Cal Swimming Well Represented on 2015-16 Team USA Roster

BERKELEY - Team USA should have a decidedly blue and gold tone to it as the 2016 Rio Olympics draw nearer with Tuesday's announcement that 16 swimmers with Cal ties will be included on the U.S. 2015-16 National Team roster.

On the men's side, 2015 NCAA and Pac-12 Swimmer of the Year Ryan Murphy leads a four-man contingent of current Bears on the team, making the squad in the 100- and 200-meter backstroke. Senior Josh Prenot, a three-time Pac-12 champion in the 400 individual medley, is listed for the 200 breaststroke as well as the 200 and 400 individual medley, while fellow senior Jacob Pebley made the team in the 200 backstroke. One of the newest Bears, freshman Andrew Seliskar, landed a spot in both the 200 butterfly and 400 individual medley.

Joining the current Bears on Team USA's roster is a quartet of alums that certainly doesn't lack for international recognition. Gold medalists Nathan Adrian and Anthony Ervin are back, with Adrian in the 50 and 100-meter freestyle and Ervin in the 50 freestyle. Fellow Bear alums Tom Shields (100 and 200 butterfly) and Will Copeland (100 freestyle) also made the list, which is achieved by a swimmer ranking in the top six in the United States in events from Jan. 1 to Aug. 10.

For the women, three of Team USA's most familiar stars will bring their Berkeley ties back for another run at Olympic hardware. 12-time Olympic medalist Natalie Coughlin is on the roster once again in the 50 and 100 freestyle as well as the 100 backstroke as she points toward a trip to Rio.

By her side will be three other alumnae, including four-time gold medalist Missy Franklin, the reigning NCAA Swimmer of the Year, Pac-12 Swimmer of the Year and Honda Cup winner as the nation's top female student-athlete. She’s listed in the 100 and 200 freestyle as well as the 100 and 200 backstroke and is one of only three swimmers to earn a spot in four events.

Another former Pac-12 Swimmer of the Year will also join the team as Caitlin Leverenz secured a roster spot in both the 200 and 400 individual medley. Leverenz won bronze in the 200 IM at the London Olympics. In addition, Madison Kennedy gained a place on the list in the 50 free. Cierra Runge, a freshman for the Bears last season who is taking this year off from school to train for the Olympics, made the team in the 400 freestyle.

The Bears have much to be excited about when it comes to the future as well, with three incoming freshmen also on Team USA's roster – Kathleen Baker (100 backstroke, 200 IM), Amy Bilquist (50 freestyle), and Katie McLaughlin (200 freestyle, 100/200 butterfly).