The No. 5 USC women’s swimming and diving team is set to host Bay Area rivals No. 7 Cal on Friday (Jan. 29) at 6 p.m. and No. 2 Stanford at 12 p.m. on Saturday (Jan. 30) at Uytengsu Aquatics Center.
The Trojan women are 6-1 overall, 4-0 in the Pac-12. Cal is 5-0, 4-0 while Stanford is 4-0, 4-0. USC last defeated the Bears in 2014 in a 180.5-119.5 home win. USC’s last win over the Cardinal came in 1996, 153-147.
This season, USC won its season-opener at Utah, downed Hawaii and lost to North Carolina State in a two-day home meet, followed with a home win over Oregon State. The Trojans then swept Arizona and Arizona State on the road before resuming competition with a win over Wisconsin on Jan. 12.
Scouting California
The No. 7 Bears are the NCAA defending champions, led by senior Rachel Bootsma, a two-time NCAA winner in the 100y back who is currently fifth in the nation in the event this year (51.70). Freshman Kathleen Baker has come on strong, with top 6 times in the 100y and 200y back and the 200y IM. Sophomore Noemie Thomas is ranked fourth in both the 100y and 200y fly. Senior co-captain Elizabeth Pelton was second in the 200y IM at the 2015 NCAAs, owns the Cal record in the 200y back and is top 10 in five other events.
Scouting Stanford
The No. 2 Cardinal feature multiple swimmers possessing multiple spots in the national top 15, led by sophomore Janet Hu, junior sprinter Lia Neal, senior breaststroker Sarah Haase and freshman medley specialist Ella Eastin. Hu owns top 20 times in the 50y and 100y free, the 100y and 200y back and the 100y fly while Neal is second in the 100y free and is in the top 15 in the 50y and 200y free. Haase leads the nation in the 100y breast (58.27) and is fourth in the 200y breast. Eastin owns the top time in the 400y IM (4:01.04) and is second in the 200y IM (1:53.34). The Cardinal also currently own the second-ranked times in the 200y and 400y free and medley relays.
SENIOR DAY
USC will honor 10 seniors before the start of the Stanford meet, including co-captains Kendyl Stewart and Lucy Worrall, Kasia Wilk, Brianna Weinstein, Joanna Stenkvist and Nikki Chang and divers Sam Adams, Natalie Kalibat, Jacqui Suitt and Katherine Van Winkle.
TOP TIMES – Trojan swimmers and divers with NCAA `B’ cuts
Sam Adams: 1M (265.65), 3M (286.65), Platform (253.90).
Anika Apostalon: 50y (22.24), 100y free (48.21), 100y back (52.79).
Chelsea Chenault: 100y (49.35), 200y (1:44.62), 500y free (4:39.94), 200y fly (1:55.58).
Lily Dubroff : 200y fly (1:59.34).
Riley Hayward: 100y (1:01.67), 200y breast (2:13.10).
Kelsey Kafka: 100y (1:00.86), 200y breast (2:11.45), 200y IM (2:00.88).
Tabby Krebs: Platform (233.70).
Hanni Leach: 100y (52.68), 200y back (1:55.29).
Sydney Lofquist: 200y free (1:47.76).
Destiny Nelson: 200y (1:59.83), 400y IM (4:15.42).
Riley Scott: 200y IM (1:58.79), 100y (59.79), 200y breast (2:12.65).
Kendyl Stewart: 100y fly (53.85).
Elizabeth Stinson: 500y (4:43.90), 1650y free (16:07.34).
Evan Swenson: 50y (22.58), 100y free (49.49).
Kirsten Vose: 100y (59.58), 200y breast (2:07.46), 200y IM (1:56.39), 100y free (48.73).
Brianna Weinstein: 200y IM (2:01.48).
Hannah Weiss: 100y (52.20), 200y (1:43.88) back.
Madison Witt: 1M (270.83), 3M (311.88), Platform (263.55).
Allie Wooden: 100y (49.76), 200y (1:47.12), 500y (4:43.56), 1650y (16:18.15) free.
Lucy Worrall: 100y (52.95), 200y fly (1:58.94).
Madison Wright: 200 fly (1:56.67).
Trojans in the National Top 20
Junior Anika Apostalon is 4th ranked in the 100y free (48.21) and No. 16 in the 50y free (22.24). Junior Chelsea Chenault is No. 7 in the 500y free (4:39.94) and No. 8 in the 200y free (1:44.62) and 200y fly (1:55.58). Freshman Elizabeth Stinson is sixth in the 1650y free (16:07.34) and freshman Allie Wooden is 20th in the 1000y free (9:54.07). Sophomore Hannah Weiss is 10thin the 100y back (52.20) and 19th in the 200y back (1:53.88). Freshman Kirsten Vose owns the third-ranked time in the 200y breast (2:07.46), ninth in the 100y breast (59.58) and seventh in the 200y IM (1:56.39). Freshman Riley Scott is 12th in the 100y breast (59.79) and freshman Madison Wright is 14th in the 200y fly (1:56.67). USC is ranked seventh in the 200y free relay, third in the 400y free relay, fourth in the 800y free relay, 11th in the 200y medley relay and third in the 400y medley relay.
