OBear073akaSMFan said:

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Saw this posted on Cal swimming's twitter acct our first diver for 2019. Story on calbears.

https://calbears.com/news/2018/12/13/womens-swimming-diving-diver-cassie-graham-signs-with-bears.aspx

Welcome Cassie

---

Yay congrats Cassie, and a bear-y warm welcome to the fam!



Brill to see the diving side of our programme hasn't been overlooked with all the talented swimmers coming in next year, plus Cassie's strong academics naturally earn her an extra mark in her favour

Welcome, Cassie! Seems to be a springboard specialist.

Some facts based on her summer team coaching bio: In school, she is a member of the APPS (Advanced Placement Power Scholars) Program, the National Honors Society, and a captain of her high school swim and dive team. She has been diving for five years on the national team at Montgomery Dive Club and placed 3rd in the girl's competition in the 2018 MPSSAA State Swim & Dive Championships. She is the team captain for MDC Germantown. Her future goals are to commit to a Division I college for diving and major in prelaw.

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CAL COMMIT AYLA SPITZ WINS A PAIR AT YUCAIPA SECTIONALS



After Junior Nationals, but before the holiday break, the annual California-Nevada short course Sectional Championships was hosted in Yucaipa, California.

On the girls' side of the meet, Cal commit and the 20th-ranked recruit in the class of 2019 Ayla Spitz took a pair of victories in her only two events, winning the 100 back in 54.41 and the 100 fly in 53.85. She swam a 53.8 in prelims of the 100 back which is jut 4-tenths away from her best in that event; she didn't swim the 100 free, 200 free, 200 back or 200 IM: arguably her four best events.

• RESULTS => https://www.socalswim.org/results/southern-california/2018/12/14/ca-nv-december-sectionals

-------

UrsusArctosCalifornicus said:

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Looks like SwimSwam's on the cusp of publishing their Class of 2019 NCAA Recruit Ranks (Top 20
For reference, here's CollegeSwimming's Top 50 list as of today (24 April 2018):

Rank - Name - Commitment - Hometown - Power Index

6 - Kelly Pash - University of Texas - Carmel, IN - 1.40
9 - Mary Smutny - University of Texas - Cutler Bay, FL - 1.74
19 - Miranda Heckman - University of Texas - Livermore, CA - 3.02
20 - Kyla Leibel - n/a - Red Deer, AB - 3.20

---

bearz012 said:

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Updates from the Mel Zajac Meet...

• WALSH, BERKOFF ESTABLISH BEST TIMES AT DAY 2 PRELIMS OF MEL ZAJAC (prelims)
• LOCHTE HITS 1:58.90 200 IM ON DAY 2 OF MEL ZAJAC JR. INTERNATIONAL (finals)

5) In the women's 800 free relay, the U.S. juniors (8:18.97) had an epic battle with the Canadian juniors, as Kyla Leibel (2:01.36) nearly ran down Walsh (2:02.33) on the anchor leg. Berkoff was the main difference between the two teams, leading off in 2:03.93.

---

Kyla Leibel -> Horns (UT)

https://instagr.am/p/Btv8B9iFeD0
CS Ranking as of commit: (#10 Nat, #1 AB)

tedbear said:

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Wow, another Teri surprise international! Eloise seems to be the perfect Cal fit both academically and athletically. If she can make the transition from long course to short course smoothly, we might be looking at the next great Cal sprinter.

---

Well let's not get too carried away quite yet lol :p

Really admire those sentiments of yours on Eloise Riley, predictions which may well prove to be uncannily prophetic in good time

But meanwhile, here's how the *sprint to mid-sprint freestyle* achievements of our CS #178 ranked signee presently stands in relation to that of her 2019 Baby Bear sisters, as well as to the talented peers who are considered to be the TOP 20 NCAA SWIMMING RECRUITS IN THE GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2019 by SwimSwam - one where "Super-sprinters abound":


===========

* 50 Free *

~ 2019 NCAA 'A' Standard = 21.74
~ 2018 NCAA scoring time = 22.21 (16th @ Prelims)
~ 2018 NCAA invite time = 22.30
~ 2019 NCAA 'B' Standard = 22.76

-----------
#02 Kate Douglass ........ 22.04
#01 Izzy Ivey ............. 22.27 {Bear}
#07 Alexandra Crisera ... 22.43
#13 Talia Bates .......... 22.44
#05 Coleen Gillilan ......... 22.56
#12 Chloe Clark ............ 22.65 {Bear}
#10 Kelly Pash ........... 22.76
#na Eloise Riley ......... 22.81 (conv. from 25.90 LCM) {Bear}
#03 Katharine Berkoff .... 22.82
#HM Gabby Dang .......... 22.90
#06 Zoie Hartman .......... 22.93
#19 Lexi Cuomo ............ 22.94
#na Emma Davidson .... 22.95 {Bear}
#20 Ayla Spitz ........... 23.00 {Bear}
#16 Mary Smutny ........... 23.44
#HM Rachel Klinker ...... 23.51 {Bear}
#na Danielle Carter ....... 23.73 {Bear}
#04 Emily Weiss ......... 23.87
#14 Caroline Cooper ....... 23.92
#HM Sarah DiMeco ........ 23.95 {Bear}
#09 Caitlin Brooks ........ 23.97
#08 Ella Nelson ............ 24.02
#17 Miranda Heckman ..... 24.12
#na Ashlyn Fiorilli ....... 24.39 {Bear}
#11 Madelyn Donohoe ...... 24.57
#na Anna Kalandadze ..... 24.86 {Bear}
#18 Kaitlynn Sims ...... 25.17
#15 Ashley McCauley ....... 25.31


===========

* 100 Free *

~ 2019 NCAA 'A' Standard = 47.35
~ 2018 NCAA scoring time = 48.07 (16th @ Prelims)
~ 2018 NCAA invite time = 48.53
~ 2019 NCAA 'B' Standard = 49.51

