OBear073akaSMFan said:

---

Excluding the divers that's 8 swimmers so far into the NCAAs. Hoping the Stanford meet we will be able to squeeze more into qualifying before the Pac-12 meet. Looks like Ali Harrison is on the cusp in both breast event though not sure she would even swim the relay events if she made the NCAAs. Also hoping Robin & Chenova gets through for the depth in the 800 relay. They both seem close to qualifying and with the added incentive of swimming against Ledecky this might push them through.

---

Last year, 13 Bears earned an invite to NCAAs on the swimming side, of which 9 remains on the team for this season:

• Kathleen Baker 100 back, 200 back, 200 IM
• Amy Bilquist 50 free, 100 back, 200 back
• Keaton Blovad 100 back, 200 back, 200 IM
• Chenoa Devine 500 free, 1650 free
• Marina Garcia 100 breast, 200 breast (graduated)
• Valerie Hull 50 free
• Celina Li 200 IM, 400 IM, 200 fly (graduated)
• Katie McLaughlin 200 free, 500 free, 200 fly
• Maddie Murphy 50 free, 100 fly
• Farida Osman 50 free, 100 free, 100 fly (graduated)
• Noemie Thomas 100 fly, 200 fly
• Kristen Vredeveld 50 free, 100 free, 200 free (graduated)
• Abbey Weitzeil 50 free, 100 free, 200 free

Doubtful someone will earn an invite this Friday, as everyone will likely be swimming tired, unrested, unshaved and in a practice suit - would dearly love to be proven wrong tho lol.

Yes, Friday's meet will involve an intense rivalry with much school pride at stake hehe - but ultimately relatively meaningless in the bigger picture.

Those on the cusp of qualification will be saving their best efforts for the conference championships beginning 21 Feb.

Our Bears will just give their best during the dual v. the furdettes, whilst in the middle of heavy training, fighting hard to get their hands to the wall first and slugging it out all the way to the end of the meet, trying to garner some valuable points for their teammates.

So, 8 Bears projected to safely make it into NCs - Thleen, Abbey, Billy, Katie, Nono, Madds, Sarah, Keeks.

Would reckon that Ali, Chenoa, Robin, Val have really good chances of boarding the bus or rather plane to Columbus on 14 March as they are currently pretty close, which would bring our swimmer tally up to 13, equalling last season's. Add Phoebe & Briana on the diving side, and that would be quite a decent squad.

Actually would be blinking brill if Sophie (100 back) & Dannie (100 breast, 400 IM) could squeak in as they aren't that far off in the aforementioned events. Probably won't score in their froski year, but the experience would be so great for the pair

Took the liberty to add the season bests for Bears with a "B" qualifying cut to bearz012's list below, for reference:

------


50 free: 22.22 (NCAA A: 21.80; NCAA B: 22.99)
- Abbey Weitzeil: 21.44
- Amy Bilquist: 21.99
========
- Maddie Murphy: 22.35
- Valerie Hull: 22.51
- Noemie Thomas: 22.80
- Katie McLaughlin: 22.90
- Jasmine Mau: 22.97


100 free: 48.54 (NCAA A: 47.53; NCAA B: 49.99)
- Abbey Weitzeil: 46.95
- Amy Bilquist: 47.94
========
- Keaton Blovad: 48.99
- Valerie Hull: 49.06
- Robin Neumann: 49.20
- Maddie Murphy: 49.25
- Katie McLaughlin: 49.75


200 free: 1:45.26 (NCAA A: 1:43.30; NCAA B: 1:47.99)
- Abbey Weitzeil: 1:44.41
- Katie McLaughlin: 1:44.92
- Amy Bilquist: 1:44.95
========
- Robin Neumann: 1:45.33
- Keaton Blovad: 1:46.87


500 free: 4:41.27 (NCAA A: 4:36.30; NCAA B; 4:47.79)
- Katie McLaughlin: 4:39.45
========
- Chenoa Devine: 4:42.63
- Robin Neumann: 4:43.50


1650 free: 16:15.95 (NCAA A: 15:53.50; NCAA B: 16:30.59)
- N/A
========
- Chenoa Devine: 16:25.27


100 back: 52.60 (NCAA A: 51.16; NCAA B: 55.09)
- Kathleen Baker: 50.62
- Amy Bilquist: 51.62
- Keaton Blovad: 52.39
========
- Sophie Krivokapic-Zhou: 53.84
- Aislinn Light: 54.25


200 back: 1:53.82 (NCAA A: 1:50.99; NCAA B: 1:59.19)
- Amy Bilquist: 1:50.48
- Kathleen Baker: 1:50.62
========
- Keaton Blovad: 1:55.31
- Sophie Krivokapic-Zhou: 1:57.87
- Aislinn Light: 1:58.52
- Robin Neumann: 1:58.86
- Courtney Mykkanen: 1:59.06


100 breast: 1:00.26 (NCAA A: 58.85; NCAA B: 1:02.49)
- N/A
========
- Ali Harrison: 1:00.54
- Abbey Weitzeil: 1:00.98
- Dannie Dilsaver: 1:01.89


200 breast: 2:10.40 (NCAA A: 2:07.18; NCAA B: 2:15.99)
- N/A
========
- Ali Harrison: 2:10.92
- Maija Roses: 2:14.02
- Dannie Dilsaver: 2:14.02
- Sarah Darcel: 2:14.91


100 fly: 52.41 (NCAA A: 51.19; NCAA B: 54.49)
- Noemie Thomas: 50.77
- Katie McLaughlin: 51.78
- Maddie Murphy: 52.03
========
- Ali Harrison: 53.32
- Kathleen Baker: 54.21


200 fly: 1:56.34 (NCAA A: 1:53.80; NCAA B: 1:59.59)
- Noemie Thomas: 1:54.12
- Katie McLaughlin: 1:55.03
========
- Sarah Darcel:1:57.35
- Sophie Krivokapic-Zhou: 1:58.96


200 IM: 1:57.21 (NCAA A: 1:55.00; NCAA B: 2:01.59)
- Kathleen Baker: 1:53.24
- Sarah Darcel: 1:56.69
- Keaton Blovad: 1:57.08
========
- Dannie Dilsaver: 1:58.59
- Ali Harrison: 2:00.84


400 IM: 4:10.49 (NCAA A: 4:04.70; NCAA B: 4:19.39)
- Sarah Darcel: 4:06.58
========
- Dannie Dilsaver: 4:12.46
- Chenoa Devine: 4:15.98


------

UrsusArctosCalifornicus said:

---

So, 8 Bears projected to safely make it into NCs - Thleen, Abbey, Billy, Katie, Nono, Madds, Sarah, Keeks.

Would reckon that Ali, Chenoa, Robin, Val have really good chances of boarding the bus or rather plane to Columbus on 14 March as they are currently pretty close, which would bring our swimmer tally up to 13, equalling last season's. Add Phoebe & Briana on the diving side, and that would be quite a decent squad.

