As the Cal men finally get into the real meat of their season, their Pac 12 dual meet schedule in the run-up to the Pac 12 Championships in early March, they topped their first major opponent, Arizona, 159.134 in Tucson. That included a Cal exhibition on the last two events of the meet.
Cal, just as they lost one big star (Tyler Messerschmidt) are getting another in (former Auburn All-American) Tony Cox, who is officially on the Bears’ roster and beginning competition. He led off Cal’s 200 medley relay that swam a 1:27.59. Wearing just briefs, that’s a phenomenal time. The winning quartet was Cox (22.72), Trevor Hoyt (25.09), Tom Shields (20.10), and Shayne Fleming (19.68). Though Cox’s addition makes this relay really good, Shields’ split was the most notable. Keep in mind that the number of men who have split under 20 seconds on the butterfly leg of a 200 medley relay can be counted on one hand (including Shields himself), and he just almost did it on the road, outdoors, in training. This relay is actually a two-swimmer switch from their 5th-ranked 200 medley relay that had included Marcin Tarczynski and Seth Stubblefield on the backstroke and butterfly legs instead.
Cal, who has really done a lot of work in the last few years under Dave Durden to beef up their distance group, went 1-3 in the men’s 1000 free, led by Jeremy Bagshaw in a 9:17.06. That’s the 15th-best time of the spring semester (notable as being after the winter taper meets). He followed that with a win in the 500 free as well, where he swam a 4:27.06, followed by a 4:28.46 from his teammate Adam Hinshaw.
Cal actually swept all of the freestyle races but one in this meet, including a 44.5 from sophomore Seth Stubblefield who is coming back from an early-season injury.
The one freestyle race won by Arizona was their star, Giles Smith, in 20.28. This is the one obvious hole in the Cal lineup after Messerschmidt’s loss, though they did take 2nd with freshman Nick Dillinger (20.64) and 3rd with Shayne Fleming (20.85). Fleming didn’t have his best swim in that race (he was much better in the meet-opening relay), nor did Fabio Gimondi, but that potential 200 free relay probably is the biggest challenge for Cal going toward March.
In the best head-to-head battle of the meet, Tom Shields topped Giles Smith in the men’s 100 fly 46.54-47.82, a relatively wide margin. Those two are the defending gold and silver medalists in this race from last year’s NCAA Championship meet.
Cal also picked up three wins from their two top freshmen, Josh Prenot and Jacob Pebley. Prenot, who in his rookie season is already in contention for national titles, won the 200 breaststroke in 1:59.68, taking out two of the best in the country in Carl Mickelson (1:59.75). This was a great back-and-forth battle between the two and third-place finisher Kevin Cordes, the American Record holder, but Prenot was able to hold off the two Wildcats at the very last touch. Cordes was 3rd in 2:00.05.
Cordes would win the 100 in 54.55.
Cal won the meet-closing 400 free relay, which thus far looks to be better than the shorter 200 will be, with a 2:57.27. Shields anchored in 43.39 with Dillinger and Stubblefield each leading into that with 44-lows.
Arizona will welcome in Stanford on Saturday, as Cal travels just north to Tempe to take on Arizona State.
rumor has it someone on cal tore their acl?
It is a member of the girls team I believe.
I guess we will find out the who when Cal meets USC on Friday!
Catherine breed
Been told the same thing as Doc Oc, but it’s not a new injury. Has been swimming through it for a little hike now.
Pretty weak 50 and 100 free sprints by both Cal and Arizona. I sense trouble without Messerschmidt at PAC 12 and NCAA.
For the men.
Stubblefield isn’t fast in season, but he’s been 19.4. Gimondi had a bad meet yesterday, but his 100 is vastly improved and he’s already gone bests in both races. Fleming is an amazing relay swimmer that should be reliably under 19. Either Dillinger or B. Hinshaw should be able to get on there and make the relay faster than it was last year. Worst case scenario they have to take Shields off of the one of the medleys; they wouldn’t win probably but would still get top three.
Yea, I don’t think Cal will have too much trouble in the sprints, especially at Pac-12s. It seems like there’s Morozov and Wayne, but no one else right at the top. Stubblefield and Gimondi will be fine. Dillinger I think will be solid, as well. Shayne Fleming had a good summer, and a solid 19.7 in December, so he’ll be pretty good in the 50, too. The 100 is where Cal struggles a bit more on the individual side. Besides Gimondi, they will need some big drops to score points.
‘Zona seems a bit more short-handed. Smith and Friedemann are their top guys, but the 19.7s they put up were shaved and tapered presumably. For Pac-12s they might be all… Read more »
Morozov and Wayne at the top. Wagner USC and Soedel Utah will be right in the mix with Stubblefield and Flemming and Gimondi. Dillinger behind that.