-----------
#01 Izzy Ivey ............. 47.88 {Bear}
#02 Kate Douglass ........ 48.54
#10 Kelly Pash ........... 48.55
#07 Alexandra Crisera ... 48.87
#20 Ayla Spitz ........... 48.88 {Bear}
#16 Mary Smutny ........... 49.48
#03 Katharine Berkoff .,...48.90
#06 Zoie Hartman .......... 49.15
#12 Chloe Clark ............ 49.27 {Bear}
#13 Talia Bates .......... 49.56
#05 Coleen Gillilan ......... 49.64
#19 Lexi Cuomo ............. 49.71
#HM Gabby Dang ....... 49.84
#HM Rachel Klinker ...... 49.93 {Bear}
#17 Miranda Heckman .... 50.23
#na Emma Davidson .. 50.30 {Bear}
#na Danielle Carter ........ 50.71 {Bear}
#08 Ella Nelson ............ 50.91
#na Eloise Riley ....... 51.26 (conv. from 57.83 LCM) {Bear}
#18 Kaitlynn Sims ..... 51.29
#11 Madelyn Donohoe ..... 51.39
#HM Sarah DiMeco ..... 51.72 {Bear}
#14 Caroline Cooper ..... 51.84
#na Anna Kalandadze .... 52.36 {Bear}
#04 Emily Weiss ........ 52.42
#09 Caitlin Brooks ........ 52.80
#na Ashlyn Fiorilli ....... 53.18 {Bear}
#15 Ashley McCauley ....... 54.28


===========

* 200 Free *

~ 2019 NCAA 'A' Standard = 1:43.17
~ 2018 NCAA scoring time = 1:44.66 (16th @ Prelims)
~ 2018 NCAA invite time = 1:44.90
~ 2019 NCAA 'B' Standard = 1:47.12

-----------
#01 Izzy Ivey ............. 1:43.64 {Bear}
#10 Kelly Pash ........... 1:45.25
#16 Mary Smutny ........... 1:45.36
#20 Ayla Spitz ........... 1:45.44 {Bear}
#HM Rachel Klinker ...... 1:46.05 {Bear}
#17 Miranda Heckman .... 1:46.49
#03 Katharine Berkoff ...1:46.81
#HM Sarah DiMeco ........ 1:46.98 {Bear}
#05 Coleen Gillilan ....... 1:46.98
#07 Alexandra Crisera ..... 1:47.09
#13 Talia Bates ............ 1:47.11
#06 Zoie Hartman ............ 1:47.13
#11 Madelyn Donohoe ..... 1:47.75
#02 Kate Douglass ....... 1:48.10
#18 Kaitlynn Sims ..... 1:48.39
#na Danielle Carter ........ 1:48.61 {Bear}
#08 Ella Nelson ............ 1:49.38
#na Emma Davidson ... 1:49.45 {Bear}
#HM Gabby Dang ............ 1:49.46
#12 Chloe Clark .............. 1:49.78 {Bear}
#na Anna Kalandadze .... 1:50.42 {Bear}
#19 Lexi Cuomo ............ 1:51.27
#na Eloise Riley ........ 1:51.78 (conv. from 2:06.86 LCM) {Bear}
#na Ashlyn Fiorilli ....... 1:51.97 {Bear}
#09 Caitlin Brooks ....,.... 1:52.37
#14 Caroline Cooper ..,..... 1:53.31
#15 Ashley McCauley ....... 1:54.89
#04 Emily Weiss ........,.. 1:59.16


===========

Note that many of SS' Top 20 above aren't sprinters per se, being either stroke specialists (back/fly/breast), distance-focussed, or versatile jack-of-all-trades - hence #4 breaststroke stud Emily Weiss falling consistently near the bottom of these sprint free charts lol

Anyway, high hopes for Eloise following in Madds' footsteps so to speak - Murphy was ranked #55 in her class by College Swimming at the time of her verbal. Held a personal best of 23.13 in the 50 Free at her commitment...after training with Bears for just a single season, went on to kill it @ 2017 NCAAs with an amazing 21.76 - placing 6th in the A final as a froski!

btw wouldn't mind also welcoming Eloise's fellow Aussie Abbey Webb (CS #34) to Bear Territory in Sept - Abbey currently lays claim to 50 / 100 / 200 Free lifetime bests of 22.58 (25.63 LCM) / 48.99 (55.32 LCM) / 1:46.54 (2:00.64 LCM) respectively... though I don't know if Abbey's as academically-inclined as Eloise is?

UrsusArctosCalifornicus said:

---

btw wouldn't mind also welcoming Eloise's fellow Aussie Abbey Webb (CS #34) to Bear Territory in Sept - Abbey currently lays claim to 50 / 100 / 200 Free lifetime bests of 22.58 (25.63 LCM) / 48.99 (55.32 LCM) / 1:46.54 (2:00.64 LCM) respectively... though I don't know if Abbey's as academically-inclined as Eloise is?

---

Getting 1 Aussie, can't hurt for possible future aussie though we are still smarting from losing your gal Siobhan to Mich despite our Hong Kong ties! Eloise's uncle swam at Stanford. Anyone knows the name of the uncle.

OBear073akaSMFan said:

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Getting 1 Aussie, can't hurt for possible future aussie though we are still smarting from losing your gal Siobhan to Mich despite our Hong Kong ties! Eloise's uncle swam at Stanford. Anyone knows the name of the uncle.

---

tbh reckon there really weren't any slots remaining for another top recruit (esp a $$ international) after our 2015 Dream Team mega-signings!

Actually Freya Anderson could have represented an even more impactful signing than Siobhan if the former had been available... Guess we also missed out on Maggie MacNeil's potential, to Michigan's massive gain.

Abbey Webb just came to mind as I recall her considerable contributions for Team Oz @ the Jr Pan Pacs last summer, and now conveniently listed on the CS database.

Sorry, have no idea who Eloise's uncle is - am just fine with her having not taken the legacy route (i.e. LSJU or Harvard)

Speaking of Eloise, her long course metre (LCM) times are generally ahead of their short course metre (SCM) counterpart - which to me would suggest that Riley may have quite an upside in the little pool here (SCY), once she adapts to and improves her underwaters & walls under the guidance of Teri (perhaps catching a few tips from Izzy in the process)? Thleen had really upped her dolphin kick & turns game when training as a Bear, as had been noted by Coach Marsh @ Rio.

