Arizona State vs. Cal — Dual Meet Live Recap (original) (raw)

#9/1 CAL VS. #4 ARIZONA STATE

Anya Pelshaw contributed to this report.

And we’re back at it again with yet another dual meet live recap, covering a Pac-12 showdown between Arizona State and Cal. The men’s side of this meet in particular is going to be extremely competitive, as the Cal men are the defending NCAA champions and the ASU men are ranked #4 in the latest SwimSwam power rankings—although the Sun Devils have been ranked #1 in the last two CSCAA polls and scored the most points in a mythical NCAA championship based off of midseason times.

Even though Cal is the top men’s team in the NCAA, the ASU men are coming with a lot of momentum, especially after they set five different nation-leading times in their dual against Stanford yesterday. One particular highlight was Leon Marchand, who clocked a crazy 1:49.16 200 breast and 1:38.89 200 IM double in the same session. With the 400 IM being raced over the 200 IM today, Marchand could be on NCAA record watch in his best event.

On the women’s side, the #9 Cal women will be favored against an unranked ASU team. However, ASU’s Lindsay Looney made some noise at the ASU-Stanford meet yesterday as well, being just off her personal best in the 200 fly.

ASU appears to be suited, while Cal is not.

WOMEN’S 200 MEDLEY RELAY

  1. Cal ‘B’ Relay — 1:37.57
  2. ASU ‘A’ Relay — 1:39.49
  3. Cal ‘C’ Relay — 1:39.77

Score Update: Cal 13, ASU 4

The Cal women went 1-2 to kick things off today, as Isabelle Stadden (24.48), Jade Neser (27.45), Mia Kragh (23.65), and Mckenna Stone (21.99) won by over two seconds in a time of 1:37.57. That time is a little over two seconds off Cal’s midseason invite time of 1:35.62.

In second were the ASU women, with Charli Brown (25.22), Iza Adame (27.66), Jade Foelske (23.86), and Erin Miligan (22.75) combining for a 1:39.48. They just edged out Cal’s ‘C’ relay, which consisted of Ayla Spitz (25.58), Lea Polonsky (27.80), Emily Gantriis (23.89), and Ella Mazurek (22.50). At invites, Ganrtiss was swimming free on the ‘A’ relay while Kragh was swimming fly on the ‘B’ relay.

MEN’S 200 MEDLEY RELAY

  1. ASU ‘A’ Relay — 1:22.77
  2. ASU ‘B’ Relay — 1:24.29
  3. Cal ‘A’ Relay — 1:24.89

The ASU men dominated against the defending champs, as Jack Dolan (21.10), Leon Marchand (22.99), Max McCusker (19.90), and Grant House (18.78) clocked a 1:22.77, which was just 0.17 seconds off of their nation-leading 200 medley relay time of 1:22.60 posted yesterday. While Dolan, McCusker, and House were slower than they were yesterday, Marchand was 0.11 seconds faster than his 23.10 breast split.

Even ASU’s ‘B’ relay was firing on all cylinders, as Jack Wadsworth (21.70), John Heaphy (23.73), Cody Bybee (20.26), and Jonny Kulow (18.60) placed second in 1:24.29. In fact, Kulow’s freestyle leg was faster than House’s on the ‘A’ relay. This quartet beat Cal’s top team by 0.6 seconds, as Cal’s Bjorn Seeliger (21.52), Liam Bell (23.49), Dare Rose (20.92), and Jack Alexy (18.96) came in third with a time of 1:24.89. Cal’s season best remains the 1:22.84 they set at invites, but Bell, Rose, and Alexy all came very close to their midseason splits today.

Notable, Gabriel Jett spit 21.83 on back and Reece Whtiley split 23.79 on breast on Cal’s second relay that finished fourth.

