ACC Champion Zach Yeadon to Transfer to 2019 NCAA Champs Cal

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Cal Golden Bears get big All-American transfer in Zach Yeadon from Notre Dame.

The California men’s swimming & diving program added four newcomers, including a trio of transfers, to its roster this week, further strengthening the Golden Bears’ depth heading into the 2020-21 collegiate season.

Former Notre Dame swimmer Zach Yeadon, former Indiana swimmer Kai Bathurst, former Cal Poly diver Tyler Wesson and incoming freshman swimmer Tavis Siebert will make their new homes in Berkeley starting this fall. The four additions round out a group of 13 total newcomers on Cal’s 2020-21 roster. Cal previously announced its first nine newcomers in November.

Zach Yeadon’s welcome graphic. Photo Courtesy: @calmenswim

Zach Yeadon, a native of San Antonio, Texas, was a seven-time CSCAA All-American and two-time ACC champion over three years with the Fighting Irish. The distance freestyler scored at both the 2018 and 2019 NCAA Championships and was poised for a strong performance in 2020 before the meet was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic; Yeadon was seeded third in the 500 free (4:10.39) and second in the 1650 free (14:27.93) after earning ACC titles in both events.

As a freshman in 2018, Yeadon equaled Notre Dame’s best-ever finish at the NCAAs by placing fourth in the 1650 free (14:35.98). He has qualified for two events at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials. Yeadon represented the United States at the 2019 World University Games where he was seventh in the 400 freestyle at 3:52.18.

Zach Yeadon will make an immediate impact at Cal in the 500 and 1650 freestyle. The Golden Bears had 14 total swimmers qualify for NCAAs but the meet was cancelled to slow down the COVID-19 pandemic. Yeadon was seeded third in the 500, which was higher than Cal’s Trenton Julian (4:12.77) and Sean Grieshop (4:14.57), and was also seeded second in the 1650 ahead of Grieshop (14:51.09).

Yeadon will join a stacked Cal team coming off a national title in 2019, as they were seeded to finish second at NCAAs before the meet was cancelled. He will have one year remaining of eligibility.

Cal’s Incoming Class:

Kai Bathurst
Forrest Frazier
Dylan Hawk
Matthew Jensen
Tyler Kopp
Destin Lasco
Jack Meehan
Dare Rose
Björn Seeliger
Tavis Siebert
Max Valasek
Tyler Wesson
Zach Yeadon

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