Our latest Aussie recruit may also have some versatility in the breast sprint, similar to our other multi-sport sprint get, Emma Davidson.

UrsusArctosCalifornicus said:

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A beary warm welcome goes out to Eloise Riley from Oz!

CS Ranking as of verbal: #178 Nat



Eloise Riley Signs With Golden Bears

---

...now reported by SwimSwam:

--------


AUSTRALIAN SPRINTER ELOISE RILEY COMMITS TO THE CAL GOLDEN BEARS FOR 2019-20

Best LCM times (converted to SCY):

• 50 free - 25.90 (22.61)
• 100 free - 57.83 (50.65)
• 200 free - 2:05.99 (1:50.62)

--------

Note: I had used Swimulator Real-Time Converter (new) in my original calculations & ranking of the top 2019 recruits in the sprint to mid-sprint free events, since that tool factors in gender & age.

The converted times in the above SS writeup appears to have made use of the Classic Converter instead, and additionally lists a swifter 200m Free PB in LCM that what's currently on the CS databse. which in Eloise's case here resulted in significantly faster LCM to SCY converted times - over which I definitely have no quibbles lol

Here are the revised aka improved stats:

===========

* 50 Free *
-----------
#02 Kate Douglass ........ 22.04
#01 Izzy Ivey ............. 22.27 {Bear}
#07 Alexandra Crisera ... 22.43
#13 Talia Bates .......... 22.44
#05 Coleen Gillilan ......... 22.56
#na Eloise Riley ......... 22.61 (conv. from 25.90 LCM) {Bear}
#12 Chloe Clark ............ 22.65 {Bear}
#10 Kelly Pash ........... 22.76
#na Eloise Riley ......... 22.81 (conv. from 25.90 LCM) {Bear}
#03 Katharine Berkoff .... 22.82
#HM Gabby Dang .......... 22.90
#06 Zoie Hartman .......... 22.93
#19 Lexi Cuomo ............ 22.94
#na Emma Davidson .... 22.95 {Bear}
#20 Ayla Spitz ........... 23.00 {Bear}


===========

* 100 Free *
-----------
#01 Izzy Ivey ............. 47.88 {Bear}
#02 Kate Douglass ........ 48.54
#10 Kelly Pash ........... 48.55
#07 Alexandra Crisera ... 48.87
#20 Ayla Spitz ........... 48.88 {Bear}
#16 Mary Smutny ........... 49.48
#03 Katharine Berkoff .,...48.90
#06 Zoie Hartman .......... 49.15
#12 Chloe Clark ............ 49.27 {Bear}
#13 Talia Bates .......... 49.56
#05 Coleen Gillilan ......... 49.64
#19 Lexi Cuomo ............. 49.71
#HM Gabby Dang ....... 49.84
#HM Rachel Klinker ...... 49.93 {Bear}
#17 Miranda Heckman .... 50.23
#na Emma Davidson .. 50.30 {Bear}
#na Eloise Riley ....... 50.65 (conv. from 57.83 LCM) {Bear}
#na Danielle Carter ........ 50.71 {Bear}
#08 Ella Nelson ............ 50.91
#na Eloise Riley ....... 51.26 (conv. from 57.83 LCM) {Bear}
#18 Kaitlynn Sims ..... 51.29
#11 Madelyn Donohoe ..... 51.39

===========

* 200 Free *
-----------
#01 Izzy Ivey ............. 1:43.64 {Bear}
#10 Kelly Pash ........... 1:45.25
#16 Mary Smutny ........... 1:45.36
#20 Ayla Spitz ........... 1:45.44 {Bear}
#HM Rachel Klinker ...... 1:46.05 {Bear}
#17 Miranda Heckman .... 1:46.49
#03 Katharine Berkoff ...1:46.81
#HM Sarah DiMeco ........ 1:46.98 {Bear}
#05 Coleen Gillilan ....... 1:46.98
#07 Alexandra Crisera ..... 1:47.09
#13 Talia Bates ............ 1:47.11
#06 Zoie Hartman ............ 1:47.13
#11 Madelyn Donohoe ..... 1:47.75
#02 Kate Douglass ....... 1:48.10
#18 Kaitlynn Sims ..... 1:48.39
#na Danielle Carter ........ 1:48.61 {Bear}
#08 Ella Nelson ............ 1:49.38
#na Emma Davidson ... 1:49.45 {Bear}
#HM Gabby Dang ............ 1:49.46
#12 Chloe Clark .............. 1:49.78 {Bear}
#na Anna Kalandadze .... 1:50.42 {Bear}
#na Eloise Riley ........ 1:50.62 (conv. from 2:05.99 LCM) {Bear}
#19 Lexi Cuomo ............ 1:51.27
#na Eloise Riley ........ 1:51.78 (conv. from 2:06.86 LCM) {Bear}
#na Ashlyn Fiorilli ....... 1:51.97 {Bear}


===========

Impressive 3+ sec drop for 2019 Baby Bear Sarah Dimeco in the 400 IM!

Previous lifetime best = 4:15.33 @ 2018 Winter Jrs.

See SwimSwam writeup below.

* 400 IM *
4:12.08 Izzy Ivey
4:12.10 Sarah Dimeco
4:13.94 Chloe Clark
4:15.33 Sarah Dimeco
4:15.41 Ashlyn Fiorilli
4:16.55 Rachel Klinker

About 2 secs off the cutoff time for an invite to 2019 NCAAs...

btw there's going to be 3 "SD"s on the team next season - Sarah Darcel (SD1), Coach Sarah Dunleavy (SD2), Sarah Dimeco (SD3)... :p

--------

KATHARINE BERKOFF BREAKS MISSY FRANKLIN'S MEET RECORD IN FEDERAL WAY

• Sarah Dimeco of the Bellevue Club Swim Team won the girls' 400 IM in 4:12.10. She was the runner-up in this event at last year's meet, with a winning time in 2019 that was 3.7 seconds faster than she swam in 2018. This is her 2nd win of the meet after taking the 1000 free (9:46.27) on Thursday.

