Reigning Champs Stanford Dominate 2019 Runner-Up Cal in Final Dual Meet of 2020

CAL vs. STANFORD

  • February 15, 2020
  • Hosted by Stanford
  • Short Course Yards
  • Full Results

TEAM SCORES

  • STANFORD: 193
  • CAL: 104

In a highly anticipated dual meet against 2019 runner-up Cal, the reigning NCAA Champion Stanford women were dominant. The Cardinal won by 89 points as they celebrated senior day, completing an undefeated season and handing the Bears their only season loss. One of the seniors honored was Katie Drabot, who won a close battle in the 200 fly, 1:55.79 to 1:55.99, with fellow senior Allie Szekely. Later winning a race of her own, Szekely ut up a 1:56.80 in the 200 IM.

Drabot also finished 2nd in the 100 fly, as Cal’s Isabel Ivey got her hands to the wall first in 53.06 to Drabot’s 53.23. Stanford freshman Alexandra Crisera battled Ivey in the 100 back. Crisera edged out Ivey on the back half, winning in 52.70 as Ivey followed in 53.16. Senior Erin Voss was a nail behind in 53.16, and went on to win the 200 back for Stanford in 1:53.15.

Lauren Pitzer swept her individual event, outpacing Cal’s Robin Neumann (1:47.58) on the back-half to out-touch her at the finish in 1:47.50. She later dominate the 500 free in 4:45.37.

Sprint star Abbey Weitzeil has been a consistent bright spot for the Golden Bears. This was her final dual meet, and she came up with yet another sprint sweep. Weitzeil took the 50 free in 21.89 and the 100 free in 47.97, setting a new Pool Record in the 50. She also anchored the free relays with 50 splits of 21.05 and 21.33.

Notably, Stanford’s Brooke Forde, the reigning NCAA Champion in the 500 free, returned this weekend for the Cardinal after missing the USC and UCLA meets last weekend. She placed 3rd in the 1000 free (10:01.32) and 2nd in the 200 breast (2:13.75).

PRESS RELEASE – STANFORD

STANFORD, CALIF. – No. 5 Stanford upset No. 2 Cal 193-104 on Senior Day at Avery Aquatic Center to improve to 7-0 overall and 6-0 in the Pac-12. Stanford won 12-of-16 events against the Golden Bears.

The Cardinal has now won 37 consecutive dual meets, and remains undefeated heading into Pac-12 Championships.

Before the meet began, Stanford honored its five seniors, Megan ByrnesKatie DrabotBrooke StenstromAllie Szekely, and Erin Voss.

The Cardinal won the first six events of the day. To start the meet, Stanford’s team of Alex CriseraAllie RaabAmalie Fackenthal and Lauren Green won the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:38.69.

Byrnes (9:35.15), Morgan Tankersley (9:54.15) and Brooke Forde (10:01.32) swept the podium in the 1000-yard freestyle, followed by Lauren Pitzer (1:47.50) claiming first in the 200-yard freestyle by 0.008 seconds, and Crisera (52.70) winning the 100-yard backstroke.

Raab (1:00.67), Grace Zhao (1:02.10), and Zoe Bartel (1:02.18) swept the podium in the 100-yard breaststroke, and Drabot (1:55.79) and Szekely (1:55.99) finished first and second, respectively, in the 200-yard butterfly.

Over in the diving well, Carolina Sculti finished first in both the 3-meter (352.50) and 1-meter (315.15), while Mia Paulsen placed second in the 3-meter (350.18) and third in the 1-meter (297.23).

In the 50-yard freestyle, Anya Goeders finished second with a time of 22.37 and Fackenthal (49.16) claimed second in the 100-yard freestyle. Drabot (53.23) also finished second in the 100-yard butterfly.

The Cardinal took the top spots in the 200-yard backstroke, 200-yard breaststroke and 500-yard freestyle. Voss (1:53.15), Szekely (1:53.84) and Crisera (1:54.24) swept the 200 back, Bartel (2:13.36), Forde (2:13.75) and Zhao (2:14.25) swept the 200 breast, and Pitzer (4:45.37), Katie Glavinovich (4:48.90) and Tankersley (4:49.26) swept the 500 free.

Szekely capped of her Senior Day with a win of her own, finishing first in the 200-yard IM with a time of 1:56.80.

In the last race of the day, Stanford’s 200-yard freestyle relay team of Fackenthal, Green, Emma Wheal, and Goeders finished second with a time of 1:29.83, just 0.37 seconds out of first place.

Stanford returns to action when it travels to Seattle for the Pac-12 Championships, February 26-29.

PRESS RELEASE – CAL

STANFORD – Abbey Weitzeil set a pool record in the 50-yard freestyle and earned wins in three of her races in Cal’s annual dual meet against Stanford on Saturday, but the Cardinal prevailed by a 193-104 margin at Avery Aquatic Center.

The second-ranked Bears end their dual-meet season with a 7-1 record and will next be in action Feb. 26-29 at the Pac-12 Championships in Federal Way, Washington.

“I think there are some things we can build on,” head coach Teri McKeever said.” As a whole, we have to figure out how we can do a better job that what we showed. Kudos to Stanford – they were on fire today. I’m just disappointed that we couldn’t give them more of a challenge because I do think we have the ability to do that.”

In the 50 free, Weitzeil hit the wall in 21.89 to lower her own Stanford pool record of 22.04 set two years ago. The time marked Weitzeil’s fourth straight sub-22-second time in the 50 in a dual meet, with her best result being a Cal dual-meet record 21.73 vs. Arizona on Jan. 25.