Score Update: ASU 15, Cal 2

WOMEN’S 1000 FREE

  1. Katherine Randall, ASU — 9:50.14
  2. Fanni Fabian, Cal — 10:10.49
  3. Mackenzie Nedom, ASU — 10:15.27

ASU freshman Katherine Randall was dominant in this 1000 free race, winning by over 20 seconds in a time of 9:50.14. This time was a massive personal best for her, beating out the 9:56.03 she clocked in March 2021.

In second was Cal’s Fanni Fabian, who clocked a 10:10.49. Finishing nearly five seconds behind was Randall’s ASU teammate Mackenzie Nedom, who went 10:15.27 for third.

Score Update: Cal 18, ASU 18

MEN’S 1000 FREE

  1. Zalan Sarkany, ASU — 8:50.25
  2. Daniel Matheson, ASU — 9:03.78
  3. Jake Mason, ASU — 9:12.44

Just a day after breaking a 39-year old team record in his first-ever yards swim, ASU’s Zalan Sarkany did it again, swimming a 8:50.25 in the 1000 free to beat out the record time of 8:50.56 he set yesterday. He has now broken the team record twice in his first two times swimming the 1000-yard free.

ASU went 1-2-3 in this race, as Daniel Matheson and Jake Mason finished behind their teammate Sarkany. Matheson’s time of 9:03.78 was just over a second off his season-best of 9:02.72, which was set in a 1650 free swim at midseason invites.

Score Update: ASU 31, Cal 5

WOMEN’S 200 FREE

  1. Lindsay Looney, ASU — 1:45.65
  2. Ieva Maluka, ASU — 1:46.93
  3. Ayla Spitz, Cal — 1:47.48

Lindsay Looney had a big swim in this 200 free race, as she shaved 0.14 seconds off her personal best time of 1:45.79 set at NCAAs last year. She won this race by over a second, and her teammate Ivea Maluka finished behind her with a 1:46.93. Maluka neared her personal best, which is a 1:46.87 from midseason invites.

Cal’s highest finished was Ayla Spitz, who went a 1:47.48.

Score Update: ASU 33, Cal 22

MEN’S 200 FREE

  1. Grant House, ASU — 1:31.84
  2. Gabriel Jett, Cal – 1:33.28
  3. Patrick Sammon, ASU — 1:33.96

After setting the nation’s top time in the 200 free yesterday, ASU’s Grant House pulled off another win, clocking a 1:31.84 to touch the wall first by over a second. He was 0.33 seconds off of his NCAA-leading time of 1:31.51, but his time is still faster than anyone else in the country has swam.

Cal’s Gabriel Jett put up an impressive 1:33.28, being under a second off his 1:32.41 from midseason invites. Jett showed off the same closing speed that he had at invites, opening in a 22.02 and then splitting 23.50/24.04/23.72 on his final 150 to run down Patrick Sammon (who closed in a 24.28/24.46 final 100) for second.

Sammon ended up in third with a 1:33.96, being substantially faster than his 1:34.59 from yesterday.

Score Update: ASU 45, Cal 10

WOMEN’S 100 BACK

  1. Isabelle Stadden, Cal — 53.02
  2. Charlie Brown, ASU — 53.74
  3. Annika McEnroe, Cal — 54.51

Isabelle Stadden took the first individual for Cal, as she was first in the 100 back with a 53.02. Behind her was Charli Brown, who beat out her dual meet best time of 53.90 to go 53.74 for second. Brown’s personal best time is a 52.99 from midseason invites.

Cal’s Annika McEnroe was far behind for third, swimming a 54.51. This swim marked her first time under 55 seconds in a dual meet.

Score Update: ASU 40, Cal 34

MEN’S 100 BACK

  1. Destin Lasco, Cal — 45.81
  2. Hubert Kos, ASU — 47.07
  3. Owen McDonald, ASU — 47.12

One race after the Cal women gained their first individual win, the Cal men did the same, with Destin Lasco taking the 100 back by over a second.

In fact, Lasco and second-place finisher Hubert Kos were not too far apart at the first 50, with Lasco opening in 22.12 and Kos opening in 22.41. However, Lasco outsplit Kos 23.69 to 24.66 on the back half to beat him by a significant margin.

