Swimcloud

Cal Men Sign Six

Looking to perpetuate its success on the national stage, the California men's swimming and diving program has signed another outstanding recruiting class, it was announced by head coach David Durden. The Golden Bears, who have captured three of the last four NCAA team titles and the past two Pac-12 championships, welcome a class of six stellar swimmers who will enter Cal in the fall of 2015. The Bears’ newcomers include Nick Norman, David Puczkowski, Carson Sand, Andrew Seliskar, Ken Takahashi and Michael Thomas.

Nick Norman is a top distance freestyler from San Juan Capistrano, Calif., and a member of the Mission Viejo Nadadores coached by Bill Rose. Norman is the reigning CIF-Southern Section Division I champion in the 500 free with a time of 4:23.02. He also placed fifth in the 800-meter free and ninth in the 1500-meter free during the Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Hawaii this past summer, and won a silver medal in the 1500-meter free at the 2013 Speedo Junior National Championships. Norman was club teammates with current Cal distance freestyler Janardan Burns.

A leading backstroker/sprint freestyler, David Puczkowski comes to Cal from Westlake Village, Calif. and Class Aquatics, coached by Steve Reardon in Camarillo, Calif. At this past summer’s Junior Nationals, Puczkowski won the B-Final of the 100-meter backstroke in 56.58. He’s also has a time of 23.80 in the 50 free in long course and 52.55 in the 100 free. At Westlake High School Puckowski was third at the 2014 CIF Southern Section Division I Championship meet in the 100 back.

Top breaststroker Carson Sand hails from Castro Valley and swims for East Bay Aquatics and Castro Valley High School. As a junior, Sand crushed his own West Alameda County Conference meet records in the 100 breast and 200 IM and took second in both events at the North Coast Section championships. He has bests of 54.45 in the 100 breast and 1:59.82 in the 200 breast.

 

Andrew Seliskar is considered among the nation’s premier recruits and is a member of both the USA National and Junior Teams. Seliskar, from McLean, Va. and a member of the Nation’s Capital Swim Club (coach John Flanagan), holds the junior world record in the 200-meter butterfly, set at the 2014 Junior Pan Pacific Championships. He also won four gold medals (200 fly, 200 IM, 400 IM, 200 free relay) and one silver medal (100 fly) at the 2014 Pan Pacs in Maui. Additionally, Seliskar captured the 400 IM and was second in the 200 IM and 200 fly at 2013 AT&T Winter Nationals, and won gold in the 200 fly at the 2013 FINA World Junior Championships.
 
An extremely versatile swimmer, Ken Takahashi comes to Cal from Irvine, University High School and the AquaZot Swim Club (head coach Brian Pajer). Takahashi is a multi-time All-American and was an integral member of the CIF-Southern Section Division I champion University High School where he was fourth in the 500 free and fifth in the 200 IM in 2014. Takahashi also excels in long course meters as he finaled in the 400 IM at both the Junior and Senior Nationals, and finished the summer with a 2016 Olympic Trials cut.
 

From Horsham, Pa. and a member of the Upper Dublin Aquatic Club (head coach Geoff Scheuer), Michael Thomas is another versatile swimmer in Cal’s 2015 class. Thomas holds national age group records (15-16) in the 100 back, set in 2014. His top events are the 100 back (46.65), 200 back (1:43.82), 200 fly (1:45.83), 200 IM (1:46.18) and 400 IM (3:52.31), and he’s also a great sprint freestyler with top swims of 20.63 in the 50 free, 45.26 in the 100 free and 1:41.07 in the 200 free. Thomas’ 100 back time won the Pennsylvania high school state title and lowered current Cal star Ryan Murphy’s 15-16 National Age Group record in that event.

 
"I think we classically addressed every single event, across the board, with this group,” said Durden. “This is probably the first class in recent memory in which we addressed everything. We have a great collection of students and a great collection of athletes who are going the cover the entire event profile for us during their four years."

 
Cal Men’s Swimming 2014 Letter of Intent Signee Facts and Quotes
 
Nick Norman

Hometown: San Juan Capistrano, Calif. – Mission Viejo Nadadores

200 Free -1.40.00
500 Free - 4:23.03
1000 Free - 8:57.68
1650 Free - 14.58.76
 
"I have wanted to go to Cal for some time now, so my choice was an easy one,” said Norman. "I couldn't be happier to be a part of the Bear family, and I look forward to swimming with this amazing team for the next four years."
 

David Puczkowski

Hometown: Westlake Village, Calif. – Class Aquatics

50 Free - 21.09
100 Free - 45.69
100 Back - 48.56
200 Back - 1:49.17
50 LC Free - 24.17
100 LC Free - 52.55
100 LC Back - 56.58
200 LC Back - 2:08.32
 
“I have always dreamed of swimming for Cal and with people who have been my role models over the last several years,” said Puczkowski. “I hope I can fit in, find my full potential, and also become a role model for future Bears.” 

 
Carson Sand

Hometown: Castro Valley, Calif. – East Bay Aquatics

100 Breast - 54.45
200 Breast - 1.59.82
 
"After visiting Cal it was obvious to me why the team has had so much success recently,” said Sand. “Dave and Yuri are both very organized and each offer unique qualities to the table. All the guys are awesome and work together as a team. I'm excited for the next four years.”

 
Andrew Seliskar

Hometown:  McLean, Va. – Nation’s Capital Swim Club

200 LC Free - 1:50.22
100 LC Breast - 1:02.76
100 LC Fly - 53.04
200 LC Fly - 1.55.92
200 LC IM - 1.59.84
400 LC IM - 4.16.05
 
“I am thrilled with the opportunity to be a part of the Cal men’s swim program because it offers the perfect environment to help me achieve my goals both academically and athletically,” said Seliskar. “I was most impressed with Coach Dave Durden and Yuri Suguiyama’s commitment to the team, and their national and international aspirations for all of their swimmers.”
 

Ken Takahashi

Hometown: Irvine, Calif. – AquaZot Swim Club

400 IM - 3.53.64
200 IM - 1.50.10
200 Breast - 2.13.11
200 Fly - 1.49.66
500 Free - 4.27.31
1000 Free - 9.20.82
1650 Free - 15.55.72
400 LC IM - 4.25.70
200 LC IM - 2.08.12
200 LC Breast - 2.25.37
200 LC IM - 2.06.36
400 LC Free - 4.02.16
200 LC IM - 2.06.36
400 LC Free - 4.02.16
800 LC Free - 8.23.62
1500 LC Free - 16.00.51

“I am extremely excited to take part on the camaraderie of the Cal men's swimming and diving team,” said Takahashi. “The brotherhood-like team was unmatched by any other school I visited. I believe that both Coach Dave Durden and Yuri Suguiyama will help me not only to become the better swimmer, but also a better student. I look forward to becoming a Golden Bear.”


Michael Thomas

Hometown:  Horsham, Pa. – Upper Dublin Aquatic Club

100 Back - 46.65
200 Back - 1.43.82
200 Fly - 1.45.83
200 IM - 1.46.18
400 IM - 3.52.31
50 Free - 20.63
100 Free - 45.26
200 Free - 1.41.07
 
“When I took my visit to Cal, I could not help but feel like I was surrounded by success and excellence,” said Thomas. “Of course I wanted to be a part of that culture for the next four years. Dave and Yuri are outstanding coaches and can help me in pursuing my future goals athletically and academically."

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