Cal’s 15-Year NCAA Streak Deserves a Tip of the Cap
The names associated with The Streak read like a who’s-who of NCAA swimming. Nathan Adrian and Tom Shields led the early days. Ryan Murphy, Andrew Seliskar and Ryan Hoffer took turns as go-to guys during the middle of the run. Most recently, Destin Lasco and Jack Alexy carried the program. And through it all, those major names were supported by teammates who continually got the job done and understood the legacy they played a role in upholding.
Last weekend, the University of Texas captured its second consecutive title at the NCAA Championships in Atlanta. The Longhorns secured a 29.5-point victory over Florida, this latest crown marking the 17th in program history. What looked different at the top of the standings was the school missing: Cal. After four days of competition, the Golden Bears finished seventh in the team race, signifying the end of a remarkable stretch.
Beginning with a runnerup showing at the 2010 edition of the NCAA Champs and continuing through last year’s second-place outing, Cal put together a sensational run at the sport’s premier collegiate meet. For 15 straight years, coach Dave Durden led the Golden Bears to either a championship or runnerup finish at the NCAA Championships. That streak featured six titles and nine second-place efforts.
To call what Cal pulled off extraordinary would be an understatement. For a decade and a half, the Bears tapped into their combination of top-end talent and rich depth to stand as a dominant program on the national stage. Top recruits sought to join the Northern California school, both to rise to the next level and to be part of something special. When an athlete committed to Cal, the push for a national championship would be part of his college experience – guaranteed. That sense is not going to end.
After the 2025 NCAA Champs, there was realization that Cal would have a difficult time extending its top-two streak to 16 years. In essence, the program graduated a pair of senior classes, thanks to several individuals exhausting the fifth-year eligibility afforded them due to the Covid pandemic. At the same time, the program bid farewell to the likes of Alexy, Lasco, Dare Rose, Gabriel Jett and Bjorn Seeliger. No school can overcome those types of losses and retain the same power.
Last week was unlike prior years at the NCAA Champs, as Golden Bears did not dot the majority of the finals contested at the McAuley Aquatic Center. Yet, the week was also not without a handful of highlights for Cal, especially in the breaststroke events. Sophomore Yamato Okadome, a standout from Japan, left Atlanta with titles in the 100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke, and figures to be a lynchpin for the coming years. Meanwhile, Ryan Erisman enjoyed a strong freshman campaign and will be a distance-freestyle/400 IM factor for several more years.
Durden has long been one of the premier coaches in the world, having led Team USA at the Olympic Games, and it likely won’t be long until the Bears are again battling for a team crown. One “off” year does not define a program. Rather, 15 years tells a story, and if a rebuilding year means a seventh-place finish at NCAAs, well, that’s an effort that many schools would desire.
Associate head coach David Marsh has announced he will step away from that role, so there will be a change to the staff in Berkeley. But in addition to Okadome and Erisman returning, the incoming freshman class looks strong and includes Baylor Stanton, widely regarded as the top recruit in the country.
How quickly will Cal rebuild and again contend for a national championship? Time will tell. Under Durden’s direction, sooner than later is the likelihood. The Cal legacy is too strong to suggest otherwise, and a passionate fan base will be there with support.
For now, look back at the past 15 years and tip your cap to what Cal achieved. It was one hell of a run.