Lasco’s time is the third-fastest this season for a dual meet, behind Jack Dolan‘s 45.66 and Kacper Stokowski’s 45.71. Lasco is top performer of the 2022-23 season overall, holding a season-best of 44.88.

Kos, who is more of a 200s swimmer, swam his first-ever 100-yard back race today. Behind him was Owen McDonald, who placed third in 47.12.

Notably, Cal’s Hugo Gonzalez was fifth in a time of 48.49.

Score Update: ASU 54, Cal 20

WOMEN’S 100 BREAST

  1. Iza Adame, ASU — 1:00.74
  2. Ginger McMahon, ASU — 1:01.84
  3. Jade Neser, Cal — 1:02.27

Iza Adame took her 100 breast dual meet in a row here, clocking a 1:00.74 to beat the competition field by over a second. She was just 0.03 seconds off of her time time swam against Stanford yesterday, and just a few tenths slower than her best time of 1:00.37 set in May 2022.

Adame’s teammate, Ginger McMahon, dropped signifiant time off her best time of 1:02.38 to take second. In third was Cal’s Jade Neser, who went 1:02.27.

Score Update: ASU 68, Cal 38

MEN’S 100 BREAST

  1. Leon Marchand, ASU — 51.01
  2. Reece Whtiley, Cal — 53.36
  3. Liam Bell, Cal — 53.53

Leon Marchand was dominant once again, clocking a 51.01 to beat out Reid Mikuta’s 2022-23 top time of 51.14 in the 100 breast. Marchand was 0.14 seconds faster than the 51.15 he swam yesterday against Stanford, which was a team record.

In second and third were Cal’s breaststroke duo of Reece Whitley and Liam Bell, who clocked times of 53.36 and 53.53 respectively. For both swimmers, this race marked their first time swimming the 100 breast at a dual meet.

Score Update: ASU 75, Cal 36

WOMEN’S 200 FLY

  1. Linsday Looney, ASU — 1:53.97
  2. Jade Foelske, ASU — 1:57.14
  3. Lizzy Cook, Cal — 1:59.02

Linsday Looney continues to shine in the women’s 200 fly, as she clocked her third 1:53-point in the event this season. Today, she swam a 1:53.97, which is just a few tenths off the 1:53.48 she swam yesterday, as well as her personal best of 1;53.25.

This was once again another race where ASU went 1-2, as Jade Foelske picked up second. She swam a 1:57.14 today after clocking a 1:56.70 yesterday. In third was Cal’s Lizzy Cook, who went 1:59.02.

Score Update: ASU 81, Cal 44

MEN’S 200 FLY

  1. Alex Colson, ASU — 1:41.45
  2. Andrew Gray, ASU — 1:43.20
  3. Dare Rose, Cal — 1:46.44

Like in the women’s race, ASU had a dominant 1-2 finish in the men’s 200 fly. Alex Colson took first, and even though he faded on his final 50 (his splits were 22.34/25.80/25.89/27.42), he still swam fast enough to win by nearly two seconds. He was slightly slower than his 1:40.99 from yesterday.

In second was ASU’s Andrew Gray, who outsplit Colson on the final 50 (27.41 to 27.42) and swam a 1:43.20. Gray was just 0.1 seconds off his 1:43.10 from yesterday. Cal’s Dare Rose placed third in a time of 1:46.44. Rose is the third-fastest performer of the 2022-23 season with a season-best of 1:41.01, sitting just behind Colson and Leon Marchand.

Score Update: ASU 88, Cal 42

WOMEN’S 50 FREE

  1. Mckenna Stone, Cal — 23.06
  2. Molly Batchelor, ASU — 23.07
  3. Erin Milligan, ASU — 23.15

In the closest race of this meet, Cal sprinter Mckenna Stone out-touched ASU’s Molly Batchelor by just 0.01 seconds, winning in a time of 23.06. This time is Stone’s fastest-ever from a dual meet, beating out the 23.07 that she swam at the Cal-UVA dual meet last year.

