Bryce Mefford is a competitive swimmer who represents the United States internationally. As a high schooler, Mefford represented the US on the national junior team from 2015-2017. Mefford was named Sierra Marlin of the Year (by his club team, the Sierra Marlins) in both 2015 and 2016.
College (California)
2017-2018
Mefford made an immediate impact his freshman year at Cal. At the 2018 PAC-12 Championships, he finished fourth in the 200 back (1:41.06), sixth in the 200 free (1:34.67) and 10th in the 200 IM (1:45.10). He swam the same 3 events at the NCAA Championships 1 month later. His championships got off to a rocky start, earning a DQ in the 200 IM for a false start. However, Mefford rebounded well, dropping a massive personal best the next day in the 200 free (1:32.84) to earn 8th and give Cal big points in a tight team battle. Mefford only got better through the meet, earning his second All-American status in the 200 back and finishing 4th overall at 1:38.48.
2018-2019
Mefford continued to improve his sophomore year. He won the 200 back title at the Pac-12 Championships, clocking a 1:39.13, as well as finished fifth in the 100 back (45.98). At the NCAA Championships that year, Mefford took on the 200 free/100 back double, and fell short of scoring in both, placed 17th in the 200 free (1:33.06) and 20th in the 100 back (45.57). He did, however, move up from the previous year in the 200 back, finishing 3rd with a time of 1:39.65. He also contributed a leg to Cal’s 3rd place 800 free relay at the same meet.
National/International Competition
2018 Summer Nationals
At the summer nationals in Irvine, Mefford placed 4th in the 100 back (53.84) and 5th in the 200 back (1:57.46), qualifying him to swim in the 100 back as well as the 50 back at the World University Games in 2019 in Naples, Italy.
2021 Olympic Trials
Mefford qualified for the final in the 100 back, finishing 4th with a personal best of 52.91. He then went on to finish 2nd in the 200 back in another best of 1:54.79, qualifying for his first Olympic team.