Actually would be blinking brill if Sophie (100 back) & Dannie (100 breast, 400 IM) could squeak in as they aren't that far off in the aforementioned events. Probably won't score in their froski year, but the experience would be so great for the pair

---

This shouldn't concern our women as their focus is only on factors directly under their control (i.e. their own performances rather than the competition's) - but for us bystanders & de facto cheering section for our Bears, I took a peek at what the #1 team in the nation may bring to the table @ 2018 NCAAs, and it seems that the furdette juggernaut or machine may be aptly named after all... ~gulp~

At this stage of the season, 14 trees are already looking good for an invite (compared to 8 Bears) - Ledecky, Manuel, Hu, Howe, Eastin, Drabot, Forde, Stevens, Pitzer, Zhao, Kuks, Engel, Williams, Szekely

An additional 4 furdettes are poised on the cusp of joining their teammates - Byrnes (would already be easily in if it wasn't for her injury), Voss, Green, Glavinovich

If the above does come to pass, Greg may have to make the difficult decision to leave out one of his invited swimmers in order to make room for a couple of divers! Since the roster size is limited to a total of 18 with divers counting as 1/2, I believe...

UrsusArctosCalifornicus said:

---

Took the liberty to add the season bests for Bears with a "B" qualifying cut to bearz012's list below, for reference:

---

Added LSJU to the list, where ^=furdette, and *=season best that wasn't achieved at a mid-season invite or the USA College Challenge:

------


50 free: ~Estimated NCAA invite cut~ 22.22 (NCAA A: 21.80; NCAA B: 22.99)
- Abbey Weitzeil: 21.44
- ^Janet Hu: 21.91
- Amy Bilquist: 21.99
========
- Maddie Murphy: 22.35
- ^Simone Manuel: 22.36*
- Valerie Hull: 22.51
- ^Lauren Pitzer: 22.74
- ^Lindsey Engel: 22.79
- Noemie Thomas: 22.80
- ^Lauren Green: 22.82
- Katie McLaughlin: 22.90*
- Jasmine Mau: 22.97


100 free: 48.54 (NCAA A: 47.53; NCAA B: 49.99)
- Abbey Weitzeil: 46.95
- ^Janet Hu: 47.79
- Amy Bilquist: 47.94
- ^Simone Manuel: 48.03*
========
- ^Lauren Pitzer: 48.60
- Keaton Blovad: 48.99
- Valerie Hull: 49.06
- Robin Neumann: 49.20
- Maddie Murphy: 49.25
- ^Katie Ledecky: 49.25*
- ^Lauren Green: 49.57
- ^Katie Drabot: 49.60
- Katie McLaughlin: 49.75*
- ^Alex Meyers: 49.76
- ^Lindsey Engel: 49.89*
- ^Ally Howe: 49.95*


200 free: 1:45.26 (NCAA A: 1:43.30; NCAA B: 1:47.99)
- ^Katie Ledecky: 1:41.60
- ^Simone Manuel: 1:44.20*
- ^Katie Drabot: 1:44.26
- Abbey Weitzeil: 1:44.41
- Katie McLaughlin: 1:44.92
- Amy Bilquist: 1:44.95
========
- Robin Neumann: 1:45.33
- ^Lauren Pitzer: 1:46.36
- ^Ella Eastin: 1:46.46*
- ^Lauren Green: 1:46.67
- ^Erin Voss: 1:46.74*
- ^Brooke Forde: 1:46.78*
- Keaton Blovad: 1:46.87
- ^Hannah Kukurugya: 1:47.47
- ^Alex Meyers: 1:47.68
- ^Katie Glavinovich: 1:47.96


500 free: 4:41.27 (NCAA A: 4:36.30; NCAA B; 4:47.79)
- ^Katie Ledecky: 4:27.84
- ^Katie Drabot: 4:37.51
- ^Brooke Forde: 4:37.85
- ^Leah Stevens: 4:39.20
- Katie McLaughlin: 4:39.45
- ^Lauren Pitzer: 4:40.84
========
- Chenoa Devine: 4:42.63
- Robin Neumann: 4:43.50
- ^Katie Glavinovich: 4:43.61
- ^Hannah Kukurugya: 4:45.03
- ^Erin Voss: 4:45.25
- ^Ella Eastin: 4:45.56*


1650 free: 16:15.95 (NCAA A: 15:53.50; NCAA B: 16:30.59)
- ^Katie Ledecky: 15:03.31
- ^Leah Stevens: 16:05.47
========
- Chenoa Devine: 16:25.27


100 back: 52.60 (NCAA A: 51.16; NCAA B: 55.09)
- Kathleen Baker: 50.62
- ^Ally Howe: 50.91*
- ^Janet Hu: 51.30
- Amy Bilquist: 51.62
- Keaton Blovad: 52.39
========
- ^Lindsey Engel: 53.58*
- ^Simone Manuel: 53.62*
- Sophie Krivokapic-Zhou: 53.84
- ^Ella Eastin: 54.18*
- Aislinn Light: 54.25
- ^Erin Voss: 54.27
- ^Allie Szekely: 54.71


200 back: 1:53.82 (NCAA A: 1:50.99; NCAA B: 1:59.19)
- Amy Bilquist: 1:50.48
- Kathleen Baker: 1:50.62
- ^Janet Hu: 1:50.66
- ^Ally Howe: 1:51.25
========
- ^Erin Voss: 1:53.51
- ^Ella Eastin: 1:54.93*
- ^Allie Szekely: 1:55.25*
- Keaton Blovad: 1:55.31
- ^Katie Ledecky: 1:56.44
- ^Katie Glavinovich: 1:56.70
- Sophie Krivokapic-Zhou: 1:57.87
- Aislinn Light: 1:58.52
- Robin Neumann: 1:58.86
- Courtney Mykkanen: 1:59.06


100 breast: 1:00.26 (NCAA A: 58.85; NCAA B: 1:02.49)
- N/A
========
- Ali Harrison: 1:00.54
- ^Kim Williams: 1:00.57
- ^Grace Zhao: 1:00.72*
- ^Brooke Forde: 1:01.75
- Abbey Weitzeil: 1:00.98
- Dannie Dilsaver: 1:01.89
- ^Ella Eastin: 1:01.89*


200 breast: 2:10.40 (NCAA A: 2:07.18; NCAA B: 2:15.99)
- ^Brooke Forde: 2:09.50
- ^Grace Zhao: 2:09.88*
========
- Ali Harrison: 2:10.92
- ^Allie Szekely: 2:12.78*
- ^Ella Eastin: 2:13.13*
- Maija Roses: 2:14.02
- Dannie Dilsaver: 2:14.02
- ^Kim Williams: 2:14.68*
- Sarah Darcel: 2:14.91


