Cal Stops Fresno State

California topped Fresno State, 166-111, in a
Thursday-afternoon dual meet at Spieker Aquatics Complex. The Golden Bears
improved their record to 2-0, while the Bulldogs fell to 1-7 after the
nonconference meet. Cal, the defending NCAA and Pac-10 champion, won all
16 events. Bears senior swimmers Lauren Boyle and Heather White and
sophomore Shelley Harper won two individual races each, with Boyle winning
the 500-yard freestyle in an NCAA B-qualifying time of 4:50.33 and
claiming the 200-yard freestyle in a time of 1:49.39. Cal divers also won
the one-meter and three-meter springboards in their season debut.

Cal head coach Teri McKeever previously coached both the Fresno State
men’s and women’s teams.

“We’re just super appreciative that Fresno State came up and swam us,” Cal
assistant coach Kristen Cunnane said. “Teri used to coach there, so it was
a big deal for her. I thought Heather White, as a senior, just did a nice
job racing. Shelley Harper is really stepping into her second-year role
nicely.”

White won the 200-yard breaststroke (2:19.30) and 200 individual medley
(2:02.65), while Harper won the 1000 free (9:58.65) and 100 breaststroke
(1:05.55).

Cal freshman Caitlin Leverenz finished first in the 200 butterfly with an
NCAA B-qualifying time of 1:59.69. Sophomore teammate Sara Isakovic also
swam the 200 fly in an NCAA B-qualifying time (1:59.86), though the 2008
Slovenian Olympian didn’t place as she swam her race as an exhibition.

Cal’s other individual swimming winners were sophomore Colleen Fotsch in
the 100 backstroke (56.92), junior Hannah Wilson in the 50 free (23.51),
senior Amanda Larson in the 100 free (51.92), freshman Samantha Pearson in
the 200 backstroke (2:04.37) and Isakovic in the 100 fly (55.41).

Bears sophomore diver Molly Hayes won the one-meter springboard with a
score of 257.33. Freshman teammate Kelsey Heiken earned her first victory
as a Bear on the three-meter board with a score of 262.58.

“It was nice to just get a meet under our belts,” first-year Cal diving
coach Ben Herdt said. ”Molly had a great performance, putting six dives
together solidly. Kelsey as a freshman to win three meter was a great
accomplishment in her first meet. She’s doing the dives you need to be
successful nationally, and that’s great to see.”

Cal won the final event of the day, the 200-free relay, with its squad of
sophomore Colleen Fotsch, Leverenz, senior Alexandra Ellis and junior Sara
Sun in a time of 1:36.86.

Herdt will next lead Heiken and freshman Rachel Becker to the USC Diving
Invitational from Friday, Nov. 6 through Saturday, Nov. 7. The Cal
swimmers are next in action from Nov. 19-21 at the Toshiba Classic in Long
Beach, Calif.

Cal Results vs. Fresno State

200-Yard Medley Relay
1. Cal+.

1000-Yard Freestyle
1. Shelley Harper 9:58.65. 2. Blake Hayter 10:03.83. 3. Sara Sun 10:08.42.

200-Yard Freestyle
1. Lauren Boyle 1:49.39. 2. Katie Kastes 1:50.74. 3. Heather White
1:52.82. 4. Erica Dagg 1:54.76.

100-Yard Backstroke
1. Colleen Fotsch 56.92.

100-Yard Breaststroke
1. Shelley Harper 1:05.55.

200-Yard Butterfly
1. Caitlin Leverenz 1:59.69*.

50-Yard Freestyle
1. Hannah Wilson 23.51.

1-Meter Springboard
1. Molly Hayes 257.33.

100-Yard Freestyle
1. Amanda Larson 51.92.

200-Yard Backstroke
1. Samantha Pearson 2:04.37.

200-Yard Breaststroke
1. Heather White 2:19.30.

500-Yard Freestyle
1. Lauren Boyle 4:50.33*.

100-Yard Butterfly
1. Sara Isakovic 55.41.

3-Meter Springboard
1. Kelsey Heiken 262.58.

200-Yard Individual Medley
1. Heather White 2:02.65.

200-Yard Freestyle Relay
1. Cal B (Colleen Fotsch, Caitlin Leverenz, Alexandra Ellis, Sara Sun)
1:36.86.

+Times not available.
*NCAA B qualifying time
- Cal results not including exhibition swims/dives



The Fresno State swimming and diving team headed to Berkeley, Calif., Thursday to face off in a dual meet against the defending NCAA National Champion California Golden Bears.

The Bulldogs fought hard, giving the Golden Bears all they could handle at Spieker Aquatics Complex, before falling short in the end by a score of 166-111.

Senior distance swimmer Rebecca Strmiska made her presence felt, digging deep and crushing her old all-time personal best time in the 1000 freestyle by nearly 16 seconds with a time of 11:41.14.

“I was really proud of Rebecca in the 1000 freestyle today,” said head swim coach Jeanne Fleck. “It’s all about improvement and she gave it her all today.”

Freshman swimmer Jen Hicks also broke her all-time personal best by two seconds in the 500 freestyle event posting a time of 5:21.53, good enough for second place against one of Cal’s top swimmers.

“Jen was also great today,” said Fleck.  “She continues to improve every week for us in the 500(freestyle).”

Along with her second place finish in the 500 freestyle, Hicks also finished second in the 200 butterfly event making it an impressive all around day for the swimmer from Cincinnati, Ohio.

 “Overall we were very poised today going up against the national champions,” said Fleck.  “We swam our own races out there and we definitely weren’t scared to race them.  It was an honor to swim against them and we greatly appreciate Cal for giving us the opportunity to have this great learning experience.  We are really looking forward to the Toshiba Classic where we will see Cal and a lot of other high profile teams.”

On the diving side, the ‘Dogs continue to improve and impress as Stacey Luke, Nikki Kohls and Kendra Weeks brought home second, third and fourth place, respectively in both the 1- and 3-meter dive.  

The two freshmen, Luke and Kohls, along with senior Weeks have set a trend in the 1- and 3-meter dives as of late making this the second week straight that they have racked up the points for second, third and fourth place.

“Overall all of the divers did very well,” said diving coach Taryn Patrick.  “Our consistency as of late has been great.  We have made progress and we have a lot of good things to look forward too.”

Patrick emphasized that with the break coming up the Bulldog divers will be doing more dry land training and focusing on pin pointing their dives in preparation for the last part of the season including the highly anticipated WAC Championships in February.