No. 9 Bears Visit UC San Diego
The No. 9 Cal women's swimming & diving team returns to the water Friday for a nonconference dual meet against UC San Diego at Canyonview Aquatic Center.
The Bears are back in action for the first time since winning their first two Pac-12 dual meets of the season in mid-October.
Cal has dominated its competition so far this fall. In addition to handily defeating Utah and Washington State in conference action, the Bears also won every event except one at the Chick-Fil-A Invitational at Fresno State and registered top times in each event at the Queen of the Pool at Cal Poly.
STADDEN'S STAR SHINES: Junior Isabelle Stadden has emerged as one of the top swimmers in the country. She began the season by being named Queen of the Pool at Cal Poly in September and then won multiple events at the Chick-Fil-A Invitational. Stadden was a four-time winner against Utah and set two pool records in the victory at Washington State. Last month, Stadden was named to the U.S. roster for next month's FINA World Championships in Melbourne, Australia, where she will compete in the 200 backstroke. Stadden won the title in the 200 back at last summer's Phillips 66 National Championships and was subsequently named to the 2022-23 U.S. National Team. Stadden also won the bronze medal in the 100 backstroke at the Phillips 66 National Championships.
GETTING RILED UP: 2021 NCAA champion Eloise Riley is off to a fast start during her senior year in Berkeley. A member of the Bears' national champion 200 freestyle relay team in 2021, Riley began the season by registering the top time in the 100 freestyle (50.09) at the Queen of the Pool at Cal Poly then helped the Bears win all three relay events at the Chick-Fil-A Invitational at Fresno State. Riley won the 100 and 200 free at Cal's Pac-12 opener against Utah and followed that up with victories in the 50 and 100 free at Washington State.
SPITZ SUCCESS: Senior Ayla Spitz has tasted victory several times this season, including a trio of wins at both the Chick-Fil-A Invitational and the Bears' dual meet at Washington State. An NCAA qualifier in each of the past three seasons, Spitz set a pool record at the Chick-Fil-A Invitational at Fresno State in the 500 freestyle event with a time of 4:49.86 while also winning the 200 free and anchoring Cal's winning 800 free relay team. Spitz also won the 200 free at Washington State and anchored both of the Bears' winning relay teams.
SCHOLARLY SWIMMERS: The Bears have been named a CSCAA Scholar All-America Team for 25 straight semesters. Last season, Cal had 14 student-athletes earn spots on the CSCAA Scholar All-America Team – 11 earned First Team accolades and three more were tabbed for the Second Team. Student-athletes who earned at least a 3.5 grade point average and participated at their national championship were named to the First Team. Those who had a 3.5 GPA and achieved a "B" time standard for their national championship or participated at a diving zone qualification meet were named to the Second Team.