--------

• UPDATE ->

2 MEET RECORDS DOWN, BELL EARNS 4TH TOP-10 TIME AT FEDERAL WAY

Sarah DiMeco (Bellevue) and Ethan Heasley (Hillsboro) won their respective 1650 free races with a 16:22.92 and 15:03.24. .

Both Dimeco and Heasley accomplished a four-event distance sweep with their wins in the 500 free, 1000 free, 1650 free, and 400 IM throughout the weekend.

--------

https://swimswam.com/an-inside-look-at-the-walsh-sisters-in-and-out-of-the-pool-video-feature/

UrsusArctosCalifornicus said:

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Impressive 3+ sec drop for 2019 Baby Bear Sarah Dimeco in the 400 IM!

---

Over the weekend, 2019 Baby Bear Anna Kalandadze impressed by smashing a lifetime best & her HS record (200 Free - 1:48.34, runner-up), and in addition achieved the distinction of being the first female to ever win an individual event 4 years in a row (500 Free) at the 2019 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Championship - well done Anna!

• Full results

* 200 Free *
-----------
#01 Izzy Ivey ................. 1:43.64
#20 Ayla Spitz ............... 1:45.44
#HM Rachel Klinker ...... 1:46.05
#HM Sarah DiMeco ...... 1:46.98
#na Anna Kalandadze ..1:48.34 (2019 March)
#na Danielle Carter ....... 1:48.61
#na Emma Davidson .... 1:49.45
#12 Chloe Clark ............ 1:49.78
#na Anna Kalandadze ..1:50.42 (2018 March)
#na Eloise Riley ............ 1:50.62 (conv. from 2:05.99 LCM)
#na Ashlyn Fiorilli .......... 1:51.97

2019 Baby Bear Rachel Klinker achieved a personal best of 9:49.67 in the 1000 Free during the 1st evening of competition at 2019 NCSA Spring Junior Nationals in Orlando, Florida.

Her former lifetime best in this event was a 9:51.23 from the 2018 edition of this meet.

Rachel also earned a personal record in the 200 Fly with her 1:56.90 during prelims (former PB = 1:57.36 @ 2018 Winter Jrs).

-------

2019 NCSA Junior National Championships Orlando Day 1: Nation's Capital Dominates

"Women's 1000 Free

It was a very tight race for third as only two hundredths of a second separated Nation's Capital swimmer Brooke Travis from Lexington Dolphins swimmer Rachel Klinker.

Klinker remained slightly ahead of Travis almost the entire race. It wasn't until the last 50 off the event when Travis pulled ahead touching the wall at 9:49.65.

Klinker finished in fourth with a time of 9:49.67."

-------

2019 NCSA Junior National Swim Meet: Wednesday Night Recap

"Women's 200 Fly

NCAP-PV's Abigail Harter just out touched second's Grace Sheble in the time of 1:54.71 to Sheble's 1:54.84. In third was Tess Howley (LIAC-MR) in 1:55.29. Fourth was Victoria Huske (1:56.18), fifth Amanda Ray (1:57.72), sixth Rachel Klinker (1:58.28), seventh Addison Smith (2:00.12), and eighth Mackenzie McConagha (2:04.03)."

-------

UrsusArctosCalifornicus said:

---

Ayla Spitz will lead the charge (200 & 100 Free) in Division 1, whilst 2019 Emma Davidson (50 Free & 100 Breast) will race in Division 2.

---------

CALIFORNIA SOUTHERN SECTION SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS BEGIN ON WEDNESDAY

"This year, defending 100 free champion Ella Ristic, who is entered in the 100 and 200 free, will run in to a big challenger in the form of Newport Harbor's Ayla Spitz, who is the top seed in both races.

In the 100, Spitz is seeded at 48.63, and in the 200 free she's seeded at 1:45.02. In fact: the top 3 in those events are the exact same: Spitz, Foothill junior Samantha Pearson, and Ristic.

Last year, Pearson wo the 200 ahead of Spitz with Ristic 3rd, and Spitz won the 500. The latter making a shift to the 100 and 200 from the 200 and 500 puts 3 of the meet's biggest names on the girls side in direct competition."

---

Ayla Spitz (Newport Harbor) won both the 200 Free (1:45.38) & 100 Free (49.42) over Ella Ristic & Samantha Pearson in the Championship final just now @ the CIF-SS Division 1 meet.

Didn't quite hit her recent PBs (1:45.02 & 48.63, from April 2019)... brill wins all the same, and has another chance to surpass her lifetime bests before starting @ Cal, should Ayla opt for States next Fri & Sat...

• UPDATES ->

--------

@ CIF-CCS, 2019 Bear Dani Carter (Los Altos) won the 100 Fly in 54.29 (PB = 53.95 from Mar 2018).

Danielle was also the champion in the 100 Back, with a 54.21 (PB = 53.51 from Dec 2017).


@ CIF-SS Division 2, 2019 Bear Emma Davidson (Yorba Linda)'s 23.21 earned runner-up to 2019 Sapling Alex Crisera's 22.93 (Crisera's PB = 22.43) in the 50 Free sprint. Davidson's lifetime record = 22.95 in this event.

Emma took 2nd placing once again, this time in the 100 Breast with a 1:03.74, not far off her 1:03.56 best from March 2019.

--------

SANTA MARGARITA GIRLS POWER TO CIF-SS D1 WIN, LOYOLA BOYS SET RELAY RECORDS

"Division 1 in CIF's Southern Section is one of the fastest high school meets, and this meet, the freestyle talent on the girls' side really impressed.

The 200 free was a huge battle. Newport Harbor's Ayla Spitz went head-to-head with Santa Margarita's Ella Ristic, as the former beat the latter, 1:45.38 to 1:45.66. Foothill's Samantha Pearson was third in 1:47.13.

Those three were back for more in the 100 free, with Spitz again taking charge with a winning time of 49.42. Not far behind her, though, were Pearson (49.59) and Ristic (49.66)."

