Cheers, HBear!

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Senior Andrew Seliskar has the top time in the country in three different events this season.

Bears Look For NCAA Title In Austin

Cal To Send 16 Student-Athletes To Championships

2019 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
MARCH 27-30 | PRELIMS 8 A.M.; FINALS 4 P.M. (PT) | LEE & JOE JAMAIL TEXAS SWIMMING CENTER | AUSTIN, TEXAS
LIVE VIDEO (PRELIMS) | LIVE VIDEO (FINALS) | LIVE RESULTS (SWIMMING) | LIVE RESULTS (DIVING)


THE NCAA CONTINGENT

Fourteen swimmers and two divers will compete in Austin as part of the Bears' NCAA crew. The following is a complete list, with swims seeded in the top-16 nationally noted in parentheses:

• Karl Arvidsson 200 breaststroke (9)
• Connor Callahan 1-meter, 3-meter and platform diving
• Daniel Carr 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke (7)
• Sean Grieshop 500 freestyle, 400 individual medley (9)
• Ryan Hoffer 50 freestyle (7), 100 freestyle, 100 butterfly
• Michael Jensen 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle (11)
• Trenton Julian 500 freestyle and 200 butterfly
• Bryce Mefford 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke (5)
• Nick Norman 500 freestyle and 1,650 freestyle (6)
• Zheng Wen Quah 200 individual medley, 100 butterfly (7) and 200 butterfly (2)
• Johnny Robinson platform diving
• Carson Sand 100 breaststroke
• Andrew Seliskar 200 individual medley (1), 200 freestyle (1), 200 breaststroke (1)
• Pawel Sendyk 50 freestyle (3), 100 freestyle (8), 100 butterfly (13)
• Mike Thomas 200 individual medley (14), 400 individual medley (2), 200 butterfly (11)
• Reece Whitley 100 breaststroke (4), 200 breaststroke (3)

HOW TO FOLLOW

All preliminary rounds will be streamed live by texassports.com. All finals will air on ESPN3. Links to both can be found on CalBears.com

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Stanford freshman Jack LeVant announced today on Instagram that he would not be attending next week's NCAA Division I Men's Swimming & Diving Championships due to "unforeseen medical conditions."
The post states,

Quote:

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Hello all,
Due to some unforeseen medical complications, I will not be competing at NCAA's this year. I love my Stanford family with my entire heart and soul, and I cannot thank you all enough for the support. Life is full of setbacks, and this is just one of those moments. Hopefully my recovery will be swift, and I will be back to representing Stanford again soon. Best of luck to everyone competing, and like always Go Card!

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LeVant was seeded 12th in the 500 free and 7th in the 200 free and would've scored 17 individual points if he'd held those seeds. He also was likely to be a key piece of Stanford's relays. At Pac-12s, he split 23.48 on the breast leg of the 200 medley relay, despite not being known primarily as a breaststroker, had the fastest split (1:33.04) on the 800 free relay, anchored the 400 medley relay in 42.69, and also split 42.89 on the 400 free relay.

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OBear073akaSMFan said:

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Quote:

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Stanford freshman Jack LeVant announced today on Instagram that he would not be attending next week's NCAA Division I Men's Swimming & Diving Championships due to "unforeseen medical conditions."
The post states,

Quote:

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Hello all,
Due to some unforeseen medical complications, I will not be competing at NCAA's this year. I love my Stanford family with my entire heart and soul, and I cannot thank you all enough for the support. Life is full of setbacks, and this is just one of those moments. Hopefully my recovery will be swift, and I will be back to representing Stanford again soon. Best of luck to everyone competing, and like always Go Card!

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LeVant was seeded 12th in the 500 free and 7th in the 200 free and would've scored 17 individual points if he'd held those seeds. He also was likely to be a key piece of Stanford's relays. At Pac-12s, he split 23.48 on the breast leg of the 200 medley relay, despite not being known primarily as a breaststroker, had the fastest split (1:33.04) on the 800 free relay, anchored the 400 medley relay in 42.69, and also split 42.89 on the 400 free relay.

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Hopefully LeVant is OK for the long haul. He, Liang, and Roy (all underclassmen) were the only 'furdies who even bothered to compete in Spieker. Rest of the team went into the tank after Shoults got injured.

