CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) - The 2026 Atlantic Coast Conference Gymnastics season officially kicks off on Saturday, January 3.
California will travel to Seattle, Washington, to take on Washington, Oregon State and UCLA on Saturday, under the leadership of first-year head coach Geralen Stack-Eaton.
The Golden Bears were ranked third in the 2026 ACC Preseason Gymnastics Coaches Poll following a successful 2025 season, where they went undefeated in conference meets (6-0) and claimed the regular-season ACC title. Cal totaled 13 All-ACC honors and four ACC individual event titles while finishing second in the 2025 ACC Gymnastics Championship, tying its highest finish in a conference championship in program history.
Clemson will host Towson on Sunday, January 4, in the first meet of the season under new Tigers’ co-head coaches and reigning ACC Co-Coaches of the Year, Liz Crandall-Howell and Justin Howell. Clemson made NCAA appearances in each of its first two seasons and returns several contributors, including Molly Arnold, Trinity Brown, Eve Jackson, Lilly Lippeatt and Brie Clark, who became the first collegiate gymnast to compete the Biles II last season. The Tigers were picked to finish second in the ACC Gymnastics Preseason Coaches Poll.
Five out of six ACC Gymnastics teams were named to the 2025 WCGA Preseason Gymnastics Poll, led Stanford in the No. 3 spot. Clemson sits at No. 19, California at No. 20, NC State at No. 23 and North Carolina at 24.
2026 ACC Gymnastics Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Stanford (34)
2. Clemson (25)
3. California (21)
4. North Carolina (20)
5. NC State (17)
6. Pitt (9)
2026 Preseason Watch List
Sage Melkonian, California
Annalise Newman-Achee, California
Ella Cesario, Clemson
Brie Clark, Clemson
Kaya Forbes, North Carolina
Gwen Fink, North Carolina
Ashley Knight, NC State
Syniya Thomas, NC State
Jaime Pratt, Pitt
Hallie Copperwheat, Pitt
Anna Roberts, Stanford
Sienna Robinson, Stanford
2026 Newcomer Watch List
Tonya Paulsson, California
Emma Malewski, Clemson
Sydney Seabrooks, North Carolina
Autumn Rardin, NC State
Layla Bobek, Pitt
Ana Barbosu, Stanford