100 fly: 52.41 (NCAA A: 51.19; NCAA B: 54.49)
- Noemie Thomas: 50.77
- ^Janet Hu: 1:51.27
- Katie McLaughlin: 51.78
- Maddie Murphy: 52.03
- ^Lindsey Engel: 52.22
========
- ^Lauren Green: 52.94
- ^Katie Drabot: 53.16*
- Ali Harrison: 53.32
- ^Ella Eastin: 53.43*
- ^Ally Howe: 53.62*
- Kathleen Baker: 54.21*
- ^Simone Manuel: 54.24*


200 fly: 1:56.34 (NCAA A: 1:53.80; NCAA B: 1:59.59)
- ^Katie Drabot: 1:51.74
- ^Ella Eastin: 1:52.03
- Noemie Thomas: 1:54.12
- ^Hannah Kukurugya: 1:54.95
- Katie McLaughlin: 1:55.03*
========
- ^Janet Hu: 1:57.00*
- Sarah Darcel:1:57.35
- ^Lindsey Engel: 1:57.40
- ^Katie Ledecky: 1:57.49*
- ^Ally Howe: 1:57.58*
- ^Lauren Green: 1:57.66*
- ^Allie Szekely: 1:58.87*
- Sophie Krivokapic-Zhou: 1:58.96


200 IM: 1:57.21 (NCAA A: 1:55.00; NCAA B: 2:01.59)
- Kathleen Baker: 1:53.24
- ^Ella Eastin: 1:53.24
- ^Brooke Forde: 1:56.26
- ^Katie Drabot: 1:56.67
- Sarah Darcel: 1:56.69
- ^Kim Williams: 1:56.94
- Keaton Blovad: 1:57.08
- ^Ally Howe: 1:57.21
========
- ^Allie Szekely: 1:57.46
- ^Katie Ledecky: 1:57.94*
- ^Hannah Kukurugya: 1:57.97
- Dannie Dilsaver: 1:58.59
- Ali Harrison: 2:00.84
- ^Katie Glavinovich: 2:01.50


400 IM: 4:10.49 (NCAA A: 4:04.70; NCAA B: 4:19.39)
- ^Katie Ledecky: 3:59.69
- ^Ella Eastin: 4:00.02
- ^Brooke Forde: 4:02.02
- Sarah Darcel: 4:06.58
- ^Allie Szekely: 4:07.69
========
- ^Leah Stevens: 4:11.16
- ^Hannah Kukurugya: 4:11.40
- ^Katie Glavinovich: 4:11.68
- Dannie Dilsaver: 4:12.46
- Chenoa Devine: 4:15.98


------

https://instagr.am/p/Be6uirKAe37
https://instagr.am/p/Be65PKjh17o

Graceful Noemie Thomas Focused on Title Finish for Cal

Maija Roses discovered her passion for storytelling through video and photography as a student at Cal.


MAIJA ROSES DISCOVERS HER PASSION



Maija Roses, with her mother, Ann Saunders


One more big change is on the horizon when Roses leaves Cal later this spring with her degree in hand. While she is still figuring out which road to take, she knows that she made the right choice four years ago when she decided to take her cross-country excursion to Berkeley.

"I got everything I need out of Cal," Roses said. "I found a passion that drives me nearly every single day. I've learned a lot about myself personally in ways I may not have done it anywhere else. I feel like Berkeley is such an open place that really allows you to find out who you really are without any boundaries. Honestly, I'm so thankful I came here for that."

UrsusArctosCalifornicus said:

---

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CAL, STANFORD SQUARE OFF IN FINAL DUAL

"Two of the top swimming & diving programs in the country face off against each other Saturday when fourth-ranked Cal visits No. 1 Stanford in the final dual meet of the year for both squads. Action at the Avery Aquatic Center gets underway at noon.

To add some perspective to the series, Cal and Stanford have combined to win eight of the past nine Pac-12 team titles (4 each), while last year, either a Golden Bear or a Cardinal finished first every swimming event at the NCAA Championships except for the two breaststroke races (6 by Cal, 10 by Stanford)."



UPDATE =>
Live video stream:
http://pac-12.com/live/stanford-university
https://www.facebook.com/StanfordWSwim/

------

Note: Cal's dual meet record v. LSJU is at 2-4 in the 6 seasons that the furdettes have been under Greg's leadership, after he had left our men's team (2008-2012). Bears have yet to taste victory over the trees @ Avery during Meehan's tenure.

The Furd's dual record against all the other schools OTOH is an impressive 42-2 in the same period!

The furdette juggernaut's massive SCORING DEPTH relative to the rest of Division I (and I'm not talking about just their top end superstars here), bolstered by season after season of claiming the nation's #1 recruiting class, makes them a really tough nut to crack at the dual, conference & national level.

---

Clash of the northerners: No. 4 Cal, No. 1 Stanford battle to stay undefeated

-----

SENIOR DAY, CHARITY AND CAL

Rivals Cal and Stanford team up for charity, prepare for Saturday's dual

Saturday also marks Senior Day for eight Cardinal. Prior to the meet, we will celebrate the contributions of those seniorsKassidy Cook, Sammy Gallagher, Gracia Leydon Mahoney, Alex Meyers, Simone Manuel, Janet Hu, Ally Howe and Lindsey Engel.

-----

Heck I could be completely mis-reading the above quoted blurb, but could "celebrating the contributions of seniors", with mention of Simone specifically in this context, possibly/hopefully imply that 2018 NCAAs will be Manuel's swan song in collegiate competition?!

If that's indeed the correct interpretation, guess we should also be wildly celebrating & cheerfully feting Simone here as well, as she transitions to pro status to prepare for Tokyo 2020!!! ~winks~!

-----

https://instagr.am/p/Be_ecebBz66
https://instagr.am/p/Be_jxIPho4X
https://instagr.am/p/Be_JfN6jmog
Maggie Gallagher: Second to last Gallagher smackdown of the year tomorrow. Let the trash talk begin. #gobears


https://instagr.am/p/Be_ZB7tDk5u
Valerie Hull: too much personality for this team to handle #weout #lastdualmeet #byeee


-----

UPDATE =>

coach_mckeever: Team dinner and meeting getting us ready for final dual meet tomorrow. Lots to celebrate and remember from an amazing season. Let's go get'em! #fullsend





-----

UrsusArctosCalifornicus said:

---

Heck I could be completely mis-reading the above quoted blurb, but could "celebrating the contributions of seniors", with mention of Simone specifically in this context, possibly/hopefully imply that 2018 NCAAs will be Manuel's swan song in collegiate competition?!

If that's indeed the correct interpretation, guess we should also be wildly celebrating & cheerfully feting Simone here as well, as she transitions to pro status to prepare for Tokyo 2020!!! ~winks~!