--------

UrsusArctosCalifornicus said:

---

@ CIF-CCS, 2019 Bear Dani Carter (Los Altos) won the 100 Fly in 54.29 (PB = 53.95 from Mar 2018).

Danielle was also the champion in the 100 Back, with a 54.21 (PB = 53.51 from Dec 2017).

@ CIF-SS Division 2, 2019 Bear Emma Davidson (Yorba Linda)'s 23.21 earned runner-up to 2019 Sapling Alex Crisera's 22.93 (Crisera's PB = 22.43) in the 50 Free sprint. Davidson's lifetime record = 22.95 in this event.

Emma took 2nd placing once again, this time in the 100 Breast with a 1:03.74, not far off her 1:03.56 best from March 2019.

---

Schroeder71 said:

---

https://d2o2figo6ddd0g.cloudfront.net/8/k/ixoqjl0s8fjbqf/2019_cif_state_swim_dive_championships_results_finals_sat_1col.pdf

Any other Cal recruits-girls or boys-that can be pointed out in the classes of 2019 and/or 2020?

---

Here are the results for a couple of our 2019 incoming CA froskis @ CIF State Champs over the weekend:
(note: Ayla Spitz didn't compete @ States, and Chloe Clark had already started classes @ Berkeley this semester)

Dani Carter - {Los Altos/PASA=> Cal}
-> 54.67 (PB = 53.51) earns the runner-up spot in the *100 Back* A final
-> 55.50 (PB = 53.95) which was good for 4th in the *100 Fly* B final

Emma Davidson - {Yorba Linda/Socal=> Cal}
-> 23.49 (PB = 22.95) for 5th in the *50 Free* B final
-> 1:04.44 (PB = 1:03.56) for 8th in the *100 breast* B final

---------

...several others from the 2019 HS class with notable performances that are worthy of a quick mention here:

#6 Zoie Hartman - {Monte Vista/Crow Canyon->UGA}
-> champion in the *200 IM* (1:55.29) & *100 Breast* (59.92) A finals.
Also contributed a 27.04 breast split on the *200 MR*, and a 48.38 anchor on the *400 FR*.

#17 Miranda Heckman - {Granada/Pleasanton Seahawks->UT...had visited Cal}
-> 1:46.22 lifetime best (old PB was 1:46.49) for 3rd in the *200 Free* A final
-> 4:46.81 (PB = 4:41.53) to finish 5th in the *500 Free* A final.


Reckon the Bruins are going to be very happy with their talented trio of incoming 2019 in-state freshies. Although unranked by SS in their last edition, all 3 are demonstrating tons of upside with relay value, and will be coming in just in time for UCLA, seeing that the entirety of the Bruins' scoring @ 2019 NCAAs came solely from a pair of seniors on the diving side.

1) Sophia Kosturos - {Miramonte/Crow Canyon->UCLA}
-> 52.94 meet record & lifetime best to win the *100 Back* A final (PB was 53.69)
-> 3rd in the *100 Fly* A final with a 53.94 (PB = 53.81).
Equally impressive was Sophia's A final relay contributions - starting with her 50 Back leadoff in the *200 MR*, the only leg to have thrown down a 24 sec split (24.79). Had also led off her *400 FR* squad with a 49.03 leg, which would have beaten 100 Free champion Ella Ristic's 49.24 in the individual event!

2) Brooke Schaffer - {Saint Francis MV/PASA->UCLA}
-> 49.35 (PB = 49.12) was good for runner-up in the *100 Free* A final
-> 22.76 (PB was 22.82) for 2nd in the *50 Free*.
Helped her school to the runner-up spot with a blistering 48.86 anchor in the *400 FR* (behind only Zoie Hartman's 48.38 anchor), as well as snagged a 3rd place in the *200 FR* with a 22.36 anchor, fastest of the field.

3) Daniella Hawkins - {San Ramon/Pleasanton Seahawks->UCLA...had shown an interest in Cal}
-> massive lifetime best of 4:45.88 (old PB was 4:47.49) to take 2nd in the *500 Free* A final
-> 1:49.85 (PB = 1:49.84) to win the *200 Free* B final

In the absence of a writeup from SS or SW (thus far) on *Night 1* finals at the 2019 Speedo Grand Challenge held in long course metres @ William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center, Irvine, the live meet results can be perused here:
[url=https://www.socalswim.org/live-results/2019GrandChallenge/][/url]https://www.socalswim.org/live-results/2019GrandChallenge/

*Day 1* Prelims were reported here earlier:
https://swimswam.com/47-year-old-steve-west-pops-104-99-100-br-lcm-at-nova-grand-challenge/

Anyway here are some results from the finals session for our incoming froskis (2019-2020 season) at this meet.

Ayla Spitz
-> #2, *200m IM* B final - 2:17.70 (best = 2:17.60 from 2017)
-> #3, *50m Free* C final - 26.54 PB (old best = 26.58 from 2018)

• UPDATE =>

-> #3, *200m Free* B final - 2:01.51 (best = 2:00.74 from 2018)
-> #3, *100m Fly* C final - 1:02.50 (best = 1:01.40 from 2018)
-> #4, *100m Back* B final - 1:03.38 (best = 1:02.44 from 2018)
-> #5, *100m Free* B final - 57.19 (best = 56.43 from 2018 Jr Nationals)

Ayla & Ella Ristic (2020 IU commit) upon earning their 1st Olympic Trials cuts
https://instagr.am/p/Bx6ApPiAXRp

Emma Davidson
-> #5, *100m Breast* C final - 1:14.70 (best = 1:13.00 from 2017)
-> ...had also raced the *50m Free*, *200m Free* & *100m Free*...

