Inspired by the performance of senior Adam Hinshaw in the 1000 and 500 free, the Cal men’s swimming and diving team raced past USC, 173-127, Friday in a dual meet at Spieker Aquatics Complex. The Golden Bears were also paced by junior Josh Prenot’s victories in the 200 breast (1:59.12) and 200 IM (1:46.19), sophomore Ryan Murphy’s wins in the 100 back (46.53) and 100 free (43.98), and sophomore Long Gutierrez’s victories in the 100 (47.64) and 200 fly (1:45.79).
With the win over the Trojans, Cal (6-0, 3-0) has now won 21-straight dual meets since the 2012-13 season.
Hinshaw’s wins were important for David Durden’s squad as it changed to momentum of the meet. USC won the opening event, the 200 medley relay, 1:27.93 to 1:28.05, before the Bear senior captured the 1000 free with a time of 9:11.55. The Trojans came back with a win in the 200 free behind standout Cristian Quintero (1:36.99), before Murphy got Cal back on track with his victory in the 100 back. The Bears ended up winning 11 of the meet’s 14 races, including the 400 free relay (2:57.28) behind the swims of Murphy, junior Tyler Messerschmidt, senior Seth Stubblefield and senior Fabio Gimondi.
Other winners for Cal were senior Chuck Katis in the 100 breast (53.97) and junior Jacob Pebley in the 200 back (1:44.44). After winning the 1000 free, Hinshaw later captured the 500 free in a time of 4:28.07. A top diving performance for the Bears was freshman Finn Scribbick placing second in the three-meter board with a score of 364.80.
“We were hoping for a better result in the 200 medley relay and that kind of woke us up,” said Durden. “Then, Adam (Hinshaw) led us like a senior and swam just a great 1000 free. He also had a great time in the 500 free. Adam was definitely our inspiration today.”
The Bears will next be hosting Bay Area rival Stanford on Saturday, Feb. 21, in a 12 p.m. dual meet at Spieker Aquatics Complex.
Senior Cristian Quintero made his return with a win in the 200y free, one of five victories for the Trojans Friday (Feb. 6), but the No. 22 USC men’s swim team lost at No. 7 Cal, 173-127, in Pac-12 action in Berkeley.
The Trojans, who fell to 4-2 overall, 4-1 in the Pac-12, opened the meet with a win in the 200y medley relay as senior Luca Spinazzola, junior Morten Klarskov, sophomore Dylan Carter and Quintero won in 1:27.93, while the ‘B’ relay of freshman Ralf Tribuntsov and sophomores David Morgan Jr., Michael Domagala and Santo Condorelli tied for second in 1:28.05.
Freshman Pawel Furtek took second in the 1000y free in 9:14.15, less than two seconds off his season best and 2.6 seconds behind Cal’s Adam Hinshaw (9:11.55).
Quintero, who got a fourth year of eligibility last summer but did not compete in the fall while training for the World Championships, won the 200y free in 1:36.99, USC’s second-best time this year and an NCAA ‘B’ cut. He owns the USC record in the race (1:32.28).
Tribuntsov (47.61) and Spinazzola (48.16) went 2-3 in the 100y back and Klarskov finished second in the 100y breast (55.36). Wright was third in the 200y fly (1:49.01) and was later third in the 200y back (1:47.46).
Condorelli won the 50y free in 19.89 with Carter third (20.39) and junior Deon Reid led a 1-3-4 finish on 3-meter with 370.80 points. Junior Collin Pollard, who dove at Cal as a 2013 freshman, was third (359.18) with freshman Dashiell Enos fourth (310.05).
Following the diving break, Quintero was out-touched at the wall in the 100y free, 43.98 to 43.99 by Cal sophomore Ryan Murphy with Condorelli just back of them in third (44.05).
Stumph led USC in the 200y breast with a third-place 2:01.04 and sophomore Reed Malone took second in the 500y free in 4:28.45, 0.38 back of Hinshaw with Quintero third (4:31.26).
Tribuntsov took second again in the 100y fly in 48.47 while Pollard dominated the 1-meter (379.05), followed by Reid (326.10) and Enos (319.20).
In the meet’s final race, USC’s 400y free relay of Condorelli, Tribuntsov, Spinazzola and Carter finished second in 2:57.75, 0.47 behind Cal.
The Trojans will take on host No. 12 Stanford on Saturday at noon.