Periodically updating the previews index with SwimSwam's pick for each event, both relay and individual, constantly reminds me of how impressed I am with the depth of the Bears as a top-to-bottom team. The fact that so many other teams, this year and in recent seasons (Florida, Texas, IU, NC State, LSJU, etc.), have "clearer" winners or top-end talent but Cal has both studs and less-heralded talent for consistent depth, scoring chops, and firepower speaks to the legacy that Dave, Yuri/Chase, and the Bros build. Go Bears!

Looking at the stats of last year and this year, it seems Sendyk and Hoffer should swap position in 200 medley relay lineup at pac-12. Hoffer is a better flyer and also better relay swimmer. Maybe he likes to swim the anchor leg better.

solobear said:

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Looking at the stats of last year and this year, it seems Sendyk and Hoffer should swap position in 200 medley relay lineup at pac-12. Hoffer is a better flyer and also better relay swimmer. Maybe he likes to swim the anchor leg better.

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Oddly, Cal's current season's best time in the 200 medley relay 1:23.42 was recorded at the Georgia Invite, swam by Carr, Whitley, Sendyk and Jensen. Hoffer swam anchor at Pac 12s, but Carr and Whitley added time, and Cal posted a winning 1:23.44. We don't know about Whitley's taper at this level, but based on last year I am reasonably confident that Carr will have a nice drop at NCAAs, and Hoffer is a taper beast. If he swims the fly as he did last year at NCAAs, his fly leg likely beats Sendyk (or Quah who currently is our top 100 flyer) but I am guessing that Hoffer's anchor trumps the fly time differential. Hoffer posted a 200 MR anchor leg of 18.86 at last year's Pac 12s before dropping an 18.25 200 MR free split at NCAAs. This year his free split was 18.60 at Pac 12s. Can he drop a sub 18.2 ? Swimswam thinks Cal's chances here rest on the breast leg.

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Swimming World's Predictions for the 2019 Men's NCAAs: Part One



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Swimming World's Predictions for the 2019 Men's NCAAs: Part Two



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Bears Look for NCAA Title in Austin

The Cal men's swimming and diving team has its eye on the ultimate prize as it heads to Austin, Texas for the 2019 NCAA Championships. The meet begins Wednesday at the Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center with the 800 freestyle relay and continues through Saturday.

The Bears, who won three out of four national championships between 2011 and 2014, have finished in second place in each of the past four seasons. With a deep, experienced and talented group of 16 student-athletes heading to Austin this season, Cal appears poised to make a run at the top spot once again.

Go Bears!

Today's the day for the start with the 800 relay tonight. Can't wait for the start. The summary of the swimswam's projection.

1. Texas
2. NC state
3. Indiana
5. Florida
6. Cal
7. Missouri
8. Michigan

Most likely Cal swimmers

Quote:

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Cal has one of the best individual swimmers in the field in Andrew Seliskar he won a U.S. national title in long course this summer and this season has gone 1:30-point both from a flat start and a relay start. There's a real chance he leads off in 1:29, putting Cal out in open water, much the way Pieroni did for Indiana last year. Cal returns 1:33.8 split Zheng Quah (who was already faster than that from a flat start at Pac-12s) and should swap out a couple of disappointing legs from last year. Sophomores Trenton Julian and Bryce Mefford are rising fast. Julian went a lifetime-best 1:34.1 at Pac-12s. Mefford has been as fast as 1:32.9 individually.

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Good luck Bears and Go Bears!

Yasss, let's go Bears!

https://instagr.am/p/BvheV5hFDwT

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And from the team's Big Bros... (alright, there may be a Horn or two in the bottom photo, but heck, nothing's ever perfect yer know )

https://instagr.am/p/Bvg6L3olq_a

https://instagr.am/p/BvhNvDDFkrX

Dean Farris went 1:29.1... breaks Haas' AR, I believe?

Seli responds with a 42.9 opening 100 leading off.. splits 1:30.14

BEARS take 3rd!

Seli, Bryce (1:32.57), Trenton (1:31.74), Mike Thomas (1:32.86), Impressive split by Trenton!

New school record for Seli in 200 free and for Bears in 800 relay (6:07.31)?? Third place finish for night 1. Go team!

Edit: 800 relay also under the former American record (6:07.59).