UrsusArctosCalifornicus said:

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If Denison's KT Kustritz is indeed transferring to Cal next semester, here's how her breaststroke times would compare to her potential future teammates...haven't included Dubs, Keeks or Alicia below as they aren't breast specialists per se:

*100 Breast* - 58.97 (Rajic), 59.52 (Harrison), 59.77 (Kustritz*), 1:01.43 (Buckley), 1:01.71 (Dilsaver**), 1:02.81 (Skorus-Neely), 1:03.13 (Tuck), 1:03.56 (Davidson)

*200 Breast* - 2:10.21 (Harrison), 2:10.47 (Rajic), 2:12.27 (Kustritz*), 2:13.20 (Buckley), 2:14.02 (Dilsaver**), 2:16.28 (Tuck), 2:17.78 (Skorus-Neely), 2:20.12 (Davidson)

FWIW (not much lol, since this isn't usually raced at the collegiate level), here are some stats for the *50 Breast* individual:

*50 Breast* - 27.89 (Rajic), 27.96 (Kustritz*), 30.75 (Harrison), 31.71 (Dilsaver**), 31.85 (Buckley), 33.30 (Davidson), 33.36 (Skorus-Neely), 36.20 (Tuck)

I'm not at all conversant with Division III Swimming & Diving, but it seems that Kustritz was a double national champion in the 100 & 200 Breast @ the 2019 & 2018 editions of NCAAs, plus repeat runner-up in the 200 IM.

Also laid down a 27.19 breast split on an NCAA D3 record-breaking 200 MR relay squad (for reference, Ema's split in this relay was a 27.28 @ 2019 NCAAs, whilst Abbey killed it with a 26.68 @ 2018 NCAAs, let's not forget Ali with her amazing 26.75 @ 2018 Pac-12s!), as well as contributing to Denison's 2nd place 400 MR, and anchoring their 3rd place 200 FR & 400 FR teams in 2019.

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Including (rumoured) Cal transfer Kustritz here, since she should be starting as a Bear this coming season, with a year of eligibility left:

KT Kustritz
-> #2, *100m Breast* B final - 1:11.89 (best = 1:10.95 from 2018)
-> #22, *100m Fly* prelims swim-off - 1:02.80 PB (old best = 1:14.33 from 2015)
-> #3, *200m Breast* C final - 2:41.91 (best = 2:40.26 from 2016)

• UPDATE ->

UrsusArctosCalifornicus said:

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UrsusArctosCalifornicus said:

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If Denison's KT Kustritz is indeed transferring to Cal next semester

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But then again, perhaps not lol...seems to be just a temporary arrangement (summer training), according to (my understanding of) this Swimswam writeup published today:

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DIII RECORD HOLDER KT KUSTRITZ SPENDING SUMMER TRAINING AT CAL

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UrsusArctosCalifornicus said:

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btw wouldn't mind also welcoming Eloise's fellow Aussie Abbey Webb (CS #34) to Bear Territory in Sept - Abbey currently lays claim to 50 / 100 / 200 Free lifetime bests of 22.58 (25.63 LCM) / 48.99 (55.32 LCM) / 1:46.54 (2:00.64 LCM) respectively...

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Looks like that ship has sailed already - Abbey Webb (CS #30 as of commit) -> Auburn Tigers

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• UPDATE ->

AUSSIE NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAMER ABBEY WEBB VERBALLY COMMITS TO AUBURN



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JARED ANDERSON/Swimswam said:

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TOP 20 NCAA SWIMMING RECRUITS IN THE GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2019

For the second year in a row, we've got a class really built around sprinters, and this class is more geared to the 50 than any before it.

All in all, this class still has its share of stars at the top, but it's going to be a weaker class than we've been accustomed to.

While Isabel Ivey's class-leading 200 IM is one of the best times we've seen in years, the rest of the class doesn't have a lot of huge IM prowess, especially not in the 400.


1. Isabel Ivey - Gator Swim Club - F.W. Buchholz High School - Gainesville, Florida **Verbally Committed to Cal**

Best Times: 200 free - 1:43.64, 100 free - 47.88, 50 free - 22.43, 200 IM - 1:55.77, 100 back - 52.27, 100 fly - 52.61, 200 fly - 1:56.48, 100 breast - 1:00.99, 400 IM - 4:12.08

Ivey is the definition of do-everything star - she is among the best in her class at all four strokes. Her 200 free time from Winter Juniors would have made the NCAA A final, and she's already in scoring territory in the 100 free and 200 IM. Whatever events Ivey ultimately specializes in, she should be a 4-5 relay factor in the NCAA post-season and has the stroke versatility to save a medley relay in several different ways.


12. Chloe Clark- Sierra Marlins Swim Team - Granite Bay High School - Granite Bay, CA **Verbally Committed to Cal**

Best Times: 200 IM - 1:57.32, 400 IM - 4:13.94, 100 back - 53.23, 200 back - 1:56.79, 50 free - 22.65, 100 free - 49.27

Clark is a very good IMer and backstroker with enough sprint free talent to round out a full college conference meet lineup. The downside is that most of her best times come from 2016, and she's been a bit off her mark since. Still, she's one of the best IM prospects in this class and a high-upside pickup if a college coach can return her to form.


20. Ayla Spitz - Irvine Novaquatics - Newport Harbor High School - Newport Beach, CA **Verbally committed to Cal**

Best Times: 200 IM - 1:58.68, 100 back - 53.46, 200 back - 1:57.27, 200 free - 1:46.41, 100 free - 49.29

Spitz finds herself on this list after a breakout winter of 2017. She had plateaued in her 200 IM since 2015, but blasted from a 2:03 to a 1:58 in December. In that same month, she cut from a 2:01 to a 1:57 in the 200 back, and she's also nearly dropped two seconds off her 200 free over the last year. Spitz, too, still has her high school championship season to come this spring.


