HISTORY A
n opportunity. That’s how Ed Denny viewed the upstart California University of Pennsylvania swimming program 11 years ago. A decade later, the Vulcans have developed into a perennial contender at the PSAC Championships and a top-20 program on the national stage. With a first-year program, Denny recruited student-athletes on the idea of being part of something that never existed before. The possibility resulted in immediate success for the program, as Sandra Buehler garnered conference and national recognition. A native of Germany, she won the PSAC title in both the 500 and 1000 freestyle and was named the PSAC Freshman of the Year. As a team, the Vulcans finished seventh at the PSAC Championships after posting a 10-0 record in dual meets during the regular season. Buehler also earned All-America status in the 500, 1000 and 1650 freestyle at the 2003 NCAA Championships. The following year, Petra Zavadilova earned AllPSAC honors as the Vulcans finished ninth at the league championships after going 9-1 during the season. She also was a NCAA Honorable Mention All-American in the 100 butterfly as a freshman. In 2005, Cal U posted its best finish to that point at the PSAC Championships, finishing sixth behind individual titles by Zavadilova in the 100 and 200 butterfly. In addition to Zavadilova, Rachel Driver, Miranda King, Anca Mihaiu and Melanie Ruch earned All-PSAC honors. King scored in five events at the league championships, while Mihaiu placed in four events. At the NCAA Championships, Zavadilova received All-America honors in both 100 and 200 butterfly. During the regular season, the Vulcans set the school-best mark with 11 wins in dual meets. Cal U regained its place on the national scene in 2008 with the addition of Ester Bosch. In her first year with the program, she was an All-American in the 100 and 200 freestyle and was Honorable Mention All-American in the 50 freestyle. At the conference level, Bosch was the first swimmer in three years to claim an individual title by winning the 200 freestyle, while the 200 freestyle relay of Bosch, Rachel Kurta, Courtney Schneiderlochner and King became the second relay in school history, and first since 2005, to earn All-PSAC honors. Building off the success of the previous season, Cal U posted a monumental year in 2009. The Vulcans made an astounding jump at the conference level, finishing third at the PSAC Championships after never finishing above sixth. On the national stage, Cal U qualified a school-record nine swimmers for the NCAA Championships, featured a pair of AllAmericans Petra Zavadilova won the 100 and 200 butterfly at the in Bosch and 2005 PSAC Championships.
The Vulcans finished 14th in the team standings at the 2011 NCAA Championships after qualifying eight swimmers for the event in San Antonio, Texas. Marianne Juhl and boasted the school’s first-ever Allin program history, highlighted by Gates claiming American relay team. At the PSAC Championships, national titles in the 50 and 100 freestyle. The Bosch won the 200 and 500 freestyle, while Juhl Vulcans posted their highest-ever finish at the captured titles in the 1000 and 1650 freestyle. For NCAA Championships by placing 12th in the team the first time in program history, all six of the Cal U standings. Gates earned All-America status five relay teams earned All-PSAC honors with Bosch and times and broke the NCAA Championships in the Melissa Gates on four of the relays. Bosch was an All50 freestyle twice. Cal U qualified a school-record American in the 200 and 500 freestyle, while being 17 swimmers for the league championships and a member of the All-American 200 freestyle relay tied the program best by finishing third at the PSAC with Gates, Teresa Hernanez-Verdu and Kurta. Juhl Championships. Gates was selected the MVP of the garnered All-America status in the 1650 freestyle. event and PSAC Swimmer of the Year after winning In 2010, the Vulcans finished fifth at the PSAC a combined five league crowns and breaking three Championships after six swimmers earned All- league championship records. Sophomore Kelsey PSAC honors. Gates developed into one of the Nuhfer, who was a member of the PSAC Champion top swimmers in the country as a sophomore, and All-American 200 freestyle relay, became the finishing fourth in the 50 freestyle at the NCAA first swimmer in school history to be selected an Championships. As a senior, Bosch earned AllAcademic All-American. America honors for the sixth time in her career as a Following her illustrious career, Gates won member of 800 freestyle relay. preliminary heats in the 50 and 100 freestyle at the The following season was another defining year 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. for the development of the Cal U program, as Gates A decade after the start of the program, Cal U became the first National Champion in the history offers an opportunity to compete for conference of the program. As a team, the Vulcans finished titles, earn All-America status, win a National 14th at the NCAA Championships for the second Championship and even a chance to qualify for the time in three years. Gates won the preliminaries Olympics. and finals in the 50 freestyle and also finished third in the 100 freestyle at the NCAA Championships. As a freshman, Clarissa Enslin earned AllAmerica laurels in the 200 freestyle. In addition to the individual success, four relays earned Honorable Mention All-America status in 2011. At the PSAC Championships, the Vulcans again finished third in the team standings with eight All-PSAC swimmers. In 2012, Cal U compiled Marianne Juhl was named PSAC Rookie of the Year in 2009 after the most successful season winning the 1000 and 1650 freestyle at the league championships.
2012-13 CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA SWIMMING GUIDE
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