2025 and 2026 NCAA qualifier Michel Arkhangelskiy has announced he will transfer from Florida State to Cal. He just finished his sophomore season and has two years of eligibility remaining.
“New Chapter. Same Drive.
I’m incredibly honored to announce that I’m continuing my journey at UC Berkeley.
Joining one of the world’s premier institutions is a challenge I’ve worked hard to earn, and I couldn’t be more excited to get started.
My time at Florida State University has been invaluable, and I’m deeply grateful for the experiences and people there. Now, it’s time to raise the bar and see what’s possible at the next level.
Go Bears! 🐻”
Arkhangelskiy arrived in Florida from France where he has been living as a political refugee since 2009 and quickly made the adjustment to short course yards.
During his freshman season with Florida State, Arkhangelskiy swam to an individual conference title at the 2025 ACC Championships in the 100 backstroke with a 44.49. He also swam to a runner up finish in the 100 fly with a 44.36 and notably split a 43.33 100 fly on Florida State’s 400 medley relay. He scored a total of 80 individual points at 2025 ACCs.
He went on to score four individual points at the 2025 NCAA Championships as he finaled in both the 100 back and 100 fly. He swam to a 14th place finish in the 100 fly with a 44.77 and a 45.05 for 16th in the 100 back. He also swam on four relays for Florida State, including their 200 medley relay that finished 7th with a 19.10 fly leg.
He scored 26 individual points at the 2026 ACC Championships and was highlighted by a 4th place finish in the 100 fly with a 44.79. He also swam prelims only of the 100 back (19th) and also was 27th in the 100 free.
The sophomore concluded his season at the 2026 NCAA Championships, finishing 40th in the 100 fly (46.41) and 41st in the 100 free (43.33). He also swam on Florida State’s 200 medley relay that was 15th (19.67 fly split) and the 200 free relay that was 18th (19.01 flying start).
Arkhangelskiy’s Best SCY Times Are:
- 100 back: 44.49 (2025 ACCs)
- 100 fly: 44.36 (2025 ACCs)
- 50 free: 18.82 (2025 NCAAs)
- 100 free: 41.68 (2025 ACCs)
The Cal men finished 7th at the 2026 NCAA Championships and captured the 2026 ACC team title. Florida State was 6th at ACCs and 25th at 2026 NCAAs. Breaststroker Yamato Okadome led the team at both meets with ACC and NCAA titles in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes.
Arkhangelskiy’s best time of a 44.49 in the 100 back would have been 2nd on Cal’s roster this past season only behind Evan Petty who swam a 44.21 to win the 2026 ACC title. His time of a 44.36 would have led the team in the 100 fly as Casper Puggaard led the team with a 45.26. Arkhangelskiy is also a strong relay boost for the Golden Bears and brings potential to be on their medley as well as free relays.
Arkhangelskiy most recently announced he will represent Bahrain at the international level. Although he will represent Bahrain, he is the latest swimmer to have trained in France to join Cal. Nans Mazellier just finished his sophomore season with the men’s team while Mary-Ambre Moluh and Lilou Ressencourt are from France on the women’s side.
Was he ill at NCAAs this year? That’s the only way his times make sense.
College swimming at the highest level is more about recruiting than developing. And that’s a good thing! Congrats to all transfers and their new schools.
How is it a good thing?
Do you think D1 football and basketball are more about coaching or recruiting?
always has been
His Soph year looks a lot weaker than his freshman year. Maybe that is why he wants to transfer
Somewhat off-topic question: who the hell is UVA getting in the portal on the men’s side at this point? It’s not Abdalla Nasr, or Jacob Johnson (as previously rumored), or Koch, or Arkhangelskiy. But given the number of gorilla posts referring to this fall, UVA should be getting two transfers … who’s left?
I guess Nick Simons hasn’t made any statements yet, and UVA might (?) look attractive for a backstroker given the training with King and possibly Aikins if he’s not done. Glivinsky and Evan Bailey just went in; it’s hard to imagine they’ve committed somewhere already.
The tone is so much different for cal transfers. Texas is always “mercenaries” but when cal does it, it’s a “great pick up”. Cracks me up.
That’s partially driven by just the nature of the individuals who dislike Texas vs those who dislike Cal. It’s not a big enough sample size to be a trend.