HONORABLE MENTIONS

• Sarah DiMeco (Issaquah Swim Team / Skyline High School / Sammamish, WA) - an excellent mile (16:19) and a good 200/500 free (1:48/4:44), DiMeco is hurt by the NCAA's emphasis on sprinters. Her 200 fly and 400 IM are also very good, and it wouldn't be surprising to see her become the unranked star of this class. **Verbally committed to Cal**

• Rachel Klinker (Lexington Dolphins / Tates Creek Senior High School / Lexington, KY) - great at the 200 (1:46.0) but hasn't yet put that kind of performance together in adjacent events. (She's 49.9 in the 100 and 4:46 in the 500). Good miler, very good 200 flyer (1:57.9). **Verbally Committed to Cal**

TOP TIMES IN THE CLASS OF 2019

100 Free - Isabel Ivey - 47.88
200 Free - Isabel Ivey - 1:43.64
200 IM - Isabel Ivey - 1:55.77

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RE-RANK: TOP 20 GIRLS NCAA SWIMMING RECRUITS, CLASS OF 2019

Up top, we'll note that last year's #1 swimmer in this class, Izzy Ivey, graduated early and headed to Cal for the 2019 NCAA meet. Instead of comparing her times from Pac-12s and NCAAs (with a semester of college-level training under her belt) to the rest of the field's times from high school and club meets, we're opting to remove Ivey from these ranks. We're looking to profile which college swimmers have the best new incoming freshmen, and which programs will have the highest-ranked recruits in their training groups for the next four years.

With Ivey out of the picture, this class definitely takes a hit. Especially when you compare them to a pretty solid class of 2018 and a potentially-historic class of 2020. Still, there's talent to be found here it's just much more pooled in a couple key spots.


TOP TIMES IN THE CLASS OF 2019
200 Free | Ayla Spitz | 1:45.02


9. Ayla Spitz (Previous Rank: #20) Irvine Novaquatics - Newport Harbor High School Newport Beach, CA **Verbally committed to Cal**

Best Times: 200 free - 1:45.02, 100 free - 48.63, 50 free - 22.60, 100 back - 53.35, 200 back - 1:56.31, 100 fly - 53.54, 200 IM - 1:58.68

Spitz is the best 200 freestyler in this class at the moment, but she's got enough versatility that the 200 free may not even end up a part of her college lineup. She probably projects as a 50/100/200 freestyler and a key relay piece, but Spitz also has nice fly/back speed and a pretty good 200 IM. She rises 10 full spots in our ranks from last year because she's had solid time drops across the board, including a 1.4-second drop in that 200 free and a 1.2 second drop in the 100 fly. This isn't even Spitz's best 200 free, but you get a good sense of the strong kick she keeps behind her, plus some killer instinct to eke out a tight touchout. She'll be a nice fit on a Cal roster that has put together some great 800 free relays recently.


HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Chloe Clark (Previous Rank: #12) - Sierra Marlins Swim Team - Granite Bay High School - Granite Bay, CA **Verbally committed to Cal**

Best Times: 100 back - 53.21, 200 back - 1:56.79, 200 IM - 1:57.32, 400 IM - 4:13.94, 50 free - 22.65, 100 free - 49.27, 200 free - 1:49.78

A very versatile talent, Clark probably projects best as a backstroker (maybe because of Cal's long track record with backstrokers), but could also be a great IMer. She's got good enough sprint free times to be a valuable recruit, too, even though Cal is usually loaded - we don't rank these recruits on where they're going, but how fast they are, so Clark still registers relay value compared to other recruits in the class.


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UrsusArctosCalifornicus said:

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A beary warm welcome goes out to Eloise Riley from Oz!

CS Ranking as of verbal: #178 Nat

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Eloise Riley Signs With Golden Bears

Australian Sprinter Joins Cal's 2019-20 Recruiting Class

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Incoming 2019 Baby Bear Eloise Riley competed at the 2019 Hancock Prospecting Swimming Trials (aka 2019 Aussie World Champs Trials) in Brisbane a few days ago, here's how she had fared...

*100m Free*: 58.00 = #31 finish (PB = 57.83)

*50m Free*: 26.35 = #19 finish (PB = 25.90)

Eloise had very narrowly missed out on finals by just 0.11 sec in the *50m Free*.

Several 2019 & 2020 Baby Bears earned their places on the NISCA HS All-America lists that were announced today.

I have included some of the Top 30 names below...notably, incoming 2019 frosh Ayla Spitz sits atop of the field in 2 events - 100 & 200 Free:

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2018-19 NISCA Girls High School Swimming All-America

Place | Time | Swimmer

50 Yard Freestyle
8 | :22.60 | Ayla Spitz

100 Yard Freestyle
1 | :48.63 | Ayla Spitz
22 | :49.70 | Nicole Oliva

200 Yard Freestyle
1 | 1:45.02 | Ayla Spitz
14 | 1:46.98 | Sarah DiMeco
15 | 1:47.03 | Nicole Oliva

500 Yard Freestyle
4 | 4:46.03 | Nicole Oliva
13 | 4:48.08 | Sarah DiMeco

100 Yard Backstroke
6 | :52.63 | Tea Laughlin

200 Yard Individual Medley
27 | 2:00.23 | Tea Laughlin

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NISCA NAMES 2019-2020 HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMING ALL-AMERICANS

The 2019 National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (NISCA) High School All-America lists have been released,

The lists are littered with big names in the swimming world.

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Note: #1 to #4 yet to be published, but could be some permutation of UVa, UT, NCSU, IU??

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RANKING THE 2019 WOMEN'S NCAA RECRUITING CLASSES: #5-8


HONORABLE MENTIONS (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER): North Carolina Tar Heels, Minnesota Gophers, Arizona State Sun Devils, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

#12: MICHIGAN WOLVERINES

#11: STANFORD CARDINAL

#10: FLORIDA GATORS

#9: PRINCETON TIGERS

#8: UCLA BRUINS

#7: KENTUCKY WILDCATS

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#6: CAL GOLDEN BEARS

Top-tier additions: #9 Ayla Spitz (CA - multi), HM Chloe Clark (CA - multi), Rachel Klinker (KY - free/fly/IM), Sarah Dimeco (WA - free/fly/IM), Danielle Carter (CA - back), Ashlyn Fiorilli (TX - fly/IM)

The rest: Anna Kalandadze (PA - distance free), Eloise Riley (Australia - sprint free), Emma Davidson (CA - sprint free), Cassie Graham (MD - diver)

Having Isabel Ivey join Cal mid-year last season bumps this class down, but this one is still very stacked.

