Stadden Named Queen Of The Pool

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Junior Isabelle Stadden, fresh off an eventful summer that included a win in the 200 backstroke at the Phillips 66 National Championships, was named Queen of the Pool at the Cal women's swimming & diving team's season-opener on Friday afternoon.

The event, which requires every swimmer to participate in the 100-yard version of five different strokes, is an annual competition between the Bears and Cal Poly to commence the season. The Queen of the Pool is the swimmer with the lowest combined time over the freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and individual medley.

Stadden's combined time of 4:39.05 was the second-lowest ever for a Cal women's swimmer at the event, trailing just Olympian Abbey Weitzel's 4:38.76 in 2019. Senior Ayla Spitz was the Bears' second-place finisher Friday with a combined time of 4:40.78.

Stadden had the Bears' best times in the 100 backstroke (52.82) and 100 individual medley (55.74). Sophomore McKenna Stone was Cal's top finisher in the 100 butterfly (54.75) while fellow sophomore Alicia Henry took top honors in the 100 breaststroke (1:02.34). Senior Eloise Riley took the Bears' top time in the 100 freestyle (50.09).

In addition to winning the Phillips 66 national championship in July, Stadden also picked up a bronze medal in the 100 backstroke at the same meet. Earlier this month, she was named to the U.S. National Team in the 100 and 200 backstroke events.

The Bears will be back on the road next week when they compete at the Chick-Fil-A Invite at Fresno State on Friday.