Champaign's Yasunaga looking forward to homecoming
Apr. 16—CHAMPAIGN — Tucker Yasunaga and the California men's gymnastics team will have plenty of local support for their final meet of the season. Even if the Bears are competing more than 2,100 miles away from their campus in Berkeley at State Farm Center in Champaign this weekend.
That's because Yasunaga can serve as part tour guide and welcome committee to Champaign this week for his team. The Champaign native and 2023 Judah Christian graduate will compete, along with the rest of his Cal teammates, inside State Farm Center beginning on Friday in the NCAA championships. "I've had this date basically circled since the start of season," Yasunaga told The News-Gazette.
"Definitely excited to come home. Family. Friends.
Everybody's going to be there. " Yasunaga is the only gymnast on Cal's roster from Illinois, much less the only one from Champaign. A place where Illini gymnastics has thrived for decades, but not so much on the high school scene.
He's had plenty to look forward to since it was announced that the NCAA championships would take place in his hometown. "I really wanted to be in the lineup," Yasunaga said. "I pushed myself all summer long just to be in lineups and to be in that spot so I get to compete there.
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