Second, third and fourth place in this race were just 0.13 seconds apart, as Batchleor clocked a 23.07 for second, Erin Milligan swam a 23.15 for third, and Ella Mazurek swam a 23.20 for fourth.

Score Update: ASU 89, Cal 55

MEN’S 50 FREE

  1. Jack Dolan, ASU — 19.21
  2. Bjorn Seeliger, Cal — 19.41
  3. Max McCusker, ASU — 19.75

Jack Dolan out-touched Bjorn Seeliger by 0.2 seconds to win this 50 free race, putting up his fastest dual meet time ever. In fact, the 19.21 he swam today was even faster than his 2021-22 season-best, which was a 19.16 clocked at NCAAs. Seeliger swam a 19.41 for second, while Max McCusker swam a 19.75 to make it a ASU 1-3 finish. McCusker was 0.2 seconds slower than the 19.55 he swam to win this even yesterday.

Score Update: ASU 102, Cal 47

WOMEN’S 100 FREE

  1. Molly Batchelor, ASU — 49.44
  2. Erin Milligan, ASU — 49.48
  3. Ieva Maluka, ASU — 49.56

Just minutes after taking second in the 50 free, Molly Batchelor came back to win the 100 free in a close race with her teammates Erin Milligan and Ieva Maluka. Batchelor was first at the 50 by 0.12 seconds, but Milligan outsplit Batchelor 25.28 to 25.36 to come back and close the gap between the two swimmers. At the end of the race, Batchelor, Milligan, and Maluka all went under 50 seconds, being the only swimmers to do so in the race.

In fact, Batchelor’s time was a personal best, beating her 49.88 from the NC State invite.

Score Update: ASU 105, Cal 58

MEN’S 100 FREE

  1. Grant House, ASU — 42.63
  2. Jack Dolan, ASU — 42.64
  3. Bjorn Seeliger, Cal — 43.04

The men’s 100 free was also a very close race, as Grant House and Jack Dolan were just separated by 0.01 seconds at the finish. Dolan opened in a 20.22 compared to House’s 20.68 and was far ahead at the first 50, but House had a 21.95 final 50 compared to Dolan’s 22.42 and ended up running him down at the finish. House was just 0.09 seconds off of his winning time of 42.54 from yesterday.

Bjorn Seeliger placed third with a 43.04 after finishing second in the 50 free. He was slower than House and Dolan on the start and opened in 20.83, but closed faster than Dolan with a 22.21 final 50.

Score Update: ASU 117, Cal 51

WOMEN’S 200 BACK

  1. Isabelle Stadden, Cal — 1:54.82
  2. Charli Brown, ASU — 1:57.60
  3. Annika McEnroe, Cal — 1:58.73

Isabelle Stadden made it a backstroke sweep today by winning the 200 back with a near-three second margin of victory. 1:54.82 is a very solid time for Stadden, as it was considerably faster than the 1:57.21 she swam against Arizona yesterday. In addition, the time is also faster than the two 1:56-point 200 backs that she swam in January 2022.

In second was Charli Brown, who was a little bit over a second slower than the 1:56.54 she swam yesterday. Annika McEnroe was over a second behind Brown for third, swimming a 1:58.73

Score Update: ASU 112, Cal 70

MEN’S 200 BACK

  1. Destin Lasco, Cal — 1:41.24
  2. Hubert Kos, ASU — 1:41.48
  3. Owen McDonald, ASU — 1:44.45

Like in the 100 back, Destin Lasco and Hubert Kos were in another head-to-head matchup in the 200, but it was much closer this time around. At the 100, Kos split 49.60 compared to Lasco’s 50.54 and was leading by nearly a second. Lasco and Kos then both split 25.91 on their third 50, before Lasco went blistering 24.79 to close and overtake Kos, who split 25.97. Lasco’s season-best currently stands at a 1:39.09, while Kos shaved 0.02 seconds off his personal best swam yesterday.