USC 411
The USC women are captained by seniors Lucy Worrall and Kendyl Stewart. Stewart joins seniors Kasia Wilk and Joanna Stenkvist, junior Chelsea Chenault and sophomore Hannah Weiss as All-American returners. Swimmers and divers with NCAA experience also back include senior diver Sam Adams, junior Evan Swenson, and Worrall. Key USC newcomers for the women’s side include junior transfer Anika Apostalon from San Diego State, an All-American specializing in the sprint free and back, and a large freshmen class including (but not limited to) butterflyer Madison Wright, breaststroker Riley Scott, distance stalwart Elizabeth Stinson, versatile breaststroker Kirsten Vose and 400 IM and 500y free specialist Sydney Lofquist.
TROJAN NOTES
* The Trojans were well represented at the 2015 FINA World Championships. Trojans who won medals included junior Reed Malone (silver, 800m free relay), senior Kendyl Stewart (silver, 400m medley relay), junior Chelsea Chenault (gold, 800m free relay) and junior Santo Condorelli (bronze, 400m mixed free relay, Canada). Other current Trojans who competed included junior Michael Domagala (Poland), junior Dylan Carter (Trinidad and Tobago), senior Kasia Wilk (Poland) and sophomore Ralf Tribuntsov (Estonia).
* USC Head Assistant Coach Catherine Vogt was named the 2016 U.S. Olympic Swimming Open Water Head Coach on Sept. 30. She recently coached the U.S. at the 2015 FINA World Championships, where she led the Americans to the Open Water team title. She also was the head coach at the 2013 World Championships, among other international assignments.
* USA Swimming announced its list of the “30 Most Influential People in Swimming over the Past 30 Years” in July of 2015 and USC swimmers and coaches — led by current head coach Dave Salo — accounted for an impressive six members of the elite squad. In addition to Salo on the list are legendary Trojan head coaches Peter Daland and Mark Schubert, former USC All-American and current Cal head women’s coach Teri McKeever, former USC assistant coach, Trojan graduate and all-time swimming great Janet Evans and former volunteer assistant coach Jon Urbanchek.
* Senior Collin Pollard reached the final on platform to cap off the USC men’s and women’s efforts at the 2015 USA Diving Winter Nationals. He finished 12th in the platform final with 992.60 points, 669.80 carried over from the semifinals. FreshmanMadison Witt and senior Sam Adams reached the semifinals on women’s platform, finishing 17th (434.40) and 19th (382.35), respectively.
* Senior Kendyl Stewart competed at the 2015 Duel in the Pool for the U.S., taking fourth in the 100m fly (56.67). Incoming freshman Becca Mann raced twice for the Americans, finishing third in the 800m free (8:12.43) and fifth in the 400m IM (4:31.14). Former Trojan great Katinka Hosszu led Europe’s efforts at the Duel in the Pool with wins in the 200m and 400m IM and the 200m back while fellow Euro teammate and former USC NCAA champ Vladimir Morozov posted top 3 efforts in the 50m and 100m free. Stewart, at the 2015 U.S. Winter Nationals, took third in 58.45.
TROJANS IN THE COMMUNITY
The Trojans’ swimming and diving teams have developed a strong presence in the community, involved in a variety of ways.
* The entire team has adopted the South L.A.-based Bethune Middle School and has worked with its students for the past year to not only overcome fears of water while learning to swim but to develop important life skills as well. The program, kick-started by USC junior and former Trojan swimmer Jamie Christy, includes weekly visits to the school by various USC swimmers. On Nov. 21, in conjunction with the Trojan Swim Club, USC held a fundraising event – the Fall Challenge — for the program. The day before, USC swimmers visited the school for a clinic with students and their parents.
* For the fourth year in a row, USC’s men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams packaged 10,000 meals (on Nov. 10) at Uytengsu Aquatics Center that went directly to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. The entire swim and dive team turned out for the event and packaging meals assembly style to give back to the youth of Los Angeles. “As student-athletes, these kids understand the role they have in helping other people less fortunate than they are,” said Head Assistant Coach Catherine Vogt. “We are just happy to be able to be good representatives of the sport and of USC.” The Trojans partnered with Feeding Children Everywhere, a non-profit organization that works to provide meals to hungry children throughout the world. Student-athletes worked together to measure, package and seal the meals for delivery to the food bank.
* Senior Brianna Weinstein was one of two USC representatives at the Pac-12’s SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee) conference in November to discuss various conference issues. In addition to the meetings, the Pac-12 athletes spent time with Special Olympians, unifying in some competitive bowling and heartfelt camaraderie.
Swimming news courtesy of USC Swimming & Diving.
USC is definitely an up and coming team. I know Teri wishes she had Kirsten Vose, and then next year Mann, Mosley, and Wade are all coming in. I agree that without Katie, the NCAA’s is not looking good for our Bears :(.
I don’t think we beat USC this week because one of our top Frosh Katie McLaughlin I think is still wearing a neck brace. She would have won one or two individual events and would have been a big factor in the relays, but we will have to wait and hope she is ready by the PAC12 Conference Championships February 24-27. If not, we will really be at a disadvantage at NCAAs. Besides USC is loaded in depth of top swimmers, maybe even more than Stanford.
I hope we pull out an upset.