-----

---

Simone graduating makes sense, because there is no way they could have taken on all the newcomers without several big names graduating. Simone redshirted the Olympic year, so I'm sure she is on course to finish this year.

Simone is definitely going through Senior ceremonies. The other big name to graduate is diver Cassidy Cook. The other two big losses are Hu and Howe.

tedbear said:

---

Simone is definitely going through Senior ceremonies. The other big name to graduate is diver Cassidy Cook. The other two big losses are Hu and Howe.

---

Cheers for the visual confirmation, tedbear!

I salute your courage in venturing into enemy territory to cheer on our Bears, m8!

So close in the 200 medley. Simone brings in Maddie for the furd win. I think Amy anchors at NCAAs.

tedbear said:

---

Simone graduating makes sense, because there is no way they could have taken on all the newcomers without several big names graduating. Simone redshirted the Olympic year, so I'm sure she is on course to finish this year.

---

Perhaps she can transfer to Cal as a grad student. I'm just saying...........

Abbey finally gives us a win!

tedbear said:

---

Abbey finally gives us a win!

---

(well, you didn't actually think I'd report all the other results that went against us?! )

-------


NO. 4 CAL FALLS TO NO. 1 STANFORD


Abbey Weitzeil set a Stanford pool record and Cal dual-meet record in winning the 50 free in 22.04.

• UPDATES to the official blurb =>

STANFORD Abbey Weitzeil won the 50-yard freestyle and helped Cal's 200 free relay to a closing victory, but the No. 4 Golden Bears fell to top-rated Stanford, 186-110, in the teams' annual dual meet Saturday.

Weitzeil, a sophomore who owns the American record in the 50 free, touched out Stanford's Simone Manuel, 22.04 to 22.13, to claim the event. Her time established both an Avery Aquatic Center record and a Cal dual-meet record, breaking her mark of 22.09 set against the Cardinal in Berkeley last year.

In the 200 free relay, the foursome of Maddie Murphy, Weitzeil, Katie McLaughlin and Amy Bilquist crushed the Cal dual record in the event, finishing in 1:28.36, which was also a Stanford pool record. The former Cal dual mark was 1:31.49 set back in 2009.

"I think there are some really good things to build on," head coach Teri McKeever said. "The first thing is you have to acknowledge is where Stanford is as a program, a team that is top to bottom so deep. I thought some of our swimmers did a nice job of responding to that. Our growth as a team is to use that in a way that lifts us. We've had moments today and I think we can do it. The relays are definitely moments where we rise to the occasion. We're going to need to be better at the end of the month going into Pac-12s. Overall, I thought we had a solid effort."

In total, the meet featured five pool records with Stanford picking up the other three. A number of Golden Bear swimmers posted their fastest times in dual meets this season, including McLaughlin with a 1:45.69 in the 200 free and Kathleen Baker's 52.68 in the 100 back.

Cal wraps up its dual-meet season with a 9-1 overall record and 6-1 in the Pac-12. Next up are the Pac-12 Championships Feb. 21-24 and the NCAA Championships March 14.17.


RESULTS => https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/calberk.sidearmsports.com/documents/2018/2/10/02_10_18_Cal_at_Stanford_dual_results.pdf


-------


WEITZEIL DOWNS MANUEL FOR 50 FREE POOL RECORD IN RIVALRY DUAL MEET



FINAL TEAM SCORES:

• STANFORD: 186
• CAL: 110

The Stanford Cardinal capped off an undefeated dual meet season on Saturday as they defeated Pac-12 rival Cal at home. Several Pool Records fell throughout the meet. Stanford got the ball rolling with a Pool Record in the 200 medley relay, with Simone Manuel anchoring in a blazing 21.45 to make up a half-second deficit and clock the Cardinal in at 1:37.18. The Bears also picked up a relay Pool Record, with Abbey Weitzeil throwing down a 21.29 split to help the 200 free relay to a 1:28.36 win.

Individually, Ally Howe and Janet Hu each snagged Pool Records for Stanford. Hu took down her own record in the 100 back, touching in 51.63 ahead of American Record holder Howe (51.92) and Cal's reigning NCAA champ Kathleen Baker (52.68). Howe, on the other hand, took down the 200 back Pool Record, winning by over a second in 1:53.67. Cal's Weitzeil nabbed an individual Pool Record as well, giving the Bears a win in the 50 free as she out-touched Manuel 22.04 to 22.13.


-------

Kathleen Baker's times look way off. Anyone know if she's healthy?

SWIMSWAM PULSE: VOTERS MOST EXCITED FOR PAC-12 WOMEN


RESULTS

Question: Which women's conference meet are you most excited for?

• Pac-12 42.4%
• SEC 27.0%
• Big Ten 17.7%
• ACC 10.6%
• Big 12 2.2%

Almost half of voters said they were most excited for the women's Pac-12 Championships compared to the other four major conference meets to take place this month.



That speaks in some ways to the priority swim fans put on historic swims as opposed to tight team battles.

Although the Pac-12 could be a close team race between national #1 Stanford and #2 Cal, the meet is probably more exciting for the individual times that could show up, especially given neither team tends to put a big priority on winning the conference meet compared to NCAAs.



Last year's Pac-12 meet saw Katie Ledecky make a historic foray into IM, smashing the American 400 IM record, though she went back to freestyle for NCAAs. We could see a similar move this year. The Pac-12 meet will also feature Olympic and world icons Simone Manuel and Kathleen Baker among many others.

Microbear85 said:

---

Kathleen Baker's times look way off. Anyone know if she's healthy?

---

That's always a concern as Crohn's a massively debilitating condition. It's really quite a wonder how much Thleen has achieved in and out of the pool in spite of her serious health issues.

Actually if you eyeball Kathleen's *50 & 100 Back* times at all the duals v. LSJU that she has raced as a Bear, Thleen Bean has actually done her quickest times @ yesterday's meet in those events!

Don't forget that Lil Bean historically responds rather well to taper. More importantly, Baker has that killer instinct where she tends to rise to the occasion, as the world witnessed @ Rio & Budapest these past few years, as well as @ 2016 OTs.

(Alright, so 2016 NCAAs may have been a bit of an exception. I'd perhaps attribute some of that to her Crohn's flare-ups, and part of that to froski nerves...)

Also laid down some commanding times @ the USA College Challenge last October, whilst in a race suit but without the benefits of a taper or a shave.

Granted, Thleen's *200 Back* times down @ Avery on Sat were rather off her usual performance level, plus didn't race the 200 IM or a 3rd individual. She looked to be swimming v. tired in the 200, noticeably fading in the back half of the race. Her characteristic early speed was still in evidence, just lacking the stamina perhaps.

Baker had also skipped the mid-season invite + some duals this season, so these concerns are quite in order.

However, I personally feel quite good about Thleen's chances of claiming some National Titles for Cal in the face of the seemingly unstoppable Furdette Juggernaut come March!

