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Familiar rivals ready for ranked contest

MSWIM1/15/2025 12:40 PM | By: Cal Athletics

Familiar Rivals Ready For Ranked Contest

The No. 5 California men’s swimming & diving squad will host its inaugural home meet of the season against No. 16 USC at the Spieker Aquatics Complex in Berkeley this Friday. Coverage will be available through ACCNX/ESPN+ and on Meet Mobile.
 
FRIDAY, JAN. 17
Cal vs. USC |  1 P.M. PT | Spieker Aquatics Complex | Berkeley, Calif.
Live Stream: ACCNX/ESPN+
Live Results: Meet Mobile
                                                                                                              
LAST COMPETITION IN THE WATER
In their most recent appearance, Cal led the rankings at the completion of the four-day Minnesota Invitational, triumphing in 16 events and achieving a final team score of 2096. On the concluding day, the Bears secured five first-place finishes to seal a dominant victory. Matthew Chai triumphed in the 1,650-yard freestyle while Keaton Jones secured first place in the 200-yard backstroke. Destin Lasco clinched the top spot in the 100-yard freestyle and Yamato Okadome achieved his second win of the meet by capturing the 200-yard breaststroke. Cal concluded the meet by finishing first in the 400-yard freestyle relay.
 
IN THE RANKINGS
According to the latest CSCAA Top-25 Poll published on Dec. 19, the Bears ranked No. 5 (316). The top five included No. 1 Texas (375), No. 2 Indiana (346),  No. 3 Arizona State (342) and No. 4 Florida (335).
 
REWRITING THE RECORD BOOKS
Thus far this season, eight distinct Bears have made their place on the program’s all-time top-10 list. Gabriel Jett has recorded top 10 times in two events – he ranks third in the 100-yard backstroke (44.54) while tying for fifth in the 200-yard backstroke (1.38.31). Evan Petty is positioned seventh in the 100-yard backstroke (44.97). Having an outstanding freshman season, Yamato Okadome sits fourth in the 100-yard breaststroke (50.87) and tenth in the 200-yard breaststroke (1.52.40). Hank Rivers and Luca Pusateri Gissendaner appear in the 100-yard breaststroke rankings – Rivers is tied for eighth (51.63) and Gissendaner is tenth (51.80). Humberto Najera currently secures ninth in the 400-yard individual medley (3:41.25) while Jack Clark holds seventh in the 3-meter dive (327.15).
 
WEEKLY ACCOLADES
On Nov. 11, Thai became the first Bear to receive an ACC weekly honor by being named the conference’s men’s diver of the week after an impressive season opener in the tri-meet against Arizona State and Stanford. He participated in two events – topping the three-meter dive with a score of 343.80 while finishing third in the one-meter dive with a score of 295.70.
 
BRINGING HOME THE MEDALS
Two current Cal swimmers returned to Berkeley after multiple podium finishes at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships (25m) held in Budapest, Hungary, last month. Jack Alexy collected a total of five medals while breaking records in the process. Alexy assisted Team USA in setting a world record in the 4x100m freestyle relay with a time of 3:01.66 en route to gold. His 45.05 split established an American and championship record. Alexy earned his second gold medal in the 100m freestyle with a time of 45.38 while securing bronze in the 50m freestyle with a time of 20.61. Along with Dare Rose, Alexy contributed to the Team USA’s silver in both the 4x100m mixed medley relay (3:30.55) and the 4×100 medley relay (3.19.03).
 
STRIVING FOR GOLD

A total of 11 current and former Cal swimmers secured their spots for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, while Director of Swimming & Diving David Durden was appointed assistant coach for the United States, marking his third appearance on the coaching staff for the U.S. Jack Alexy and Hunter Armstrong, who is part of California’s postgraduate training group, earned gold medals as part of the United States men’s 4×100-meter freestyle relay team. Cal alum Ryan Murphy received gold in the 4×100 mixed medley relay and bronze in the 100-meter backstroke. Murphy, Armstrong, and Alexy brought home the silver medal in the 4×100 men’s medley relay. Brooks Curry, also a member of California’s postgraduate training group, secured silver in the 4×200 freestyle relay.
 
U.S. NATIONAL TEAM
USA Swimming released the 2024-2025 U.S National Team roster last month, including nine current and former Cal swimmers. The current Golden Bears selected are Jack Alexy, Dare Rose, Keaton Jones, and Destin Lasco. Former Bears include Hunter Armstrong, Liam Bell, Brooks Curry, Trenton Julian, and Ryan Murphy.
 
STAY INFORMED
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