LA JOLLA, Calif. – UC San Diego swim opened the 2024-25 season with a two-day invitational vs. Cal on Oct. 11 and 12. 20 Triton newcomers took to the pool with 18 making their collegiate debuts and two making their debuts as Tritons.
After 30 events over two days, both squads fell to the Golden Bears. The women fell in a 394-167 result and the men scored 167 to Cal's 389.
ON THE WOMEN'S SIDE
The Triton women were led by freshman newcomer
Madison O'Connell. Her debut began on Friday in the 200 medley relay pushing the Tritons to a 1:39.51 result as she led the relay team with a 25.26 split. This is the current fastest mid-major relay time in the nation. O'Connell was the only Triton to win an event over the Golden Bears. She went on to win the 100 back with a time of 54.17.
Chloe Braun added her support with a close second-place finish in the 100 breast with a time of 1:01.41. The junior was 0.51 behind the Cal swimmer. Making her collegiate debut,
Hayley Gregory finished just ahead of Braun in third in the 200 breast with a time of 2:16.28. Another podium finish waws posted by
Asia Kozan in the 200 fly with a time of 2:01.59. In the 200 back,
Eva Boehlke finished third with a time of 1:58.53.
ON THE MEN'S SIDE
UC San Diego true freshman
Hunter Cehelnik made his collegiate debut in six events over a three-session meet vs. Cal. His best swim came in the 50 freestyle with a time of 20.57. Cehelnik made his debut in the 200 medley relay with a split of 20.70 in the fly leg to help the relay to a 1:30.43 finish. In all four of his individual events the freshman finished in the top 5.
In his debut,
Jack O'Shaughnessy added his support with a second-place finish in the 100 back, posting a time of 48.65. In the 200 IM,
Nathan Lee finished third with a time of 1:49.09.
Luigi Franco swam a 1:45.49 in the 200 back for a third-place finish.
Making his collegiate debut,
Charlie Franz earned second place in the 1650 free with a time of 15:46.17.
Jackson Bernstein joined Franz in the event and finished third with a time of 15:52.99. The men's 200 free relay team made up of Cehelnik,
Ryan Kirton,
Jacob Wang, and
Lucas Brunett finished third with a time of 1:21.51.
TRITON TIDBITS
- Madison O'Connell was the only Triton to win an event over the three days.
- Madison, O'Connell, Chloe Braun, Eva Boehlke, and Asia Kozan swam a 1:39.51 time in the 200 medley relay for the fastest relay swim in the mid-majors.
- 18 Triton freshmen made their collegiate debuts between the two days.
- Mia Park made her NCAA Division I debut after transferring from El Camino College.
- Owen Ngan made his Triton debut after transferring from Hawai'i.
UP NEXT
The Tritons remain in La Jolla to host Clairemont-Mudd-Scripps for their annual dual meet on Saturday, Oct. 19. The meet is set to begin at 12 p.m. and is free to attend.
