After a tip from one of our readers, we have been able to confirm that former Auburn All-American Tony Cox will be transferring to Cal, not USC, next year.
The move is not a huge surprise, as when we originally talked to Tony about his transfer he mentioned that he was very tempted by going to Cal to swim on a medley with their superstar Tom Shields.
Last year, at NCAA’s, Cox finished 7th in the country in the 100 back, with a best time of 46.11, and is also a very good 100 butterflier (though he scratched the race at NCAA’s). He and Shields will suddenly become a dangerous half of a spectacular medley relay – one that Cal will badly need after Mathias Gydesen graduates.
This move helps solidify Cal’s ranking as the #2 incoming class in the country, and will greatly accelerate their rebuilding process.
It’s true that Cal left several off of their NCAA team last year, and will probably continue to leave a few guys off a year in the future, but I would imagine the swimmers know that going in, and that they will improve anyway. They also get a lot of instaters, so that helps. Stanford on the other hand seems to recruit a ton of fast swimmers and expect only a few to improve to NCAA level.
Seems to me that A) these kids are going to Cal for little $. Cal gives more $ as the years go on based on NCAA points they score, i believe. But, B) too big and talented a team for lots of these good swimmers ever to be on a relay and thus score more points…
Dumb question….when will Cox be eligible to swim for Cal. Does he have to sit out a year when transfering from one Div I university to another Div I?
Cox was 45.7 at SECs.