I sense a Big 10 fan trying to analyze above their pay grade.
Taking into account that some individuals will be fully tapered at PAC 12’s and some will not, still leaves IMO Morozov, Wayne, and Smith at the top for 50/100 individual events. Followed by a second group of individuals battling for the A-finals in Wagner, Flemming, Stubblefield, Friedemann, Gimondi, Soedel, Dillinger, Colupaev (100). Any others?
I just don’t see high scoring at PAC 12’s by CAL in the individual 50 and 100 when looking at the above list. The A finals are just too competitive. Their relays will fare better due to their depth + Shields.
You said trouble for Cal men at PAC 12 and NCAA. As a Big 10 fan, I guess I can’t expect you to understand the dynamics at PAC 12s. Zona and Cal don’t rest, save for the guys on the edge. Cal will have a few more on the edge due to not tapering mid-season at all. They qualify a lot of guys by doubling up relay spots. Of course both teams would love to win conference, but Zona knows they couldn’t without a full taper, and Cal wont sacrifice their ultimate goal. Stanford taper/shaves all but the top few guys, and really guns for conference. Cal likes the challenge of trying to beat them while just starting to come… Read more »
We’ll just have to see, won’t we, and I was only referring to 50/100 freestyle sprinting at PAC 12 and NCAA. As you say, only the Cal guys on the edge will need to be near peak rest for PAC 12’s. Without that rest their contingent may not score as many points at conference as in the past. They may not really care either, but I don’t see this bunch scoring many points either in the 50/100 individual free at NCAA’s. Eventhough, I am an IU guy, being affiliated with CIF, i”m also a fan of the PAC-12 since so many CIF swimmers attend these schools.
Fair enough. I like to argue, but you are too reasonable. We’ll have to wait and see. One thing we can definitely agree on is that Vlad is one bad dude in the sprints. And Aaron deserves any accolades you can heap on him as well. Sprinters make the swimming world go round.
Not to analyze above my pay grade, but I do want to remind peterdeeter that doubling up on relays won’t do the trick for Cal this year, as the new relay rule means that swimmers that only qualify on relays can only swim on relays. That means a little more rest for the Cal folks, or so I can only guess with my primitive SEC brain. I’d also imagine Stanford’s strategy has some unknowns with new coaches at the helm. Who knows on Zona and SC. PAC-12s may actually be worth watching this year- at least if I’m not too busy screaming ROCKY TOP at the SEC results still.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Ben Hinshaw swim the 100 free at NCAAs and score points in it. His sprinting improvement is incredible; he split 19.7, just barely behind Shayne Fleming (an insanely relay focused swimmer). Maybe he’ll trade out the 400 IM for the 200 free. It’s unlikely since he finished with the 8th fastest NCAA time in that race last year, but then Hamilton seems to have essentially quit the 500 after going 4:15.0 last year.
I don’t think Hamilton swam the 500 all (or much of) last year either until Pac-12s. He did have a good 200 IM at Georgia, though, so he may have a good shot at a final swim this year in that. What he’s got to focus on is swimming fast in the morning so he gets into the big final.
Pretty good performance by the Bears in season. This meet was a lot different than last years. It will be interesting to see how that works out for Arizona(I still think Cal’s got the NCAA title.) Shields was flying along with many other cal swimmers on their relay and individually for in season.
I’m sure Arizona is fine with their performance. Last year they “took it to” Cal and received nothing but a bashing from everyone for being too rested. Smith’s free was a pleasant surprise and 200 breast was a helluva race. Like that Prenot kid, but I’m betting on Cordes at NC’s. I’ve never seen a stroke like that.
Side note: The Cats better figure out who’s gonna swim that free on MR and Nimrod needs to pick it up.
Well, that the problem with a lot of world class swimmers. Berekley had more balance last year. This year there are lots of backstrokers that are fair in Fly but not outstanding. Bootsma or Tran could swim faster in fly if they are typered at Pac 12 and the NCAA’s.
Yeah, Calif women are not always great in diving, last year one of there divers had a great meet at NCAA’s but probably not this year. USC is hard since Haley I the sister of Torey is diving there and Haley went to the 2008 olympics in diving.
Well, the bears were weak in fly and sprint freestyle and in the relay Tran who is probably one of the fastest in a 50 yard was beaten by Lauren Smith. Tran doesn’t swim great if she is work hard and is not typered. The Cats Brandon and Margo Geer did great. I think the team is better overall. There are homegrown swimmers from the Arizona team sometimes not this time since Sara D had went to Texas. And many people leave California to live in Arizona since its cheaper to live and they come to either Maricopia or Pima where the Uof A is at.