In addition, Weitzeil claimed first place in the 100 free in 47.97 seconds. Cal’s other individual victory came in the 100 butterfly when Isabel Ivey led wire to wire and touched in 53.06.

The Bears also closed out the afternoon with a first-place finish in the 200 free relay as Ivey, Keaton BlovadEloise Riley and Weitzeil were timed in 1:29.46, Cal’s fastest in a dual meet this year.

The Bears posted their fastest 200 medley relay in a dual meet, as well, to start the day. Blovad, Ali Harrison Maddie Murphy and Weitzeil were clocked in 1:38.77, but were second to Stanford by 0.08 seconds despite Weitzeil’s 21.05 final leg.

In diving, Briana Thai scored a season-high 312.60 on the 1-meter board to take a close second place, just three points shy of first. She also totaled 322.28 on 3-meter to take third in the event.

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Jimbo
4 years ago

I think it’ll be an exciting NCAAs no matter who wins.

Superfan
4 years ago

Stanford looked good and cal didn’t…..it seems Cal has Weitzel and that is it!? I thought Cal might give Stanford run in Athens, but have changed my mind after today

Swimmerj
Reply to  Superfan
4 years ago

I feel like they usually each rest a little for this meet. It seemed like Stanford went with the usual vibe and Cal didn’t rest at all. Ivey is a taper swimmer and she needs a full taper to go off so come NCAA’s her and Abbey are gonna do some crazy things plus Murphy and Rajic all huge taper swimmers

The Grand Inquisitor
Reply to  Superfan
4 years ago

Was at the meet. I wouldn’t take too much from the overall result for either team – very relaxed vibe with both having much more to swim for, and both were nowhere near peak performance. Under the radar a bit, I was somewhat surprised with how Stanford sprint freestylers are progressing. Overshadowed by Weitzel’s pool record in the 50 Free (should not be taken for granted – this effort was outstanding), Geoders and Wheal put up really great swims (Geoders basically matching her suited best from the fall, and Wheal beating her suited best). Crisera continues to impress. The evolution of these three, and their consequent potential impact on relays, will be key for Stanford to repeat.

TROUBADOUR
Reply to  The Grand Inquisitor
4 years ago

It was pretty relaxed, but the needle went way up, when Weitzel on 1st relay, had a 21.05 split but was an inch or so short 0.08 win for Stanford, actually led to more relay points for Stanford in the meet. Tankersly swam the 1000 along side Byrnes (about 20 sec faster than best of Cal) then got right up on blocks and raced the 200Fr, she captured 1 pt for 5th place, she started out fairly easy with splits faster than 1000, then did the back half faster than the swimmers who placed 3,4. Then rested and returned to beat all the Cal swimmers in 500, so she tripled, just a good workout at the elite level.

Joe
4 years ago

Forde swam the 2 breast per results

Random123
4 years ago

This was a beat down but still favor Cal for NCAAs

Samuel Huntington
Reply to  Random123
4 years ago

Stanford has got to be the favorite. Just don’t see Cal winning, not enough stars

longseeker
Reply to  Samuel Huntington
4 years ago

As a long time Cal fan, I was not expecting Cal to win this dual meet, and surely some of the regulars on this board must be aware of Stanford’s loaded (as usual) roster. Almost every swimmer was rated in the top 40 nation-wide! With that depth they should win the PAC12 conference hands down. Cal will have to swim lights out to come respectfully close.

As for the NCAA championships, not sure who can beat them, albeit there can be some surprises which could make the meet really interesting.

Josh
Reply to  longseeker
4 years ago

This is key. Not only is the scoring/events format different for Dual meets vs Championship meets, but the presence of the country’s other top teams last year weighed on Stanford. With 9/22 swimmers on their roster listed as IMers, I believe this is why they can dominate dual meets (Meehan can simply insert one into another stroke event and they will probably win it), but when NCAA’s come everyone is a specialist and an IMer will have to fight for a spot in the top 8.

Cal was #1 or #2 in every relay last year at NCAAs(can they repeat that?), while Stanford was 1 3 3 6 7. Those other teams took away those points which is partially why… Read more »

toastedcoconut
Reply to  Random123
4 years ago

Yeah same thing happened last year and NCAAs was much closer. I still think Stanford goes in as the favorites, but Cal seems to do very well in the underdog role so don’t count them out. Also, Weitzeil obliterated everyone so there’s that.

dave92029
4 years ago

Is Brooke Forde Ok?
She missed the trip to UCLA/USC and this week came in third in the 1000y.
Stanford didn’t need her points for the duel meets but sure does in the Pac-12 and NCAA Champs meets.
Hope Brooke is ok, and is just allowing others to score points in the duel meets.

Superfan
Reply to  dave92029
4 years ago

Heard she was sick that weekend with flu or something. Probably still recovering

SWIMM
Reply to  dave92029
4 years ago

She was entered in 2IM and didn’t swim it. Same thing for the Arizona and ASU meets. She got scratched from events half way through the meet.

coach
Reply to  dave92029
4 years ago

It can sometimes take multiple weeks to fully recover from the flu. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Jimbo
Reply to  coach
4 years ago

Yeah it takes about a month for it to completely exit your system and you to be 100%

About Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh is a former NCAA swimmer at the University of Arizona (2013-2015) and the University of Florida (2011-2013). While her college swimming career left a bit to be desired, her Snapchat chin selfies and hot takes on Twitter do not disappoint. She's also a high school graduate of The …

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