MINNEAPOLIS – The No. 6 California men's swimming & diving team made its mark on the program's all-time top-10 list as well as the nation's seasonal top times during the first day of the Minnesota Invitational on Thursday.

The Golden Bears' 200-yard freestyle relay team of Evan Petty, Lucca Battaglini, Martin Wrede and Nans Mazellier won with the fifth-fastest time in the country this season at 1:15.74.

Cal also picked up victories in the 50 freestyle, 500 freestyle, and 200 individual medley.

Sophomore Lucca Battaglini captured the 50 free with a winning time of 18.79, which was actually one-hundreths of a second slower than his qualifying time of 18.78 – the sixth-fastest time in Cal history and seventh-fastest in the NCAA this season. Petty placed third (19.16), Samuel Quarles was fourth (19.46) and Wrede finished fifth (19.49).

Freshman sensation Ryan Erisman swam the eighth-fastest time ever at Cal in the 500 free, winning the event in a time of 4:12.78. The Bears took the top four spots in the event – with Nathan Wiffen placing second (4:16.41), Freddy Klein taking third (4:18.93) and Ian Platts-Mills finishing fourth (4:20.18).

Cal also captured the top three spots in the 200 IM, with freshman Kenny Barnicle winning in a time of 1:44.81. Caiden Bowers was second (1:45.65) and Casper Puggaard placed third (1:46.15).

In 3-meter diving, Geoffrey Vavitsas was second with 357.75 points while teammate Jack Clark was third with 349.75.

The meet continues Friday with the 100 butterfly, 400 IM, 200 free, 100 breast and 100 back.


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