If anything I may be slightly more concerned (tho that's a bit of a strong term for it really) about Amy's backstroke times than Kathleen's, though don't have any qualms about Billy's sprint free mojo on the other hand...


----------

Anyway, here are some stats that I had compiled for Kathleen's back times @ the Furd duals + NCAAs for the past 3 years, to hopefully back up some of my previous assertions lol. As always, please let me know of any errors in the presented data, so that they can be corrected ASAP, cheers

Also noticed that Ally Howe seems to drop more time than Janet Hu between each season's final last dual and the National Championships the following month, particularly during last season where Ally had a huge improvement curve (although Howe couldn't repeat her 49.69 American Record performance in the 100 Back from Pac-12s that year, eclipsing Natalie's 49.97 - which Thleen has also now surpassed).


**********


= 100 Back =

~ 2016 ~

52.59 - Bilquist .(NCAA: 50.96 - 4th)
52.74 - Hu .......(NCAA: 51.16 - 5th)
52.95 - Baker ..(NCAA: 51.79 - 13th)
53.34 - Howe ....(NCAA: 50.85 - 3rd)

~ 2017 ~

51.61 - Hu .......(NCAA: 50.73 - 5th)
52.15 - Bilquist .(NCAA: 50.86 - 9th)
52.58 - Howe ...(NCAA: 50.58 - 4th)
53.03 - Baker ...(NCAA: 49.84 - 1st)

~ 2018 ~

51.63 - Hu
51.92 - Howe
52.68 - Baker
52.73 - Bilquist


**********


= 200 Back =

~ 2016 ~

1:53.80 - Bilquist .(NCAA: 1:50.88 - 5th)
1:54.57 - Hu .......(NCAA: 1:52.22 - 10th)
1:56.32 - Howe ...(NCAA: 1:52.59 - 15th)
No dual - Baker ..(NCAA: 1:52.27 - 13th)

~ 2017 ~

1:53.98 - Howe ......(NCAA: 1:53.29 - 23rd)
1:54.11 - Baker .....(NCAA: 1:48.44 - 1st)
1:54.43 - Bilquist ...(NCAA: 1:52.03 - 14th)
1:54.82 - Voss .......(NCAA: 1:53.37 - 24th)
No dual - Hu ..........(NCAA: 1:52.13 - 15th)
No dual - Szekely ..(NCAA: 1:53.11 - 20th)

~ 2018 ~

1:53.67 - Howe
1:54.73 - Szekely
1:55.84 - Voss
1:56.67 - Baker
No dual - Bilquist
No dual - Hu


**********


= 50 Back = (*200 Medley Relay*, lead off leg)

~ 2016 ~

25.11 - Howe
(Baker swam breast, Bilquist wasn't on this relay, Bootsma led off w/a 25.11)

~ 2017 ~

24.57 - Bilquist
24.81 - Howe .....(NCAA: 24.08)
24.94 - Baker ....(NCAA: 23.62)

~ 2018 ~

24.39 - Baker
24.57 - Howe
24.71 - Bilquist


**********


= 100 Back = (*400 Medley Relay*, lead off leg)

~ 2016 ~

Howe .....(NCAA: 51.89)
Bilquist ...(NCAA: 51.48)
Baker anchored this relay in the B final!

~ 2017 ~

Howe .....(NCAA: 51.42)
Baker ....(NCAA: 49.80! - unfortunately, relay was DQ)


**********

Thanks for compiling the data. Helpful to see the track record.

Dannie and Sophie looking strong might be able to sneak into top 8 at pac 12?

UrsusArctosCalifornicus said:

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Actually would be blinking brill if Sophie (100 back) & Dannie (100 breast, 400 IM) could squeak in (NCAAs) as they aren't that far off in the aforementioned events. Probably won't score in their froski year, but the experience would be so great for the pair

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zeldazcat said:

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Dannie and Sophie looking strong might be able to sneak into top 8 at pac 12?

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Oh definitely!

Dannie's PB is less than half a sec from the cutoff time for the A final of the *400 IM* @ 2017 Pac-12s. The *100 Breast* would be a more challenging goal, as Dilsaver would prob. need to drop more than a sec off her lifetime best in this event.

What's really encouraging here is that Dannie's personal bests in both of these events were done recently (2017 UGA Invite), so she has already made some nice strides in the first half of her freshie year!

Sophie also has a shot at Top 8 in her pair of *back* events in just over a week's time, more likely in the 100 than the 200.

Naturally the optimist in me would like to cheer them onto even loftier aspirations - that of making the 2018 NCAA invite cut in their frosh year hehe.

Helping the team score @ Pac-12s would also be an achievement to be applauded, particularly if both froskis can do it from the championship final at conference


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2017 Pac-12s

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100 Back (Prelims)


*** A Final Qualifying ***
08. Engel - 52.78

*** B Final Qualifying ***
16. Mykkanen - 54.09

*** C Final Qualifying ***
24. Light, - 55.40


-> Krivokapic-Zhou - 53.50 (PB) ... 53.84 (SB)


----


200 Back (Prelims)


*** A Final Qualifying ***
08. Blovad - 1:54.00

*** B Final Qualifying ***
16. Delisle - 1:58.23

*** C Final Qualifying ***
24. Pick - 2:02.42


-> Krivokapic-Zhou - 1:56.79 (PB) ... 1:57.87 (SB)


----


100 Breast (Prelims)


*** A Final Qualifying ***
08. Poppe - 1:00.77

*** B Final Qualifying ***
16. Kaunitz - 1:01.91

*** C Final Qualifying ***
24. Ontjes - 1:03.02


-> Dilsaver - 1:01.89 (SB) ... 1:01.89 (PB)


----


400 IM (Prelims)


*** A Final Qualifying ***
08. Ross - 4:12.03

*** B Final Qualifying ***
16. Mykkanen - 4:16.06

*** C Final Qualifying ***
24. Pick - 4:25.68


-> Dilsaver - 4:12.46 (SB) ... 4:12.46 (PB)


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OBear073akaSMFan said:

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tedbear said:

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Simone graduating makes sense, because there is no way they could have taken on all the newcomers without several big names graduating. Simone redshirted the Olympic year, so I'm sure she is on course to finish this year.

---

Perhaps she can transfer to Cal as a grad student. I'm just saying...........

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Confirmed by Greg (not the Cal transfer bit tho lol):

SIMONE MANUEL TO TURN PRO AFTER 2017-2018 NCAA SEASON

"Furdette Juggernaut" indeed...

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STANFORD WOMEN VS EVERYONE ELSE COMBINED: ACTUALLY KIND OF CLOSE

what would happen in a dual meet of the Stanford women vs every other team in the NCAA combined into one team. The answer is: Stanford would lose. The surprising part, is that they wouldn't get crushed.