In third was ASU’s Owen McDonald, who clocked a 1:44.45.

Score Update: ASU 125, Cal 62

WOMEN’S 200 BREAST

  1. Iza Adame, ASU — 2:12.57
  2. Emma Gehlert, ASU — 2:13.54
  3. Izzy Krantzke, ASU — 2:14.98

ASU went 1-2-3-4 in the women’s 200 breast, with Iza Adame leading the pack. She swam a 2:12.57 to win by nearly a second, gettin very close to her best time of 2:12.18 from November 2021. Second-place finisher Emma Gehlert and third-place finisher Izzy Krantzke were a second apart, swimming times of 2:13.54 and 2;14.98 respectivley.

Score Update: ASU 128, Cal 70

MEN’S 200 BREAST

  1. Leon Marchand, ASU — 1:48.82
  2. Reece Whitley, Cal — 1:55.46
  3. David Schlicht, ASU — 1:55.74

After Marchand swam his second-ever sub-1:50 200 breast yesterday, he clocked another one—this time putting up a 1:48.82 to get under the 1:49 barrier as well to reset the top time in the country. He was dominant in his race throughout, beating second-place finisher Reece Whitley by nearly seven seconds. You can read more about Marchand’s swims here.

There was a close battle between Reece Whtiley and David Schlicht for second, but Whitley ended up getting the best of Schlicht by a few tenths. Schlicht was 0.05 seconds slower than his time from yesterday that had him finish second.

Score Update: ASU 148, Cal 76

WOMEN’S 500 FREE

  1. Linsday Looney, ASU — 4:45.59
  2. Molly Batchelor, ASU — 4:46.90
  3. Katherine Randall, ASU — 4:50.60

In another impressive showing for the ASU won, Linsday Looney, Molly Batchelor, and Katherine Randall went 1-2-3, with Batchelor and Randall both getting under the 4:50 barrier. Batchelor showed great freestyle range today, swimming the 50, 100, and 500 free events. This swim was a near personal best for Randall, who has been as fast as 4:50.51 in the past.

Score Update: ASU 157, Cal 76

MEN’S 500 FREE

  1. Zalan Sarkany, ASU — 4:17.81
  2. Julian Hill, ASU — 4:19.96
  3. Andrew Gray, ASU — 4:23.02

Zalan Sarkany swept the distance events, clocking a 4:17.81 to win the 500 free. This swim marked a new best time for the Hungarian, as he shaved 0.02 seconds off his 4:17.83 from yesterday. Behind him were ASU teammates Julian Hill and Andrew Gray, who swam times of 4:19.96 and 4:23.02 respectivley.

Score Update: ASU 164, Cal 79

WOMEN’S 100 FLY

  1. Mia Kragh, Cal — 53.48/Jade Foelske, ASU — 53.48
  2. Ieva Maluka, ASU — 53.70

Cal’s Mia Kragh and ASU’s Jade Foelske both touched in a 53.48 to take the win. That was 0.06 faster for Kragh than she was yesterday as she swam a 53.56 in her win against Arizona. Foelske was slightly faster than she was yesterday against Stanford as she swam a 53.87 to finish fourth then.

Score Update: ASU 166.5, Cal 85.5

MEN’S 100 FLY

  1. Max McCusker, ASU — 45.67
  2. Alex Colson, ASU — 46.14
  3. Cody Bybee, ASU — 46.68

ASU went 1-2-3 here in the 100 fly and were led by Max McCusker. McCusker got his first individual win of the day. The Florida State transfer won in a 45.67 which is not far off his best time of 45.01, which he swam at midseason invites. Alex Colson was second in a 46.14. Colson has a best time of 45.02 from 2022 Pac-12s.