Results for the night:
Event 1 Men 800 Yard Freestyle Relay
==================================================================================
NCAA: N 6:05.31 21-Mar-18 NC State
A Vazaios, R Held, J Molacek, J Ress
Meet: M 6:05.31 21-Mar-18 NC State
A Vazaios, R Held, J Molacek, J Ress
American: A 6:07.59 21-Mar-18 Texas
T Haas, J Newkirk, J Roberts, A Katz
U. S. Open: O 6:05.31 21-Mar-18 NC State
A Vazaios, R Held, J Molacek, J Ress
Pool: P 6:10.55 27-Feb-08 Texas
Walters, McGinnis, Klueh, Berens
School Seed Finals Points
==================================================================================
1 Texas 6:11.84 6:05.08N 40
1) Kibler, Drew FR 2) r:0.18 Katz, Austin SO
3) r:0.34 Newkirk, Jeff SR 4) r:0.17 Haas, Townley SR
r:+0.61 20.56 43.59 (43.59)
1:07.38 (1:07.38) 1:32.06 (1:32.06)
1:53.06 (21.00) 2:16.15 (44.09)
2:39.73 (1:07.67) 3:03.51 (1:31.45)
3:24.74 (21.23) 3:47.65 (44.14)
4:11.31 (1:07.80) 4:35.42 (1:31.91)
4:55.43 (20.01) 5:17.81 (42.39)
5:40.98 (1:05.56) 6:05.08 (1:29.66)

2 NC State 6:16.48 6:06.63P 34
1) Vazaios, Andreas SR 2) r:0.16 Stewart, Coleman JR
3) r:0.21 Molacek, Jacob SR 4) r:0.25 Ress, Justin SR
r:+0.70 21.87 45.00 (45.00)
1:08.37 (1:08.37) 1:32.22 (1:32.22)
1:52.48 (20.26) 2:14.94 (42.72)
2:38.17 (1:05.95) 3:02.83 (1:30.61)
3:22.98 (20.15) 3:45.91 (43.08)
4:10.03 (1:07.20) 4:34.74 (1:31.91)
4:55.18 (20.44) 5:18.36 (43.62)
5:42.25 (1:07.51) 6:06.63 (1:31.89)

3 California 6:10.94 6:07.31A 32
1) Seliskar, Andrew SR 2) r:0.32 Mefford, Bryce SO
3) r:0.19 Julian, Trenton SO 4) r:0.20 Thomas, Mike SR
r:+0.61 20.49 43.00 (43.00)
1:06.11 (1:06.11) 1:30.14 (1:30.14)
1:50.75 (20.61) 2:13.77 (43.63)
2:37.66 (1:07.52) 3:02.71 (1:32.57)
3:23.61 (20.90) 3:46.90 (44.19)
4:10.59 (1:07.88) 4:34.45 (1:31.74)
4:55.18 (20.73) 5:18.31 (43.86)
5:42.50 (1:08.05) 6:07.31 (1:32.86)

New AR for Farris, new AR for Texas team, but great splits for the Bears. (Sneaky fast swim from Julian too IMO.) Go Bears!

Mefford slowed down quite a bit in his last 25 of the 200,
but he'll have to swim 200 fr & 100 bk double on Fri,
which is even more taxing.

Fast swim by the Bears with Mefford taking Quah's leg from the Pac 12 line-up. Julian had a quick time, but I believe he is swimming the 400 IM instead of the 200 Free on Friday.
Texas had their expected massive drop from their 8th seed time and look ready to defend. In addition to Farris' record swim, Haas' killer anchor and Seli's fine effort, other notable splits included Coleman Stewart's 1:30.61 for the Pack and local boy Max Rooney's 1:31.6. But Farris (100 back), Rooney (100 fly)and Stewart (100 back) are joining Trenton in skipping the 200 Free. Weird.

Cal's 800 free relay broke the school record in the opening race of the 2019 NCAA Championships.

1 Race, 2 Records

Andrew Seliskar Breaks Cal Mark In 200 Free As Bears Set School Record In 800 Free Relay

• Results

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200 free relay:

Cal takes top seed going into tonight's finals, 1:14.72.
Splits: Sendyk (18.89), Hoffer (18.6), Jensen (18.7), Seliskar (18.53) (note: Pawel's split the fastest lead-off of the morning.)