But let’s chase the squirrel anyway. I feel like Texas has had way more transfers in than Texas, especially impact transfers in, during the NIL era? I’ll try and find some time to count later unless you want to.
I’ll try in a bit. Need to sign off for now. You very well could be spot on.
Off the top of my head, the only real “impact” transfer that I can think of in recent years (post 2020) for Cal are Liam Bell and Hugo Gonzalez. Of course you also have international guys like Henveaux and Tomac, but that’s not really a transfer in the traditional sense. And also some guys that were on relays/picked up a couple points like Moraes this year and Applebaum last year.
Whereas Texas is Kos, Mauer, Nelson, and Guiliano all within the past couple of years. McKean/Glivinsky were flips so not quite the same thing. Alvin Jiang if you’re going back to 2020, but that’s pre-Bowman.
Heneveaux and Tomac may qualify as “mercenaries” (along with Wiffen) since they were just kind of brought in for a semester or whatever.
Henveaux and Tomac are fair. Idk if Wiffen counts considering he scored like one point lol
Think they expected more points from Wiffen
I don’t think you’re wrong but I also think it’s different when you’re talking about the #1 team versus a team that’s clearly fallen in the rankings. I used to hate Cal but now I can’t help but root for them to get back to the top
Bowman has been much more cavalier about cutting swimmers to clear roster space for better swimmers. Granted, SEC has fewer spots, but some of the guys cut are not much slower than their replacements, and last year didn’t even get to finish their season. Then there’s the whole “Bowman shafting his Cinderella Story ASU program” narrative. Also, grabbing swimmers who committed elsewhere before they matriculate – Hammer, McKean, Glivinsky, Masiuk. Eddie Reese inspired loyalty; Bowman just wins.
Now Cal may some tough choices ahead, but the only male out transfer I can recall is Shackell. People genuinely seem to love swimming for Cal; almost everyone who had the chance stayed for a fifth year. It feels a little less… Read more »
Wiffen has vacated Berkeley.
When you can’t develop, import! A playbook as old as time….
Ironic from a UVA fan, considering you just “imported” a 3x A finalist from the Cal women’s team.
I guess that snarky adage doesn’t apply to you?
I know you’re just trying to be clever, but UVA built their dynasty by developing talent. Swing and a miss
Right… totally different than Cal men’s dynasty over 15 years led by the likes of Seliskar, Hoffer, Murphy, Lasco, Alexy, Jett, Mefford, Carr, Julian, etc. all of whom they imported.
Oh, wait…
UVA fanbase putting in WORK
I’m here for a Cal/UVA rivalry, I just never thought that rivalry would be an interconference once.
Ha, reading your comment reminded me of the dig Durden took at ACCs with the Savage 7. This really might be the newest NCAA Swimmign rivalry
Exactly. So Durden can troll UVA but we can’t troll him back?
what did he say?
As a Texas fan are you 100% certain this is a conversation you wanna butt in on?
???
Stack up the worst UVA fans and the worst Texas fans (me and Mike in Dallas) and let’s see who comes out on top.
Lol as the EIC of SwimSwam let me tell you that comparing worst fans to worst fans, everybody loses. Every school has a couple of truly awful fans.
Some just have a couple. For others it’s a culture.
Can’t argue with any of that. I like Cal and I’m not happy O’Dell left, but accusing UVA of winning bc they’re just buying swimmers doesn’t land for me
Lol, you need to work on your reading comprehension then because that’s not what I did.
Neither program is winning because they’re buying swimmers. I’m pointing out blatant hypocrisy.
I would think that you’d be in a better mood considering how big of a pickup this is for the men’s team
Still salty about Teagan and these UVA trolls, my b.
You’re literally trying to argue with a troll lmao
Successfully
Hoffer developed after HS?
Was he very good in high school? Yes. But he still went from a 19.06 sprinter to an 18.3 sprinter at Cal. 41.2 in the 100 free to 40.8. 45.4 in the 100 fly to 44.2.
Feels like development to me.
Not really on the men’s side.
Congrats to Michel on the next part of his journey. Also see he has a 1:38.50 200 back time….if the schedule of events does not change, perhaps that’s a day 4 event for him – over 100 free like this year?
Dead last in both events at ncaas, hopefully he will come back stronger next year!
Especially considering he’s going to Backstroke U