Score Update: ASU 180, Cal 82

WOMEN’S 400 IM

  1. Charli Brown, ASU – 4:11.05
  2. Leah Polonsky, Cal – 4:22.48
  3. Fanni Fabian, Cal – 4:22.75

ASU’s Charli Brown picks up her first win today, and did it by a sizable margin. After finishing second in both backstroke events, Brown got it done winning by over 11 seconds here in the 400 IM. The Australian was not far off her best time of 4:09.78 which she swam at midseason.

Cal had a 2-3 finish from Leah Polonsky and Fanni Fabian. Polonsky swam a 4:14.53 at this meet a year ago and has a best time of 4:03.90, and Fabian has a best time of 4:14.19 which she swam at this season’s midseason.

Score Update: 178.5, Cal 92.5

MEN’S 400 IM

  1. Leon Marchand, ASU — 3:31.84 (NCAA/US Open record)
  2. Hubert Kos, ASU — 3:43.77
  3. David Schlict, ASU — 3:46.52

The ASU men earned the sweep here to close out the individual events. Leon Marchand went 3 for 3 on his individual events today, swimming the top time in the NCAA in all three. In addition, Marchand swam a new NCAA record here in the 400 IM. Marchand’s swim broke Cal’s **Hugo Gonzalez**’s record which stood at a 3:32.88 from last year’s NCAA Championships. Gonzalez swam the 400 IM here finishing fifth in a 3:57.92.

Hubert Kos continued his successful debut-weekend touching second in a 3:43.77, finishing second for the third time today.

Gonzalez, the man who got his record broken today, placed fifth in a time of 3;57.92

Score Update: ASU 196, Cal 85

WOMEN’S 400 FREE RELAY

  1. ASU ‘A’ Relay — 3:17.42
  2. Cal ‘A’ Relay — 3:20.99
  3. ASU ‘B’ Relay — 3:22.23

The Sun Devil relay of Lindsay Looney (49.51), Ieva Maluka (49.08), Erin Milligan (49.66), and Molly Batchelor (49.17) closed the meet with a win in the 400 free relay. Maluka’s 49.08 was the fastest split of the flying starts.

In second was Cal’s Emma Davidson (50.66), Ayla Spitz (49.71), Emily Gantriis (50.88), and Isabelle Stadden (49.74), who combined for a time of 3:20.99.

Score Update: ASU 191.5, Cal 96.5

MEN’S 400 FREE RELAY

  1. ASU ‘A’ Relay — 2:48.25
  2. ASU ‘B’ Relay — 2:52.46
  3. Cal ‘A’ Relay — 2:53.05

The ASU men closed the meet how they began, firing on all cylinders with a 1-2 finish in the 400 free relay. The ‘A’ relay of Jack Dolan (42.53), Jonny Kulow (41.75), Max McCusker (42.33), and Grant House (41.64) swam to a final time of 2:48.25. House’s anchor was the fastest rolling split of the field. Their final time was not far off of their time from midseason as they swam a 2:47.93 then which stands as the #2 time in the NCAA so far this season.

The ASU ‘B’ relay of Patrick Sammon (43.46), Cody Bybee (42.67), Tiago Behar (42.82), and Julian Hill (43.51) were second with a 2:52.46, while Cal’s Jack Alexy (43.90), Bjorn Seeliger (43.07), Destin Lasco (42.82), and Robin Hanson (43.26) were third in a time of 2:53.05.

Score Update: ASU 211, Cal 87

In This Story

Destin Lasco
Gabriel Jett
Grant House
Hubert Kos
Hugo Gonzalez
Isabelle Stadden
Jack Alexy
Leon Marchand
Liam Bell
Lindsay Looney
Reece Whitley

About Yanyan Li

Yanyan Li

Although Yanyan wasn't the greatest competitive swimmer, she learned more about the sport of swimming by being her high school swim team's manager for four years. She eventually ventured into the realm of writing and joined SwimSwam in January 2022, where she hopes to contribute to and learn more about …

Read More »