The Week That Was: Cal Snaps Texas Winning Streak, Wins First National Title Since 2014

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The 2019 Cal men's team celebrates their NCAA Championship Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

This week the Cal Bears won their fourth NCAA title since 2011 in dominant fashion over the Texas Longhorns in Austin, delivering strong performances across the board and ending with Swimmer and Coach of the Year honors. Read about all the best performances from that meet and the other biggest stories of the week below!

The Week That Was #5 – Phelps Family Announces Baby #3

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Photo Courtesy: Slaven Vlasic (Getty Images for Sports Illustrated)

The Phelps family will soon be growing by one, as Michael Phelps and wife Nicole Phelps announced they are expecting baby #3. All four members of the Phelps family confirmed the announcement on their respective social media accounts, which you can see here. The Phelps’ first son, Boomer Robert Phelps, was born on May 5, 2016 just prior to his dad’s last Olympic Games appearance in Rio de Janeiro. His brother, Beckett Richard Phelps, was born less than two year later, on February 13, 2018. The couple has not announced if they know the sex of the baby, nor have they announced when they are expecting.

The Week That Was #4 – Wang Jianjiahe Breaks Asian Record in 800 Free

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Photo Courtesy: FINA

Wang Jianjiahe continued her amazing breakout season at the 2019 Chinese Championships, clocking a new Asian record in the 800 free (8:14.64) to break Li Binhjie’s record of 8:15.46. That makes Wang the third-fastest performer of all-time behind Katie Ledecky and Rebecca Adlington. The 16-year old dropped almost four seconds from her previous lifetime best, a 8:18.09 from the TYR Pro Swim Series meet in Atlanta.

The Week That Was #3 – Report Finds USA Swimming Prematurely Shut Down Sean Hutchison Investigation

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In a new report from the Orange County Register, USA Swimming prematurely shut down the investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against U.S. Olympic and National Team coach Sean Hutchison back in 2011. The newspaper reported that officials and attorneys from USA Swimming falsely characterized that they had completed a “full investigation” into the allegations that Hutchison was romantically involved with former swimmer Ariana Kukors back in February of 2011, when in fact they had shut down the probe before investigators had the chance to interview several key witnesses. Those witnesses included Kukors National Team roommate Dana Vollmer and former U.S. National Team director Mark Schubert. Kukors came forward in February of 2018 with claims that Hutchison sexually abused her. Hutchison since left KING Aquatic Club in Seattle and was permanently banned by USA Swimming.

The Week That Was #2 – Jovan Vavic Pleads ‘Not Guilty’ In Operation Varsity Blues

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Photo Courtesy: USC Athletics

The twelve defendants, including former USC water polo head coach Jovan Vavic, who were arraigned in connection with Operation Varsity Blues all pleaded “not guilty” in court this week. Those charged with criminal racketeering may face up to a 20-year prison sentence and up to $250,000 in fines for their connection with the massive college admissions scandal that was organized by William “Rick” Singer. The former USC coach is accused of accepting up to $250,000 in bribes for helping applicants improperly gain admissions, accepting falsified records that touted the candidates as athletic recruits when they in many cases had no athletic credentials. Vavic was fired as the USC head coach shortly after news of the investigation broke.

The Week That Was #1 – Cal Wins First National Championship Since 2014

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Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

The Cal Golden Bears won the 2019 NCAA Division I Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships this weekend with a dominating performance that left them the only team to score more than 500 points (560). Texas, who was looking for their fifth straight championships, finished second with 475 points. Cal now has four NCAA titles since 2011. The meet started off in record fashion, with Harvard’s Dean Farris smashing the 200 free American record (1:29.15) in the lead off of the 800 free relay while Texas took down the American record for the 800 free relay to win the event. Texas senior Townley Haas also scared the American record in the 500 free, breaking the NCAA mark with a 4:08.19. Cal senior Andrew Seliskar was named the CSCAA Swimmer of the Year after winning the 200 IM (just .01 off Caeleb Dressel’s American record), 200 free, and 200 breast, while head coach Dave Durden was named CSCAA Coach of the Year. You can see all the highlights from the 2019 NCAA Division I Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships here

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Thomas A. Small
4 years ago

Congratulations great job

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