Distance freestyler Anna Kalandadze, who has raced with Cal in her freshman season, has entered the NCAA transfer portal. She came to Cal from Pennsylvania, where she trained with Radnor Aquatic Club and Lower Moreland High School.
PRE-COLLEGE BESTS
- 200y free – 1:48.34
- 500y free – 4:46.25
- 1000y free – 9:56.61
- 1650y free – 16:24.31
BEST TIMES AT CAL
- 1000y free – 9:46.58 (split during mile)
- 1650y free – 16:12.01
- 200y breast – 2:18.69
Kalandadze had a big drop in the mile at the 2019 Minnesota Invitational, dropping over 12 seconds and setting a new personal best in the 1000 free in the process. She was also within a tenth of her 500 free time at that meet, clocking a 4:46.33, and she was 1:49.97 in the 200 free at that meet, too.
Kalandadze entered the portal prior to the Pac-12 Championships; however, her season-best ranks her 30th in the country, which would have earned her an NCAA invite.
Her last meet with Cal was the last meet the team contested, their dual against rivals Stanford.
Part of a strong freshman distance crew, Kalandadze holds the #2 mile time and #5 500 free time on the Cal roster this season. Cal has been very thin on distance of late (nobody raced the mile once for the Bears last year), but freshmen Rachel Klinker and Sarah Dimeco remain on the roster. Dimeco holds the top mile time this season for Cal (16:11.14) with Klinker third behind Kalandadze.
Sadly, Cal has taken her name off their roster…as if she wasn’t ever there. My personal take is that that isn’t very professional of Cal. But, I could be missing something as to why Teri/Cal chose to enact that change. Any thoughts on why a team/coach/school would remove someone’s name who was actually on the team for that season? Would be good to hear other perspectives and what I might be missing here. Thx
It’s pretty common practice to remove swimmers from the roster when they’re no longer on the team. There may be rules around it, not sure, but it’s what’s done.
Kind of related… did Alex Sumner ever swim at Yale? I can’t see her on the roster.
Good luck!
Why does every transfer from a major program have to have swim drama behind it? Maybe she’s an east coast kid who wants/needs to be closer to home? She obviously found swimming success in her distance events under Teri. Why go after the Cal program?
Best of luck to her finding continued success wherever she ends up!
My daughter moved up to Emeryville in September and has already left also. I don’t think Berkley is for everyone.
I agree with NOBODYFROMNOWHEREUSA’S comments. It seems some posters here have always have it in for Cal and Teri despite her numerous years of coaching success at Cal, and not to overlook the team’s high scholastic ratings at a university with very rigorous educational standards. Yes, Berkeley may not be for everyone, but there are numerous student athletes who switch schools as can be seen in NCAA Portal transfers lists.
Probably didn’t get selected to the NCAA team for point potential reasons
?? Cal only has around 14 potential qualifiers as of now. Definitely would be on the NCAA team.
I am leaving Cal for personal reasons. My decision was not based on the NCAA team roster and I wish them the best of luck.
Rock on Anna. You deserve to be happy. Piss off to stupid swim swam speculators.
Very professional and respectful reply, Anna…good for you! Wishing you all the best…and congrats on your stellar mile swim this season. Bodes well for wherever your heart takes you next. Swim fast and be happy! Take care –
10 bucks that she will be a badger 🦡
Paging Erik Posegay…
I agree. She’s headed to Madison, I think.
Another transfer outta cal. What’s going on over there?
Is it just me or have there been a statistically significant number of PA natives transferring out of Cal in recent years… Kalandadze, Cierra Runge, Alex Sumner…
I don’t see Whitley leaving Cal though but certainly interesting for the PA women at Cal!
Whitley is also coached by Dave Durden.
Certainly Interesting timing. Don’t kids usually transfer after the championship meets? This doesn’t look good for the Bears. Best of luck to Anna in the future.
Doesn’t make sense for Meaghan Byrnes to retire right before NCAAs, but she probably made a decision that is best for her.
I hear two teams on the east coast have strong distance training cores, as well as coaching staffs….
There are plenty of great distance hubs in NCAA