I scored out a dual meet using collegiate best times, swimming only, no relays, 3 individual events per swimmer (2 swimmers had to have events cut because they had 4 times fast enough to be in this super meet, Katie Ledecky, and Louise Hansson of USC).

The score came to Not Stanford 134.5 Stanford 112.5.

Stanford has an astonishing 8 swimmers that score more than the default minimum points. That is, there are no more than 2 Not Stanford swimmers with times better than their best time. Simone Manuel, Katie Ledecky, Ella Eastin, Janet Hu, Katie Drabot, Ally Howe, Brooke Forde, and Allie Szekely all pull this off in at least one event.


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STANFORD WOMEN FINISH ATOP FINAL CSCAA POLLS

The final CSCAA polls were released Wednesday, and on the women's side the Stanford Cardinal retained their top spot with a total of 300 points. The rankings are voted on by CSCAA-member coaches and aims to measure the top teams in head-to-head competition.

Leading the pre-season polls and holding the top spot through November, the Cardinal lost their top spot to Texas A&M in the polls released on December 6th and January 17th before returning to the leading position on January 31st. The Cardinal have gone a perfect 8-0 in dual meets this season, including wins over Arizona, ASU, UCLA, USC and California in January.

Cal, who sat as low as 7th in the polls at one point this year, ends in the #2 slot with a final dual meet record of 9-1. Like Stanford they defeated Arizona, ASU, UCLA and USC in January, only falling short to the Cardinal by a score of 186-110.

The Aggies ultimately finish 3rd, ending the year with a 7-1 record including wins over Missouri, SMU and LSU in January. Their only loss came to Texas (151.5-148.5) in early November. The Longhorns finished 4th in the polls, with Michigan 5th and Georgia 6th

RANK | PREVIOUS | TEAM | POINTS
1 | 1 | Stanford | 300
2 | 4 | California | 285
3 | 2 | Texas A&M | 275
4 | 5 | Texas | 262
5 | 3 | Michigan | 255
6 | 6 | Georgia | 239
7 | 8 | Virginia | 219
8 | 10 | Southern California | 218
9 | 8 | Indiana | 210
10 | 9 | Tennessee | 189
11 | 10 | NC State | 172
12 | 13 | Kentucky | 160
13 | 12 | Ohio State | 156
14 | 14 | Louisville | 153
15 | 15 | Auburn | 134
16 | 16 | Minnesota | 119
17 | 17 | Florida | 103
18 | 18 | North Carolina | 72
19 | 19 | Notre Dame | 68
20 | 20 | Missouri | 67
21 | NR | UCLA | 53
22 | NR| Arizona State | 51
23 | 21 | Wisconsin | 49
24 | 20 | Arizona | 42
25 | 25/NR | Duke /Alabama | 14

PAC-12 TABS ABBEY WEITZEIL FOR WEEKLY HONOR


Abbey Weitzeil earned Pac-12 Swimmer of the Week honors for her performance at Stanford last weekend.


BERKELEY After setting a pair of Cal dual-meet records in the Golden Bears' meet at Stanford last weekend, sophomore Abbey Weitzeil has been named the Pac-12 Swimmer of the Week.

Against the Cardinal, Weitzeil won the 50-yard freestyle in 22.04, breaking her own Cal dual-meet mark and setting an Avery Aquatic Center record as she out-touched Stanford's Simone Manuel, who was second in 22.13.

In addition, Weitzeil swam a leg on Cal's winning 200 free relay that finished in 1:28.36. The time established a new Stanford pool record and crushed the Bears' previous dual-meet mark of 1:31.49 from the 2009 season.

Weitzeil also competed in two other races, placing second in the 100 free in 48.78 and handling the breaststroke leg on the Cal's runner-up 200 medley relay that was timed in 1:37.40.

Weitzeil was named Pac-12 Swimmer of the Month for December after she established an NCAA-leading 21.44 in the 50 free and swam the 100 free in 46.95, which ranks No. 2 in school history and currently sits as the second fastest in the country.

Cal completed its dual-meet season with a 9-1 record last week and next travels to Federal Way, Wash., for the Pac-12 Championships Feb. 21-24.

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UPDATE =>



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https://instagr.am/p/BfOaXbGBlBC
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https://instagr.am/p/BfOpnKBhCaT
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Not sure how closely anybody else has been keeping up with ACC, Big 10, SEC results this week but seeing such fast swims (Liz Li's 50, Erika Brown's sub-50 second 100 fly) scares me a little about the chances of our Bears repeating the tiles in a month or so. Thoughts from anyone else? Perhaps just need to keep my fingers crossed and faith in the team!

HBear said:

---

Not sure how closely anybody else has been keeping up with ACC, Big 10, SEC results this week but seeing such fast swims (Liz Li's 50, Erika Brown's sub-50 second 100 fly) scares me a little about the chances of our Bears repeating the tiles in a month or so. Thoughts from anyone else? Perhaps just need to keep my fingers crossed and faith in the team!

---

2018 Conference Championships have been incredibly swift this early...don't think we can take anything for granted come March!

Not only the aforementioned names (have always championed Erika during her recruiting period, felt that there was a considerable upside to the SwimMac/ex-Pleasanton Seahawks prospect!), but all around - take note of Beata Nelson (another fave recruit of ours, great underwaters with tons of SCY potential even back then) laying down a badarse 49.78 in morning prelims - which happens to be the 2nd fastest 100 y Back ever, surpassing Thleen's 49.80 PB & 49.84 that had won the 2017 NCAA title!

Now of course not every swimmer will be able to replicate or better those amazing times at NCAAs, but still...

--------

• UPDATE =>

AFTER 5-SECOND SEASON DROP, ERIKA BROWN NOW #2 ALL-TIME IN 100 FLY

BEATA NELSON BECOMES 4TH WOMAN TO BREAK 50 IN 100 BACKSTROKE 49.78

Liz Li Splits Third Fastest 50 Free Ever; Lilly King Rattles American Record at Women's Big Ten's



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HBear said:

---

Not sure how closely anybody else has been keeping up with ACC, Big 10, SEC results this week but seeing such fast swims (Liz Li's 50, Erika Brown's sub-50 second 100 fly) scares me a little about the chances of our Bears repeating the tiles in a month or so. Thoughts from anyone else? Perhaps just need to keep my fingers crossed and faith in the team!

---

There were three flyer/sprint 2016 recruits with multiple Cal ties:

Maddie-double Cal legacy (dad played on two NCAA polo champs), local (Orinda), same high school as Natalie, swam for Natalie's husband's club.

Alyssa Marsh-mom swam for the Bears, family friends with Durden, close friends/club teammates with Thleen/Maija

Erika Brown-orignally swam for Pleasanton Seahawks (Celina/Silverthorn), close friend/club teammate with Thleen.

