By Andy Ross
This is a rivalry in women's swimming that has not gotten started until recently. At the 2009 NCAAs, after an Arizona DQ in the 200 medley relay diminished their chances at a repeat championship, Georgia took the win in that event, but trailed California by 6.5 points heading into the final day. Cal pulled away thanks to efforts like Dana Vollmer's victory in the 100 free and her 46.4 split on the 400 free relay, clinching the school's first national title in school history by beating Georgia 411.5-400.5.
The two schools took a backseat to Florida and Stanford in 2010 but were back on top in 2011, with Cal claiming the title again, defeating the Bulldogs 424-394.5. In fact, the two schools have finished first and second at the NCAAs four times in the last six seasons.
After winning the medley relays in 2012, California had a comfortable lead over Georgia 311-247 heading into the final day. But by the end of the 200 breast, the Bulldogs had closed the gap to 12 points but had nothing left. The Golden Bears had two scorers in the 200 fly and one in platform diving while Georgia had zero. Stanford won the 400 free relay while Georgia finished third and Cal fifth. The Golden Bears celebrated their third championship in four years with the Bulldogs claiming second again. Georgia had an opportunity missed as their 200 free relay and 400 medley relay had finished ninth and 10th respectively on the first day that cost them huge points.
The 2012-2013 featured a new cast of characters to the rivalry as Allison Schmitt returned to Georgia after an Olympic redshirt year, and she led a hungry Bulldogs team. Cal waved goodbye to their most successful class in school history led by Liv Jensen, Sara Isakovic, and Colleen Fotsch but welcomed a freshman class that was an internationally experienced group themselves led by Olympian Rachel Bootsma and U.S. national team member Elizabeth Pelton.
Georgia jumped to a day one lead in the 2013 NCAAs in Indianapolis while California sat in fourth, some 61 points behind. With appearances in the championship final by Caitlin Leverenz, Rachel Bootsma, and Elizabeth Pelton, Cal was within 15 points of Georgia after two days. But on the final night of competition, Georgia had seven swims in the top eight, while Cal had five. The Bulldogs won the 400 free relay in NCAA record fashion with Shannon Vreeland, Chantal Van Landeghem, Allison Schmitt, and Megan Romano at 3:09.40 while they captured the team title with 477 points over Cal's 393.
With such a young team brewing at Berkeley, the incoming freshmen class including dynamic swimmers Missy Franklin and Celina Li added to a team that was expected to dominate for years and years. But Georgia would not go without a fight. They added national team member Olivia Smoliga after saying goodbye to one of the most successful classes in UGA history. Georgia, on the backs of Brittany Maclean, Shannon Vreeland, and Olivia Smoliga took their second straight NCAA title in 2014 while Cal finished in 3rd behind Stanford.
The relative disappointment in Cal's finish was linked to the subpar performances turned in by superstars Bootsma and Pelton. Bootsma did not qualify for the top 16 in the 100 fly, an event that she placed second a year prior, and only managed 11th in the 100 back, where she was the defending champion. Pelton was out-touched at the wall in the 200 back where she was the NCAA record holder and defending champion, and managed fourth in the 200 IM and 12th in the 200 free, whereas she finished second in both of those events in 2013.
Although these teams have not faced in a dual meet since 2002, when the Dawgs beat the Bears 163-129, it is still one of the best rivalries still unfolding as the teams continue to dominate the landscape of women's swimming.
