CJ Keuneke from California, Berkley Shares her NCAA Journey

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For CJ Keuneke, competing in NCAA gymnastics was a goal from an early age. Growing up in an athletic family, she was inspired by her mother, who competed collegiately at the University of Michigan. Hearing those stories made Keuneke want to follow the same path, setting the foundation for a recruiting journey that would ultimately lead her to California women's gymnastics.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like many recruits, the beginning of the process was a whirlwind.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>"Recruiting was exciting, overwhelming, and maturing all at the same time,"</em> Keuneke said. <em>"I had several messages and calls the first week, but not necessarily from my top schools, and I was nervous to converse with coaches trying to make a good impression. I was very happy to see interest, but also stressed on the inside."</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Throughout her recruiting process, Keuneke took official visits to California, Michigan State, Missouri, Michigan, and Denver before canceling two remaining visits after committing to Cal. While she may not have entered the recruiting cycle with every major accolade, Keuneke believes it was her consistency and character that helped separate her from the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>"I stood out because of my consistency, intentionality, and coachability,"</em> she explained. <em>"Although I didn't have all the accolades of other gymnasts my year, I constantly paid attention to my form in practice, and coaches acknowledged my work ethic. On the phone and during visits, I was a little shy yet friendly, and coaches expressed the value of good team culture and how genuine people like me work well on a team."</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rather than waiting for opportunities to come to her, Keuneke actively sought feedback from coaches and worked to become the athlete they wanted to recruit. She asked college coaches what skills they hoped to see, expanded her skill set throughout her recruiting year, qualified to Nationals and the Nastia Liukin Cup, and attended the Best Darn College Camp in Washington, an experience she credits with significantly increasing her visibility.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Academics also played a major role in her decision-making process.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>"Academics were a top priority for me,"</em> she said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When it came time to choose a school, Cal quickly rose above the rest. Having fallen in love with the Bay Area during a previous trip to San Francisco, Keuneke knew the location appealed to her long before recruiting intensified. Even when Cal initially showed less interest than some other programs, she stayed proactive and continued reaching out. Once she visited campus, everything fell into place.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>"I already knew that Cal was prestigious academically, but seeing how the athletic department and Cameron Institute supports student-athletes with a tough class load on top of their sport made my decision easy,"</em> she said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She also valued the program's stability, coaching staff, support system, and close-knit team culture, all qualities she believes matter far more than flashy facilities. Looking back, Keuneke encourages recruits to ask thoughtful questions during their visits.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>"Ask how the coaches see you fitting into their team in terms of lineup positions, leadership roles, and team culture,"</em> she advised. <em>"Ask about what's important to you, whether that's academics, NIL opportunities, or help finding jobs after college, and don't settle."</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She also believes recruits can become distracted by the excitement of official visits.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>"People are often wowed by the official visit experience, where they shower you in endless snacks, fun, and photoshoots</em>,<em>"</em> she said. <em>"The flashiest schools draw in the most gymnasts, but athletes can overlook what everyday life actually looks like and whether the school will set them up for life after college."</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The transition from club gymnastics to Division I competition also brought new challenges.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>"Club is slower paced during season and focuses heavily on gymnastics skills,"</em> she explained. <em>"Division I athletics is all-encompassing between weights, practice, sports psychology, and team bonding. I was excited for that adjustment, but it took my body longer to adapt than my mind."</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now entering her junior season at Cal, Keuneke describes her NCAA experience with one word: purposeful.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>"My NCAA experience has been unexpected to say the least,"</em> she reflected. <em>"I've had the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, and most of all I've grown tremendously as a person. The social life is special, learning is hard work and valuable, and gymnastics allows you to celebrate success bigger than your own or experience failure to motivate new efforts. This experience goes by so fast, and I'm so grateful for it."</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When asked about her favorite college memory, Keuneke pointed to a defining team moment.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>"Last year after our team had gone through so much change and adversity, we beat our rivals by one-tenth on their home floor,"</em> she said. <em>"It proved that everything we'd endured made us stronger rather than weaker. We celebrated because we stuck to our plan together and defied the odds."</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Keuneke, the greatest part of NCAA gymnastics is being part of a team. Her advice for younger gymnasts is equally straightforward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>"Don't hesitate to reach out, post videos, and try new skills,"</em> she said. <em>"Opening your network and options now gives you the freedom to make the final choice later, rather than waiting on one school to choose you. Do the most while you can and don't burn bridges."</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As Keuneke continues her collegiate career, her story serves as a reminder that recruiting isn't always about collecting the most accolades or settling for the first school that shows interest. Consistency, coachability, initiative, and finding the right fit can be just as valuable and can ultimately lead to a purposeful NCAA experience.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->