#9 Ayla Spitz is the top 200 freestyler in the incoming NCAA class at 1:45.02, though that's the only time of any of these incoming Bears that would've received an NCAA invite last year. Spitz is a jack of all trades: she has sprint free power (22.6/48.6) but can swim up to the 500 (4:45.9), she's a capable backstroker (24.8/53.3/1:56.3), a strong flyer (53.5), and, unsurprisingly, a solid IM'er (1:58.6/4:15.3). The talent is there, and she is a sniper of a 200 freestyler, giving her big relay potential and the malleability to develop across a multitude of disciplines.

HM Chloe Clark is also a versatile get, with her 1:57.3 in the 200 IM the most eye-popping of her times. She has also been 22.6/49.2 in the sprint free, 25.2/53.2/1:56.7 in the 100 back, 1:02.6 in the 100 breast, and 4:13 in the 400 IM. The concern is that these are all from 2017 or earlier, except for the 50/100 back times which are from May of 2018; this past season she was 49.7 in the 100 free and 54.2 in the 100 back. Plus, Clark started classes at Cal in January with Ivey, and while she wasn't racing with the team, she didn't have the same senior spring as most of these incoming swimmers.

The rest of this class is very distance-oriented, an influx of distance talent for a program that has been very lacking in that department (Robin Neumann swam up to the 500 and logged a 4:39 last season, but Cal didn't have a single swimmer race the mile once last year). Rachel Klinker and Sarah Dimeco (both HMs in the first rank) and Ashlyn Fiorilli are all excellent in distance free/200 fly/400 IM. Klinker has the most front-end speed (49.9/1:46.0/4:44.1 free, 1:56.9 fly, 4:16 IM), with Dimeco close behind but better in the longer races (1:46.9/4:44.2/16:09 free, 1:57.2 fly, 4:12 IM), and Fiorilli strongest in fly/IM (4:49/16:23 free, 1:57.2 fly, 4:15 IM).

Danielle Carter is a backstroker with lots of potential at 53.5/1:55.4, and Anna Kalandadze adds even more distance strength (1:48.3/4:46.2/16:23). On the other end of the spectrum are sprinters Emma Davidson (22.9/50.3) and Australian Eloise Riley (25.9/57.8 LCM), with Riley's 50 free especially intriguing.

Fast riser to watch: Spitz is on a hot streak, going lifetime bests in the 50/100/200 free and 100 fly in 2019, and in the 100/200 back at the end of 2018 (so, all this past season). 2019 also saw her break 23 in the 50 free for the first time in her career.

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#5: GEORGIA BULLDOGS


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Was a little surprised by Cal ranking "only" at #6. I understand the rationale, but feel like Cal (in these rankings, so not that they matter too much otherwise ) got dinged twice in SwimSwam designating Izzy as an "other" on the freshmen performance review after NCAAs and in now not attributing her as a part of this incoming freshman class.

Even beyond Ivey, thought that that the relative depth and breadth of this class would have landed the Bears higher ... though perhaps I'm looking at things through solely blue/gold-colored glasses!

I share much of your sentiments, having originally reckoned a #5 or even #4 ranking for our Baby Bears would have been a fair assessment - whilst, also confessing to a spot of subjectivity here lol

The depth & breadth arguments in favour of our froskis are all very pertinent - but perhaps the sobering fact that Ayla's the only Bear in this class presently boasting a time that qualifies for an NCAA invite may have something to do with SS' assessment? Chloe hasn't been near her PBs for a number of years, and Eloise is a bit of an unknown factor at this point.

In contrast, the (likely) schools who are ranked above Cal all have at least one relatively "big name" recruit and/or multiple NCAA potential invitees or even scorers:..

Regardless, am psyched for the potential of our incoming class - a diverse & interesting mix of talent, academics & personalities who I'm confident will fit in well with the team & school culture. Go Bears!

OTOH you won't find me quibbling much with Swimswam over their ranking of the 2019 Furdettes @ #11 (well, could ideally be even lower, I suppose ) haha. Bit of a refreshing change of pace if you ask me lol, esp after tiresome season after season of seeing LSJU's recruits more than solidly planted @ the #1 spot... :p

Did Cal miss on a breast stroker again in the class of 2019? Oh well-maybe the Bears are not meant to excel in that event. GO BEARS!

Schroeder71 said:

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Did Cal miss on a breast stroker again in the class of 2019? Oh well-maybe the Bears are not meant to excel in that event.

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2019 freshie Emma Davidson happens to be a developing sprint breaststroker, on top of her sprint frees

3 more seasons with Ema Rajic too, who after all was an A final scorer in the 100 Breast @ 2019 NCAAs as a froski (whilst much higher profile Furdette breast studs Zoe Bartel & Allie Raab didn't make it past prelims).

Ema had also contributed a key leg to Cal's pool record setting 400 MR National champions relay squad, and runner-up in the 200 MR.

Then there's Ali Harrison, who had helped Bears to a 3rd place finish in the 400 MR courtesy of her 58.89 breast split @ 2018 NCAAs...

Not to mention Alexa Buckley, Natalie Tuck, Alexa Skorus-Neely etc.

Abbey Weitzeil can always be called upon to throw down a mean sprint breast leg too (10th fastest ever on Cal's 100 Breast all-time list) - albeit Dubs' sprint free prowess would come in a quite a bit more handy than her moonlighting as a breast specialist haha.

Oh, did I forget the ever-versatile Izzy Ivey?

• UPDATE ->

Oops, had somehow neglected to mention that Ema does hold the all-time school record in the 100 Breast, only Bear to have ever broken the 59 sec barrier, and ahead of Olympic legend Caitlin Leverenz?!
https://calbears.com/documents/2019/3/25/WSD_all_time_top_10_list_03_25_19.pdf

Additionally, from an early April 2019 board post:

UrsusArctosCalifornicus said:

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our unranked Ema, who was the 4th highest scoring of the unranked freshies with her 11 points here (the other 3 above Rajic had only scored 1 or 2 pts more than Ema).

Had also outscored 15 of SwimSwam's Top 20 (and that's not counting the 3 redshirts/deferred enrollments), as well as being an essential component of a national title relay + a runner-up relay...

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