Lucas Henveaux, Mewen Tomac Debut for Cal as Golden Bears Dominate USC

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Lucas Henveaux -- Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Lucas Henveaux, Mewen Tomac Debut for Cal as Golden Bears Dominate USC

The California Golden Bears have finished first or second at every NCAA Men’s Championships since 2010, and they will be in position for another strong finish this year thanks to a talented veteran core plus some strong additions. Two swimmers with strong international track records are now part of the Cal roster, and both made their debut in a dominant win over USC.

Lucas Henveaux previously competed for Cal in 2023, placing ninth in both distance events at the NCAA Championships, and the native of Belgium was a World Championships finalist last February before swimming in the 200-meter freestyle semifinals at the Paris Olympics. Meanwhile, Mewen Tomac finished fourth for France in the 200-meter backstroke final at the Paris Olympics, missing the podium by less than a half-second.

Both newcomers contributed to a 212-88 win for the Golden Bear men, and Cal got a sweep Friday as Isabelle StaddenLeah Polonsky and Mary-Ambre Moluh were the drivers of a 185-115 women’s win over the Trojans.

Henveaux, who previously competed for Cal in 2022 and 2023, debuted with a win in the 200 freestyle, clocking 1:32.14 to enter the national top-15 in the event. He later finished the 500 free in 4:11.17, a time that ranks No. 4 nationally behind the Texas duo of Rex Maurer and David Johnston as well as previous NCAA champion Jake Magahey.

Tomac led off Cal’s 200 medley relay B-team in 21.40, and in his first individual swim, he clocked 46.26 to place second behind teammate Destin Lasco (46.06). Lasco, a fifth-year swimmer racing for the first time this season after narrowly missing the U.S. Olympic team, would go on to sweep the backstroke events, with the three-time defending NCAA champion in the 200 back clocking 1:39.21 in the event.

Several of Cal’s returning stars swam on the Bears’ winning 200 medley relay, with Bjorn SeeligerLuca GissendanerDare Rose and Jack Alexy swimming a time of 1:22.40. Most impressive was Alexy’s 18.34 closing split, and he went on to finish in 41.62 to win the 100 free. Seeliger dominated the 100 free in 18.86, and he took second over 100 yards (42.10), and Rose won the 100 butterfly in 45.17.

Cal’s Gabiel Jett posted an impressive 1:40.06 in the 200 fly. Matthew Chai posted a time of 8:45.81 to win the 1000 free, and freshman Yamato Okadome won the 200 breaststroke by four seconds with a mark of 1:51.65. The team of Matthew Jensen, Seeliger, Lasco and Rose won the 400 free relay in 2:50.33, with Seeliger splitting 41.91 and Alexy going 41.33 to finish off the B-relay.

USC’s Chun Ho Chan earned the first win of the day for his team in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 51.79, and Sanberk Yigit Oktar edged Cal’s Humberto Najera by two hundredths in the 200 IM, 1:45.16 to 1:45.18. In diving, Moritz Wesemann won 1-meter (388.25) and 3-meter (403.10).

The team of Stadden, Polonsky, Mckenna Stone and Moluh won the 200 medley relay in 1:34.30, just six hundredths off the Bears’ season-best mark that ranks third nationally behind Virginia and Texas. Moluh split 21.36 coming home before going 22.01 for the win in the individual 50 free.

Moluh won again in the 100 free (48.35), and Polonsky captured first place in the 200 free, clocking 1:44.05 to edge out the 2024 NCAA runnerup in the event, USC’s Minna Abraham (1:44.19). Polonsky later took first in the 200 IM (1:56.68). Stadden checked in at 50.26 to win the 100 back before going under 1:50 for the first time this season in the 200 back, posting a time of 1:49.96. The fifth-year swimmer ranks No. 6 nationally in both races.

Lilou Ressencourt won the 200 fly (1:55.30), and teammate Lizzy Cook won the 100 fly (52.02). Moluh, Stadden, Morgan Brophy and Stone finished in 3:14.11 to win the 400 free relay.

USC’s Claire Tuggle won the 1000 free in 9:34.50, followed by Kaitlyn Dobler swimming a time of 59.22 to win the 100 breast. Dobler later won the 200 breast in 2:11.33, and Justina Kozan topped a tight 500 free (4:42.58). Diving wins went to USC’s Kate Miller on 1-meter (303.60) and 3-meter (307.35).

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