Teri would have gotten results with any of the three. Marsh was the highest ranked recruit of the three, but Maddie was in state.

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Teams set for 2018 Pac-12 Women's Swimming & Diving and Men's Diving Championships



CALIFORNIA: No. 2 California has finished among the top three at the NCAA Championships nine years in a row - the longest current streak in the country. Junior Kathleen Baker earned three medals for the United States at the World Championships over the summer: a silver medal in the 100-meter backstroke (matching her result in the event from the 2016 Olympics), a bronze medal in the 200-meter back and a gold medal on the world-record-setting 400-meter medley relay. She also placed fifth in the 50-meter back after setting an American record during her semifinal swim. Junior Katie McLaughlin competed in six events for the United States at the 2017 World University Games in Taipei last summer, picking up medals as part of three relays: 800-meter free relay (silver), 400-meter free relay prelims (bronze) and 400-meter medley relay prelims (silver).


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https://instagr.am/p/BfZMcdojEWM

Who's excited for Pac-12s?

https://instagr.am/p/BfXHAL_An1-
https://instagr.am/p/BfY79hMBur4
https://instagr.am/p/BfXfaWjAS8B

Excited...???

https://instagr.am/p/BfZLqKSBOP2

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https://instagr.am/p/BfbGVPNhYm1
https://instagr.am/p/BfaBAVvlW6L
https://instagr.am/p/BfbmJBQFfLl

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UPDATE => Created a dedicated topic on Pac-12s here:


2018 Pac-12 Swimming & Diving Champs (Women's)


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A HEAD START ON A NEW CAREER




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"Val is really clear about what type of person we want in our program and what type of person will be successful at Cal," McKeever said. "I think she's good at reading people and then helping me with information is this person a good fit or if they're not, why not? It's not superficial; it's more insightful perspective."

What makes a good teammate, according to Hull, is more than fast times. Culture fit, potential, leadership and willingness to be a team player are among the many elements to consider.

Are you the right personality type? Can you have the tough conversations? Can you lead in a certain way? We do that with swimmers, too. Teri's always said we recruit the person, not the swimmer."



We always talk about Cal fit, but I think these quotes exemplify what Teri is really looking for. We are not always going to get the swimmers with the fastest times, but we are likely to get successful women who are great representatives of the University in and out of the pool. That's why I love supporting this team!

UrsusArctosCalifornicus said:

---

So, 8 Bears projected to safely make it into NCs - Thleen, Abbey, Billy, Katie, Nono, Madds, Sarah, Keeks.

Would reckon that Ali, Chenoa, Robin, Val have really good chances of boarding the bus or rather plane to Columbus on 14 March as they are currently pretty close, which would bring our swimmer tally up to 13, equalling last season's. Add Phoebe & Briana on the diving side, and that would be quite a decent squad.

---

If Selection was Today - D1 Women

February 21st, 2018

With just a week of qualifying remaining for the Women's NCAA Division I Swimming and Diving Championships, rows are rapidly being filled.

Utilizing results submitted to CollegeSwimming or SwimCloud through February 20th, we have analyzed each swimmer's place in selection.

Understand that these estimates are less official than the unofficial Psyche Sheet, but if selection were conducted TODAY we predict the following swimmers would qualify individually.

The boxes indicate our confidence level of a swimmer's qualification.

Red means we expect the swimmer to be knocked out in the coming week.
Yellow boxes indicate a stronger level of confidence, and green?
If we were the parent of a green swimmer, we'd feel comfortable booking flights to Columbus.

Swimmer | School | Event Selected | Row
Baker, Kathleen S | California | 100 Back | 2
Bilquist, Amy M | California | 200 Back | 4
Blovad, Keaton M | California | 100 Back | 26
Darcel, Sarah | California | 400 IM | 13
Harrison, Alicia N | California | 100 Breast | 37 (Red)
McLaughlin, Kathryn A | California | 100 Fly | 14
Murphy, Madelyn A | California | 100 Fly | 21
Neumann, Robin | California | 200 Free | 33 (Yellow)
Thomas, Noemie I | California | 100 Fly | 4
Weitzeil, Abbigail Rose | California | 100 Free | 2

Teri McKeever is Living Her Coaching Dream

When she was getting her start in coaching, Teri McKeever looked to some of swimming's best as mentors.
But her most influential role model and inspiration, man or woman was her mother, Judy.

A swimmer herself and McKeever's club coach and a school teacher, she supported the family when her husband passed away when Teri was just 6.

"I saw my mom step up in very unfortunate circumstances and keep our family three young kids together," McKeever said. "She shaped much of who I am, and I have always looked up to her."

Like her mom, McKeever's original career path involved becoming a teacher, but swimming came first.
A two-time All-American at the University of Southern California, she made the final eight in the 200 butterfly at the 1980 U.S. Olympic Trials but didn't make the team the same team that didn't compete in Moscow due to a U.S. boycott.

She went on to have three great seasons at USC, including being named the school's Outstanding Student Athlete.

But when she graduated in 1983, she was done competing and was eager to start the next phase of her life.
An education major, McKeever envisioned teaching junior high or high school math or science and coaching on the side never thinking of taking on that role as a full-time career.

Now, 30-plus years later, she's not only one of the most successful swimming coaches in the game having directed the University of California-Berkeley to four NCAA women's titles and nine consecutive top 3 finishes at NCAAs but she also broke down barriers by serving as the first woman to head coach a U.S. Olympic Swimming team in London in 2012.

"I was confident then and I still am that I was the right coach for the job and not just the right woman for the job," McKeever said. "It's was a great honor, and I hoped then that it would never be a story again because more women would be selected for honors like this. It hasn't happened yet, but I'm hopeful that it will."

For McKeever, who definitely sees a strong connection between coaching and teaching, the path her career has taken is right on course with the progression her life was meant to follow.

Not only has she experienced the highest levels of coaching success at the collegiate level mentoring and coaching NCAA, U.S. National, World and Olympic champions Natalie Coughlin, Dana Vollmer, Jessica Hardy and Missy Franklin, among many others but she has also reached the highest levels of coaching internationally.

In addition to directing the U.S. women to 14 medals 8 of them gold in London, she was also the first woman to coach as an assistant on the U.S. Olympic Swim team in 2004 and 2008.

In between those meets, she served as the first woman to be named head coach of the U.S. National team at a major international meet the 2006 Pan Pacific Championships in British Columbia.

She also served as the head coach of the U.S. squad at the 2012 Short Course World Championships, and as an assistant for the United States six times at the World Championships as well as the 2001 Goodwill Games and 2002 Pan Pacific Championship teams.

"I didn't set out to make coaching a career, but I am still a teacher who gets to work in an amazing classroom and teach swim and life lessons," said McKeever, who took over the Bears program in 1991.

