Texas Heads to Tucson in the Dual of the Season
#5 California Travels to Los Angeles to Face #9 Trojans, Bruins
The no. 5 California Golden Bears are heading south to face in-state foes USC on Friday and UCLA on Saturday. Cal is 4-0 in dual meets this year, and 2-0 in the Pac-10, and are coming off of an upset over no. 2 Arizona last weekend. USC (5-1. 2-1) is ranked ninth nationally, and UCLA (5-1,2-1) is unranked, but was at the top of the “also receiving votes” category in last weeks poll.
Last season, Cal split with the two LA schools, defeating UCLA 173-123 and losing to USC 152.50-147.50.
On Friday, there will be many exciting duals between USC and Cal. The 500 freestyle, which most people don’t usually associate with excitement, could come down to the final 25 yards. A pair of young Trojans, sophomore Katinka Hosszu (4:40.87) and freshman Haley Anderson (4:40.93) will take on the expeience of Cal junior Katie Kastes (4:42.03) and senior Lauren Boyle (4:42.31), all of whom have achieved their NCAA provisional cuts.
Hosszu, a Hungarian Olympian, is having an impressive freshman campaign for USC, and has the fastest time in the nation in the 200 fly, and has already received two NCAA ‘A’ times. California brings its own Olympic star power in the form of Sara Isakovic, who has twice represented her native country of Slovenia. Isakovic brought home the silver medal for the 200 freestyle in 2008 in Beijing.
On Saturday, California will head across town to face the UCLA Bruins. Although UCLA lacks the depth to compete with Cal, they do have some very good individual swimmers who should compete for event wins. In the 100 backstroke, Isabell Fischer will come in as the favorite, and has the 6th best time in the Pac-10 this year (54.42). UCLA also has the top breaststroker in the Pac-10, junior Brittany Beauchan (1:00.45, 2:10.43), and is ranked 3rd in the nations in both events.
