California vs. Oregon State
Friday, Nov. 3 | 2:00 PM | Legends Aquatic Center | Berkeley
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California vs. North Carolina State
Saturday, Nov. 4 | 9:00 AM | Legends Aquatic Center | Berkeley
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After spending the first five weeks of the season competing away from home, California makes its Berkeley debut with a pair of meets this weekend, both at Legends Aquatic Center. The Golden Bears host Oregon State at 2 p.m. Friday before swimming against North Carolina State at 9 a.m. Saturday.

The Bears own an 11-0 series edge over Oregon State, but Saturday will mark the first match-up against North Carolina State. Last year, when Cal finished as the national runner-up at the NCAA Championships, NC State placed seventh after capturing the ACC title.

• BEARS HELP PAC-12 DEFEAT TEAM USA AT USA COLLEGE CHALLENGE
With five Golden Bears on the roster, the Pac-12 defeated a select group from the U.S. National team at the USA College Challenge Oct. 21-22 in Los Angeles. In the dual-meet format, the Pac-12 squad won, 326.5-286.5. Junior Kathleen Baker captured two outright titles - the 100-yard back (50.62) and the 200-yard back (1:50.62) - and tied for first in the 200-yard IM (1:53.24), with all three times below the NCAA "A" qualifying standard and ranking as the fastest in the nation so far this year. Sophomore Abbey Weitzeil won the 50 free in 21.63, also fastest in the country and an NCAA "A" time, in addition to anchoring two relays to victory. Katie McLaughlin, Maddie Murphy and Robin Neumann also represented Cal at the meet. 

• SUPER SUMMER FOR KATHLEEN BAKER
Cal junior Kathleen Baker shined on the international stage once again during the FINA World Championships in Budapest over the summer. One year after winning two medals at the 2016 Olympics, Baker added three more medals to her collection with silver in the 100-meter back, bronze in the 200-meter back and gold on the world-record-setting 400-meter medley relay. In addition, she placed fifth in the 50-meter back final after setting an American record in the event during the semifinals.

• SUMMER SWIMS AROUND THE GLOBE
A number of Golden Bears kept busy over the summer representing their respective national teams in competition. Kathleen Baker's results are noted above, but she wasn't the only Cal swimmer at the FINA World Championships. Robin Neumann (Netherlands) was also in Budapest, while recent Cal grad Farida Osman (Egypt) claimed a bronze medal in the 50-meter fly. At the World University Games in Taipei, Katie McLaughlin (USA) earned three relay medals and reached the finals in the 50m and 100m fly, and Sarah Darcel (Canada) finaled in both the 200m IM and 400m IM. Finally, senior Maija Roses (USA) claimed gold medals in the 100m and 200m breast and on the 400m medley relay at the Maccabiah Games in Israel.

• GOLDEN BEAR NOTES ...
Led by CSCAA National Swimmer of the Year Kathleen Baker, Cal finished as the runner-up at the 2017 NCAA Championships - the ninth year in a row the Bears have placed among the top three ... in addition to Baker, Cal also earned NCAA titles in the 200 medley relay and the 200 free relay, with since-graduated Farida Osman winning the 100 fly ... Cal returns 14 swimmers and divers from last year and welcomes 11 newcomers to the roster ... among the group are six 2017 All-Americans - Baker, Amy Bilquist, Katie McLaughlin, Maddie Murphy, Noemie Thomas and Abbey Weitzeil ... junior diver Phoebe LaMay set school records on both spring boards last season.