Rest of heat: NC State, Texas, Indiana, Alabama, FSU, Harvard, OSU

USC, Florida, Stanford all squeezing into a second swim tonight with 14th, 15th, and 16th places respectively.

HBear said:

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200 free relay:

Cal takes top seed going into tonight's finals, 1:14.72.
Splits: Sendyk (18.89), Hoffer (18.6), Jensen (18.7), Seliskar (18.53) (note: Pawel's split the fastest lead-off of the morning.)

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That 1:14.72 prelims swim is now #2 on Cal's All-Time Top 10!

The school record is the 2018 NCAA finals time of 1:14.56 by the 3rd placed squad comprising of Lynch (19.05), Pawel Sendyk (18.56), Hoffer (18.36), Jensen (18.59).

HBear said:

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USC, Florida, Stanford all squeezing into a second swim tonight with 14th, 15th, and 16th places respectively.

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On a bit of a side note, LSJU would not have made finals in this relay if Grand Canyon hadn't DQ'ed, Had placed 6th in the A final last year. And @ the 800 Free relay last night, Stanford placed 15th, compared to 8th the year before.

New PB by Grieshop in the 500 fr prelims?

500 free:
Texas: 1 up/0 down (Haas top seed)
Cal: 1 up/1 down (Grieshop second, Julian ninth ... B final by 0.01), Norman second alternate

Grieshop 4:11.11, looks like a PB by nearly two seconds (4:12.93 from last year's NCAAs). Nice first individual event for the Bears!

Big PB from Carr too in the 200 IM!

1:42.35
(prev best = 1:43.93 from 2019 Pac-12s)

Currently good for #6 on Cal's Top 10!

UPDATES:

Thomas' 1:42.57 is a lifetime best for him too.

SELI!!! 1:39.90 = Pool record + PB (old = 1:40.40 @ 2018 NCAAs) + School record (overtakes Prenot's 1:40.14 from 2016) + 4th fastest performer/performance ever!

1:39.90 for Seli!!

200 IM:
Texas: 1 up/1 down
Cal: 1 up/2 down (Zheng Quah first alternate.... my nerves are getting to me already).

HBear said:

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1:39.90 for Seli!!

200 IM:
Texas: 1 up/0 down
Cal: 1 up/2 down (Zheng Quah first alternate.... my nerves are getting to me already).

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Unfortunately Texas 1/1 . Yes drats on Zheng. Need those points against Texas Divers!

Pool record for Pawel, 18.66. Nice!

50 Free

Sendyk's 18.66 = new PB (formerly 18.83 @ 2019 Pac-12s) & Pool record!

Jensen close to his PB too.

Not to be outdone, Hoffer busts out a 18.58 to break Pawel's newly-minted pool record, wow!

18.58 for Hoffer!! (Takes down Sendyk's very young pool record).

50 free:
Texas: 1 up/1 down
Cal: 2 up/1 down

Hoffer's 18.58 finally takes down his personal record of 18.71 from HS (2016). Is a new school record to boot!

Sendyk now shares the #2 spot on the school records with Adrian - not too shabby company, eh?

I think I saw Hoffer talking some smack to the Texas cheering section right after his race. He gave them the "call me" sign. He also flexed for them once he hopped out of the pool. It looks like Cal is not being shy about letting Texas know we're coming for them.

Go Hoffer! Didn't realize his time was a new school record -- happy for him to have a breakthrough after a still-solid freshman year (PRs are hard to come by when you're a blue-chip recruit doing crazy things as a high schooler... I'm sure Abbey can attest!).

400 MR: Cal second in the heat with a 3:04.48, sandwiched between Mizzou and Georgia.

Our turn -- Bears sneak into A-final at 7th, prelims line-up of Mefford, Sand, Quah, Jensen.

Top links from morning:



Andrew Seliskar Becomes 5th Man Ever to Break 1:40 in 200 IM

Becomes fourth-fastest performer in history (back of Dressel, Nolan, Switkowski) with the fourth-best performance. Go Seli! Knock 'em dead tonight.

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2019 M. NCAA CHAMPS: CAL'S HOFFER AND SENDYK POST TOP TEN 50 FREE TIMES

Hoffer now at fifth-best performer of all time and Sendyk tied for eighth with Nathan.