With few female coaches to look to as examples and role models in her early years, McKeever said she identified Karen Moe Humphreys her predecessor at Cal who took over the Bears program in 1978 after a stellar swimming career highlighted by a gold medal in the 200 butterfly at the 1972 Olympics as one of her mentors.

"She did an amazing job leading when women were given very few coaching opportunities in the college ranks," McKeever said.

Through her experiences, McKeever said she knows that coaching is challenging regardless of gender, but it sends a derogatory message to both young men and women when they don't see women in coaching or leadership roles.

"We can talk about it all we want, but until we start seeing more women in leadership roles and on the decks at meets, that perception isn't going to change," she said. "Women need an equal number of seats at the table, and that starts in the coaching ranks."

Nonetheless, she said she always strives to be a strong role model for young athletes and aspiring coaches whether they are male or female.

She feels passion every time she works with young women on the deck at Cal, knowing that her classroom is the pool and she plays a role in helping them discover their best as swimmers, students and people.

"I always want to help young women be the best version of themselves that they can be; that's what I've always tried to do with myself," McKeever said. "I don't want them to set limits on who they can be and what they can achieve.

"I'm incredibly proud and honored to have had the opportunity to lead the U.S. team, but I hope one day my being a woman coaching at the highest levels of the sport won't be a story. Women's swimming was introduced into the Olympics in 1912, and it was 100 years before a woman coached the team. That needs to continue happening, and I hope it's something I see in my lifetime."

UrsusArctosCalifornicus said:

---

(posted b4 2018 Pac-12s)

Last year, 13 Bears earned an invite to NCAAs on the swimming side, of which 9 remains on the team for this season.

• Kathleen Baker 100 back, 200 back, 200 IM
• Amy Bilquist 50 free, 100 back, 200 back
• Keaton Blovad 100 back, 200 back, 200 IM
• Chenoa Devine 500 free, 1650 free
• Marina Garcia 100 breast, 200 breast (graduated)
• Valerie Hull 50 free
• Celina Li 200 IM, 400 IM, 200 fly (graduated)
• Katie McLaughlin 200 free, 500 free, 200 fly
• Maddie Murphy 50 free, 100 fly
• Farida Osman 50 free, 100 free, 100 fly (graduated)
• Noemie Thomas 100 fly, 200 fly
• Kristen Vredeveld 50 free, 100 free, 200 free (graduated)
• Abbey Weitzeil 50 free, 100 free, 200 free

8 Bears currently projected to safely make it into 2018 NCs - Thleen, Abbey, Billy, Katie, Nono, Madds, Sarah, Keeks.

Would reckon that Ali, Chenoa, Robin, Val have really good chances of boarding the bus or rather plane to Columbus on 14 March as they are currently pretty close. Add Phoebe & Briana on the diving side, and that would be quite a decent squad.

Actually would be blinking brill if Sophie (100 back) & Dannie (100 breast, 400 IM) could squeak in as they aren't that far off in the aforementioned events. Probably won't score in their froski year, but the experience would be so great for the pair

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BearDevil said:

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Curious if Sophie can qualify in the 100 Back.

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UrsusArctosCalifornicus said:

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Now if Sophie can dig deep tonight, and somehow find enough to drop another half a sec from her newly-minted PR from prelims...

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bearz012 said:

---

Sophie dropped a 52.56 in finals tonight, which is just below the 52.65 it took to make NCAA's last year!

Val on the border a bit, Ali definitely getting an invite after that impressive sub minute swim, Maija probably getting an invite in the 200 breast based on how her 100 breast went. Chenoa likely to make it, though ranks around 30th in the country right now. Sophie also likely to make it with a 52.5, though she might be on the bubble.

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tedbear said:

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-Unfortunately, the only senior that is going to make NCAA's is Noemie.

---

Here's what our prospective 2018 NCAA roster is shaping up to be immediately following the conclusion of last night's Pac-12s:

Safely in (highest current NCAA ranking only listed here):
1. Kathleen Baker - #1 in the 200 Back (1:48.27)
2. Abbey Weitzeil - #2 in the 100 Free (46.63)
3. Noemie Thomas - #5 in the 100 Fly (50.77)
4. Amy Bilquist - #6 in the 200 Back (1:50.23)
5. Sarah Darcel - #6 in the 400 IM (4:03.00)
6. Robin Neumann - #8 in the 200 Free (1:43.38)
7. Katie McLaughlin - #10 in the 100 Fly (51.17)
8. Maddie Murphy - #14 in the 50 Free (21.96)
9. Keaton Blovad - #17 in the 100 Back (51.83)
10. Ali Harrison - #17 in the 100 Breast (59.52)

Probably in (hopefully ):
11. Chenoa Devine - #37 in the 500 Free (4:40.62)
12. Sophie K-Z - #38 in the 100 Back (52.56)

So close...may just miss the cut?
13. Maija Roses - #41 in the 100 Breast (1:00.42) ***<-- EDIT/CORRECTION, as a 52.56 would easily top Lilly King's 56.30 and even Josh Prenot's 52.57!!! haha

Have based the above categories on the likely NCAA invite cutoff #, which has historical hovered between 38 to 41 for the women's events, i.e. #37 should get in.

There may be additional shifts (bumps in the down direction) pending any last-chance time trials. Once the official invites have been sent, there will be several declines that would work in favour of those on the borderline - i.e. really cheering for Maija to deservedly be rewarded here before she officially becomes a "swammer"!

Fantastic achievement for freshie Sophie if she qualifies, after hitting those big PBs @ conference!

Sad that Val's looking to miss out in her last season as a Bear - #46 in the 100 Free (48.67 ...PB=48.66 @ 2016 UGA Invite), and #62 in the 50 Free (22.43 ... PB=22.17 @ 2017 NCAAs). Guess could always go as a "relay-only" (i.e. swim morning sessions to rest up a teammate with a tough schedule, or stand in as a finals relay backup if someone was to fall ill).

However I believe Teri as a whole doesn't subscribe to bringing along a relay-only swimmer to NCAAs?

At any rate, as we know, Keeks has always been rather versatile, with free & IM skills on top of her back talent but wow, her smashing sub-48 split on that 400 Free Relay B squad @ Pac-12 now means that we have a couple of fast backup legs for that particular relay (+ our Dutch frosh Robin, who had a really strong conference showing, with podium finishes in the 100 & 200 Free!).

Robin's 22.38 anchor leg on the 200 Free Relay B team wasn't all that much slower than Val's 22.68 leadoff @ Pac-12s too...

Diver selection will take place @ Flagstaff on 5-7 March, @ the NCAA Zone E Diving Championships.

https://instagr.am/p/BfpQ79Xjyui

https://instagr.am/p/Bfka-sdBAU_

https://instagr.am/p/BfpQ7bcAkWY

https://instagr.am/p/BfogbR2BA7L

https://instagr.am/p/Bfm6gSuBPWO