife Molly, the Aggies were able to make it a special day by collecting memorabilia and reconnecting with many former Ags who had not been back to Davis since graduating. 
 
220 former Aggies and their families made it a special day that started with a meet and greet at the Bruce Edwards Club Room at UC Davis Health Stadium, before moving to the arena for the dual meet and a post-meet reception. Before the meet, the large group of returning Aggies were honored on the floor and a video of photos from the past 50 years ran for all to enjoy.
 
"The alumni turnout was incredible, and it was amazing to see how many individuals have been impacted by UC Davis Gymnastics throughout the past 50 years," said current head coach Tanya Ho Gomez. "Though so much has changed from the Division III era until now, so much has remained the same. These constants are what make Davis truly special and keep graduates like myself on campus."
 
Coaches Ray Goldbar, Pete Gibson, Perry Siu, John Lavalle and Ho Gomez have spent the last 50 years churning out All-Americans and national champions with 130 Aggies earning All-American honors all-time to go along with 22 individual national championships. The Aggies can also claim three national championships, winning the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women Division III title in 1980 and 1981, and most recently UC Davis claimed the 1999 USA Gymnastics Collegiate Division II title.
 
Going as far back as 1980, Keitha Hunter (1980); Frossene Shuck (1981); Yuri Hinson (1990); Jill Henrie (1992, 1993); Cheryl Sidel (1992); Ericka Ruelas (2000, 2001, 2002); Flora Bare (2001); Stacy Wong (2002); Tiffany Chan (2002, 2003, 2005); Lynn Schwaebe (2003); Nicole Doherty (2004) and Michelle Kulovitz (2006) have all brought home at least one national title in the Blue and Gold.
 
Most recently, the Aggies returned to the NCAAs, qualifying for the 2025 NCAA Seattle Regionals and since 2010 at least one Aggie has worn the Blue and Gold at nationals. And within the halls of the Cal Aggie Hall of Fame, Aggie gymnastics has been well represented with 15 individuals being enshrined along with the 1981 National Championship squad.
 
TICKETS: General admission for all meets runs $13 while youth (3-13), UC Davis staff members and fans Seniors (65+) can get in the door for $10. Group outings (minimum of 10) can get their tickets at $10 a piece. With the $80 Flexbook, fans receive 10 general admission ticket vouchers that can be redeemed for any of the four home meets during the season in any combination desired. Fans can secure their spot in the University Credit Union Center by hitting the link, by calling the Aggie Ticket Office at (530) 752-2471 or by emailing the Aggie Ticket Office at aggietickets@ucdavis.edu.
 
ABOUT UC DAVIS ATHLETICS: UC Davis, the No. 2 ranked public university by the Wall Street Journal, is home to 40,000 undergraduate students and 12,000 employees. Ranked #1 in Agriculture and Forestry as well as #1 in Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis is located in a true California college town nestled between world-class destinations such as the San Francisco Bay Area, Napa Valley and Lake Tahoe. Over 650 Aggie student-athletes compete in 25 Division I varsity sports, with 16 sports transitioning to the Mountain West Conference beginning in 2026–27.