The 2013/2014 Swimming and Diving Season opens next week with the annual competition at San Luis Obispo. After having won the previous two NCAAs on both the men's and women's sides, Michigan and Georgia won last spring by decisive margins. So, what's the outlook for going into this year's campaigns.
For Teri McKeever's women, there are great expectations surrounding what is widely considered the #1 recruiting class last year. It starts with Olympic champion Missy Franklin, and includes a number of US junior record holders and international stars. Cal "only" loses one scoring senior from last year's 2nd place team, but that swimmer was Caitlin Leverenz, who scored major points in her 3 individual events (200 and 400 IM and 200 breast) and was a key part of our medley relay teams that finished 2nd and 3rd. Leverenz accounted for 65.5 of Cal's 393 points , including her pro rata portion of relay points.
It looks likely that Missy Franklin will be able to more than compensate for Leverenz's contribution; Missy's has top 3 NCAA times in the 500 free, 200 free, 100 free , 200 back and the 100 back. While it's pure speculation as to what three individual events Missy will swim at NCAAs, the schedule appears to set up for 500 free on day 1, 200 free on day 2 and 200 back on day 3. Missy will also likely feature on the 400 and 800 free relays, and perhaps anchor the 400 medley relay.
What other members of Cal's stellar recruiting class figure to make an impact at NCAAs? Celina Li was the best high school IM swimmer of her class and should score in both the 200 and 400 IM, although her contribution may likely come from "bottom 8" efforts. She may also manage to score in the 200 fly. Spanish international Marina Garcia was the surprise major breaststroke recruit who appears well-positioned to handle Leverenz's breast legs in the medley relays as well as scoring in both individual breaststroke events. Marina's converted long course times make her the number 1 breaststroke recruit in the class.
Kristin Vredeveld, Cal's top free sprint recruit has great high school timers, but she seems not to have competed in any of the major junior or international meets since finishing her high school season. Her best times are from March 2011, so it's too early to say that Cal has the "lock-down" burner they have missed since Liv Jensen graduated.
Egyptian national record holder Farida Osman is an intriguing recruit as her 50 yard butterfly time makes her an early favorite to swim in the 200 medley relay. She could score bottom 8 points in the 100 fly and 50 free as well.
Cal has a solid core of returning stars in Elizabeth Pelton, Rachel Bootsma and Cindy Tran. Pelton returns as the reigning champion in the 200 back, and should be a top 3 swimmer in her likely 3 individual events again (200 IM, 200 Free and 200 back) . Bootsma , the reigning champ in the 100 back, should also be a 3 event scorer (100 fly, 100 back and 200 fly). Tran's best event remains the 100 back, but she has the ability to score in both the 100 fly and 200 back. Catherine Breed our top distance free swimmer struggled with leg injury (ACL) last year, but if healthy is a real scoring factor in the 200 and 500 free, with an outside chance of scoring in the 1650. Melanie Klaren is a returning NCAA scorer in both the 100 and 200 back events. Sophomore Rachel Acker had a terrific frosh year, scoring NCAA points in both the 100 and 200 free.We also return top diver Kahley Rowell who has scored at the past two NCAAs for the Bears.
On paper, Cal appears to be the favorite to capture it's 4th NCAA championship in the past 5 years. Defending champion Georgia must replace stars Megan Romano and Allison Schmitt, but they also return a core group of high scoring veteran swimmers and in Olivia Smoliga they have a top 3 incoming frosh star of their own.
For Teri McKeever's women, there are great expectations surrounding what is widely considered the #1 recruiting class last year. It starts with Olympic champion Missy Franklin, and includes a number of US junior record holders and international stars. Cal "only" loses one scoring senior from last year's 2nd place team, but that swimmer was Caitlin Leverenz, who scored major points in her 3 individual events (200 and 400 IM and 200 breast) and was a key part of our medley relay teams that finished 2nd and 3rd. Leverenz accounted for 65.5 of Cal's 393 points , including her pro rata portion of relay points.
It looks likely that Missy Franklin will be able to more than compensate for Leverenz's contribution; Missy's has top 3 NCAA times in the 500 free, 200 free, 100 free , 200 back and the 100 back. While it's pure speculation as to what three individual events Missy will swim at NCAAs, the schedule appears to set up for 500 free on day 1, 200 free on day 2 and 200 back on day 3. Missy will also likely feature on the 400 and 800 free relays, and perhaps anchor the 400 medley relay.
What other members of Cal's stellar recruiting class figure to make an impact at NCAAs? Celina Li was the best high school IM swimmer of her class and should score in both the 200 and 400 IM, although her contribution may likely come from "bottom 8" efforts. She may also manage to score in the 200 fly. Spanish international Marina Garcia was the surprise major breaststroke recruit who appears well-positioned to handle Leverenz's breast legs in the medley relays as well as scoring in both individual breaststroke events. Marina's converted long course times make her the number 1 breaststroke recruit in the class.
Kristin Vredeveld, Cal's top free sprint recruit has great high school timers, but she seems not to have competed in any of the major junior or international meets since finishing her high school season. Her best times are from March 2011, so it's too early to say that Cal has the "lock-down" burner they have missed since Liv Jensen graduated.
Egyptian national record holder Farida Osman is an intriguing recruit as her 50 yard butterfly time makes her an early favorite to swim in the 200 medley relay. She could score bottom 8 points in the 100 fly and 50 free as well.
Cal has a solid core of returning stars in Elizabeth Pelton, Rachel Bootsma and Cindy Tran. Pelton returns as the reigning champion in the 200 back, and should be a top 3 swimmer in her likely 3 individual events again (200 IM, 200 Free and 200 back) . Bootsma , the reigning champ in the 100 back, should also be a 3 event scorer (100 fly, 100 back and 200 fly). Tran's best event remains the 100 back, but she has the ability to score in both the 100 fly and 200 back. Catherine Breed our top distance free swimmer struggled with leg injury (ACL) last year, but if healthy is a real scoring factor in the 200 and 500 free, with an outside chance of scoring in the 1650. Melanie Klaren is a returning NCAA scorer in both the 100 and 200 back events. Sophomore Rachel Acker had a terrific frosh year, scoring NCAA points in both the 100 and 200 free.We also return top diver Kahley Rowell who has scored at the past two NCAAs for the Bears.
On paper, Cal appears to be the favorite to capture it's 4th NCAA championship in the past 5 years. Defending champion Georgia must replace stars Megan Romano and Allison Schmitt, but they also return a core group of high scoring veteran swimmers and in Olivia Smoliga they have a top 3 incoming frosh star of their own.