Caltech Women's Swim & Dive found some key conference victories in 24-25, breaking numerous program records along the way.
First-year Elizabeth Ma (Burien, Wash. / Mount Rainier) announced her arrival on the collegiate scene by breaking three Caltech program records. On Saturday, Oct. 26 at home against University of San Diego, She swam the 1000-yard freestyle faster than any female Beaver in history (10:47.97) The meet was the first of Ma's career, and her time was sufficient to win the event. Her finish was 4.9 seconds faster than the previous record, which had stood since 2019.
Less than a month later, Ma broke the program record in the 400 individual medley at the Occidental invite Nov. 24 with an event-winning time of 4:35.52. She won the race by a margin of exactly five seconds over the second-place finisher. At the same meet, first-year Grace Tuhabonye (Austin, Texas / St. Andrew's Episcopal) achieved another program record, winning the 500-yard freestyle in a time of 5:06.13. Finally, at the SCIAC Championships, Ma set a program record in a third different event, the 1650-yard freestyle, swimming the event in 17:55.58.
Beaver swimmers also earned recognition outside of the pool. Graduate student Anne Lin (San Diego, Calif. / University of California, San Diego), Seniors Paulina Naydenkov (Santa Barbara, Calif. / Albuquerque Institute of Math and Science) and Elizabeth Field (Charlottesville, Va. / Monticello) along with junior Elizabeth Won (Hong Kong / Hong Kong International School) were each named to the Division-III Academic All-District team
As a team, the Beavers emerged victorious from four conference dual meets. The first victory of the season came Nov. 2 on the road against Occidental, 161-129. Caltech dominated in the diving events as first-year Ava Balanon (Vacaville, Calif. / Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy), junior Jana Woo (Saratoga, Calif. / Monta Vista) and first-year Kassie Kristufek (McKinney, Texas / McKinney) closed out the top three spots in both the women's 1m diving and 3m diving events. Balanon and Woo, respectively, won those events. Tuhabonye won two swimming events at Occidental, and sophomore Allison Xin (Broomfield Colo. / Stargate Charter) took first in the 100-Yard Backstroke, including herself among other Beavers to nab first-place finishes at the meet.
Caltech blew Redlands out of the water at home, 194-99, in its next dual victory, Jan. 4. The Beavers were facing two opponents simultaneously, as Cal Lutheran also made the trip to Pasadena. Balanon and Woo once again closed out the top two spots in the 1mtr and 3mtr diving events, with Balanon winning the first and Woo taking the top spot in the latter. Caltech also took first in the 200 Medley Relay.
The Beavers finished the season in strong fashion, disposing of Whittier on the road, 188-97, Jan. 26 before throwing themselves a 162-49 party on Senior Day against La Verne Feb 1. Caltech claimed the top seven spots in the 50-Yard Breaststroke, as sophomore Cherise Wong (Millbrae, Calif. / The Nueva School) won the event.
Caltech swimming looks increasingly promising under Head Coach Andrew Brabson heading into 2025-26. Keep an eye out for a full season schedule.
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