2024 NCAA ‘B’ finalist Cal Dunn is returning to Wisconsin for her COVID-19 fifth year. Dunn’s return means the team is expected to return 67 out of its 69 individual points from 2024 NCAAs.
Dunn swam at Wisconsin for all four years of undergrad. She finished her freshman season at Big Tens and was 26th in the 400 IM (4:21.17), 27th in the 200 IM (2:01.17), and 28th in the 200 breast (2:18.50).
She finished her sophomore season at Big Tens as well but was not a member of the team’s scoring roster. She swam personal best times of a 2:15.38 in the 200 breast and 4:16.27 in the 400 IM. Her 400 IM notably would have made the ‘B’ final if she were a member of the scoring roster. She also swam a 2:01.33 in the 200 IM.
She made huge strides in her junior season, earning a spot on the scoring roster that paid off. She swam a personal best time of a 4:11.46 to finish 6th in the 400 IM at Big Tens. She also was 9th in the 200 IM (1:57.58) and 16th in the 200 breast (2:13.90). All three of those swims were personal best times. She scored 55 individual points, which tied her for the 8th most of the team.
Continuing her momentum as a senior, Dunn was the Big Ten runner-up in the 400 IM, finishing in a 4:08.90, another personal best time. She also made the ‘A’ final of the 200 IM, finishing 6th in a 1:57.29. She was 13th in the 200 breast in a 2:13.58. She scored a total of 65.5 individual points at Big Tens, the 4th highest on the roster.
Her swims from Big Tens earned her first NCAA invite. She swam another best time in the 400 IM at NCAAs with a 4:07.98 in prelims, earning her a spot in the ‘B’ final. She went even faster in finals, touching in a 4:07.26 for 14th, earning the team 3 individual points. She also swam a personal best time in the 200 breast of a 2:12.01 for 48th. She was just off her best time in the 200 IM with a 1:57.73.
The Wisconsin women finished 15th at NCAAs with a total of 95 points. 69 of those points came at the individual level as the team was led by Phoebe Bacon who scored 49 individual points. The team showed its depth though with another six athletes scoring individual points.
Dunn’s return now means that 67 out of the 69 individual points will return as Bacon is coming back for her 5th year along with Elle Braun who scored at NCAAs in the 1650 free. The team also welcomes the #8 ranked recruiting class, highlighted by backstroker Maggie Wanezek.