LETTER
from
Director
of
Athletics Sandy Barbour
Dear Friend of Cal Athletics:
D
uring the Games of the XXXth Olympiad in London, we watched the best athletes from around the globe face each other at the highest level of international competition. And once again, Golden Bears played a substantial role, with 46 athletes, coaches and staff representing our university. By the time the Games concluded in mid-August, Cal’s medal total added up to 17, matching our all-time record for one Olympics and giving us 50 medals over the past three Olympics. With 99 gold medals in our history, I can’t wait for the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro where we’ll pass the 100 mark!
Just as they displayed their talents in Berkeley, many of the Golden Bears became even bigger stars at these Games. From Dana Vollmer’s three gold medals in swimming (including a pair of world records) to Nathan Adrian’s own three medals in the pool and Alex Morgan’s heroics on the soccer pitch, the world witnessed much of what we have known all along – that Cal not only attracts, but also trains and produces some of the most outstanding athletes on the planet.
But athletic success is only part of the story. Behind the headlines lies the fact that many of our most accomplished Golden Bears are also some of our highest achievers in the classroom, showing that at Cal, the words student and athlete can coexist without compromise.
As one example, Nathan Adrian, who captured the 100-meter freestyle and anchored a pair of medal-winning relays, earned our male Neufeld Scholar-Athlete Award in 2010 as the graduating senior student-athlete with the highest grade-point average, compiling a 3.75 GPA on his way to a degree in public health.
• • •
Some other notable standouts include:
Natalie Coughlin – the most decorated female Olympian in U.S. history with 12 career medals who was a three-time Pac-10 All-Academic choice and a national scholar All-American as a senior.
Alex Morgan – a three-time Pac-10 All-Academic selection who graduated in just three-and-a-half years in order to be able to pursue her dream of playing with the USA national soccer team.
Dana Vollmer (swimming) and Elsie Windes (water polo) – multi-time academic all-conference picks and now multi-time Olympic medalists. The list could go on and on, but I think the point is clear: we boast a roster of exceptional student-athletes who have the ability to shine in all of their endeavors. Congratulations are in order for each of the decorated Golden Bears who earned the right to participate in London and for all those who helped them reach this pinnacle of success – coaches, teammates, support staff, family, friends, and, of course, our cherished Bear Backers. We thank you for your support, which allows each of our student-athletes the opportunity to fulfill their dreams and flourish as never before.
Issue 41 – Fall 2012 ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATION DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS: Sandy Barbour DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS/CHIEF OF STAFF: Teresa Kuehn Gould DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS/COO: Solly Fulp SENIOR ASSOCIATE AD/ INTERCOLLEGIATE SERVICES: Foti Mellis HIGH PERFORMANCE DIRECTOR: Keith Power ASSOICATE AD/BUSINESS: Laura Hazlett ASSOCIATE AD/BUSINESS & REVENUE DEVELOPMENT: Matt Terwilliger ASSOCIATE AD/HUMAN RESOURCES & FINANCIAL SERVICES: Dawn Howard EDITORIAL STAFF 349 Haas Pavilion Berkeley, CA 94720 EDITOR: Herb Benenson CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Scott Ball, Dean Caparaz, Doug Drabik, Melissa Dudek, Anton Malko, Kyle McRae, Tim Miguel, Anna Oleson-Wheeler DESIGN: Evan Kerr PHOTOGRAPHY: John Todd (GoldenBearSports.com), Michael Pimentel, Michael Burns, Richard Ersted, John Dunbar, Evan Kerr, Don Feria, Getty Images, among others
ATHLETIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE 195 Haas Pavilion Berkeley, CA 94720 (510) 642-2427 bearback@berkeley.edu
ATHLETIC TICKET OFFICE (800) GO BEARS For daily updates on Cal Athletics, including schedules, press releases and player profiles, visit the department’s official website at CalBears.com.
ON THE COVER With a renovated and modernized California Memorial Stadium reopening in Berkeley, Golden Bear fans will be welcomed home to Strawberry Canyon this fall. Photo by John Todd (GoldenBearSports.com).
We look forward to seeing you in Berkeley this fall. Welcome home! Go Bears!
Sandy Barbour
Director of Athletics
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cal sports quarterly
General Manager: Damon Dukakis (510) 643-4825 damon.dukakis@imgworld.com The Cal Sports Quarterly is published four times per year by the University of California Athletic Department.