Queen of the Pool

Friday, Sept. 23 | 11 AM PT | Anderson Aquatic Center | San Luis Obispo, Calif.
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California opens the 2016-17 season with what has become a traditional stop in San Luis Obispo for the Queen the Pool meet with Cal Poly. The unique competition tests the swimmers on their versatility, with each person taking part in five 100-yard races - freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly, backstroke and individual medley. All times are combined, and the one with the fastest overall time is declared the queen.

Given past history, look for senior Celina Li to content for the title as she goes for her fourth consecutive crown. Li clocked a time of 4:47.80 last year with a win in one individual event - the 100 IM.

The Queen of the Pool marks the first of seven fall meets for the Bears. After an Oct. 7 visit to Oregon State, Cal returns to Berkeley to host Washington State Oct. 21, Nevada Nov. 4 and Texas Nov. 11. Following a trip to the Georgia Invitational in early December, Bears close out the semester with San Jose State at home on Dec. 21.

LOOKING BACK AT 2015-16
In 2016, Cal earned its eighth consecutive top 3 finish at the NCAA Championships - the longest current streak in the country - with a third-place finish at the national meet. Rachel Bootsma completed her collegiate career as a three-time champion in the 100-yard backstroke, while the foursome of Farida Osman, Kristen Vredeveld, Valerie Hull and Amy Bilquist - all returnees for this season - captured the 200 free relay title. At the Pac-12 meet, Osman won both the 50 free and 100 butterfly, while Bilquist claimed the 200 back, with Osman, Vredeveld, Bootsma and Bilquist prevailing in the 200 free relay.

RIO RECAP: 8 MEDALS AT THE OLYMPICS
A total of 10 current and former Bears qualified for the 2016 Olympics in Rio, and together they came home with an impressive eight medals. Two current members of the squad - sophomore Kathleen Baker and freshman Abbey Weitzeil - certainly made their marks. Baker grabbed a silver medal in the 100-meter backstroke - the fourth consecutive Olympics a Cal swimmer has medaled in the event - and she took gold as part of the U.S. 400 medley relay. Weitzeil also gained her medals in relays with silver in the 400 free relay and gold for her role with the medley relay. Two other current Bears - senior Farida Osman (Egypt, 50 free, 100 fly) and junior Noemie Thomas (Canada, 100 fly, 400 medley relay) - also donned their country's colors in Rio. Alum Dana Vollmer earned gold in the medley relay, silver in the 400 free relay and bronze in the 100 fly, while Missy Franklin took home gold in the 800 free relay. The others who competed were: Stephanie Au (Hong Kong), Lauren Boyle (New Zealand), Yvette Kong (Hong Kong) and Camille Cheng (Hong Kong).

RACHAEL ACKER: PAC-12 WOY
Rachael Acker, who earned her degree in French last May, was named the 2016 Pac-12 Woman of the Year and is one of 30 finalists for the NCAA Woman of the Year award. Acker is currently studying at the University of Rennes in France as a Fulbright Scholar and plans to attend medical school next year. The NCAA honor will be announced at a banquet in Indianapolis Oct. 16.