In what was abbreviated season with only one scored dual, Stanford women's swimming and diving continued to prove few programs can match its achievements. Even with a roster of only 20 available athletes, the Cardinal continued its unmatchable streak of national dominance.
An Unmatched Streak
A short-handed roster and an abbreviated schedule could not keep Stanford from extending a streak that can never be matched by any other program. The Cardinal finished ninth at the NCAA Championships with 159 points for its 39th-consecutive top 10 showing – a streak that dates to the inaugural NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championship in 1982. Since then, the Cardinal has never finished outside of the top 10 at the national championship.
Stanford is the only school to have never finished outside of the top 10. Cross-bay rivals California owns the second-longest streak of top 10 NCAA finishes at 24.
Caretakers of a Legacy
With her victory in the 400 IM at the national championship, Brooke Forde continued another impressive streak for the Cardinal. Forde's national title in the event, swam in a pool record of 4:01.57, is the fifth-straight national title by a Cardinal swimmer in the 400 IM.
Ella Eastin won four-straight titles in the event from 2016-19, while Maya DiRado was the 400 IM national champion in 2014 – giving Stanford six of the last seven titles in the 400 IM – another streak no other program can lay claim to.
Forde's national title in the event gives the Cardinal 13 titles all-time in the event.
Forde's Trophy Case Fills Up
It was a dominant season for Brooke Forde, who to date has claimed the following honors this athletic year:
- NCAA champion in 400 IM
- Four-time CSCAA All-American in 400 IM, 500 free, 800 free relay, 200 breast (Second Team)
- Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year
- Two-time Pac-12 champion (500 free, 400 IM)
- Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll
- Scored team-high 45.5 points at NCAA Championships to lead Stanford to 39th straight top-10 finish
- Scored 105 points at Pac-12 Championships, producing podium finish in all four events (400 IM, 500 free, 800 free relay, 200 free)
- Recorded nation's fastest time in the 400 IM (4:01.57) and third-fastest time in the 500 free (4:35.22)
- Established pool record at Greensboro Aquatic Center in the 400 IM (4:01.57)
No Shortage of All-Americans
Half of Stanford's active roster in 2020-21 ended the season with All-America honors, with 10 swimmers combining for 28 honors.
The top eight finishers at the national championship earned first team All-America honors from the CSCAA, while the next eight earned second team honors.
Sophomore Emma Wheal led the Cardinal with a total of six All-America honors. A complete list of honors can be found below:
- Fackenthal, Amalie (200 Medley Relay, 200 Freestyle Relay, 400 Medley Relay, 400 Freestyle Relay (2nd Team))
- Forde, Brooke (400 IM, 500 Freestyle, 800 Freestyle Relay, 200 Breaststroke (2nd Team))
- Goeders, Anya (200 Freestyle Relay, 400 Freestyle Relay (2nd Team))
- Green, Lauren (200 Freestyle Relay, 400 Freestyle Relay (2nd Team))
- Lenz, Daria (Platform Diving (2nd Team))
- Pitzer, Lauren (800 Freestyle Relay)
- Raab, Allie (200 Medley Relay, 800 Freestyle Relay, 400 Medley Relay, 200 Breaststroke (2nd Team), 100 Breaststroke (2nd Team))
- Rudolph, Janelle (200 Medley Relay, 400 Medley Relay)
- Tankersley, Morgan (800 Freestyle Relay)
- Wheal, Emma (200 Medley Relay, 200 Freestyle Relay, 400 Medley Relay, 100 Butterfly (2nd Team), 400 Freestyle Relay (2nd Team), 50 Freestyle (2nd Team))
An Abbreviated Season
Due to health and safety restrictions, Stanford held only three competitions during the regular season – with only one dual being scored. All three duals – two in the fall – were against Stanford's cross-bay rivals California.
The Bears, then ranked No. 1 in the nation, defeated Stanford in the lone scored dual, Feb. 13, 178-117. Two weeks later, Stanford departed for the Pac-12 Championships to begin the postseason.
Olympics U
Long known for developing athletes for the international level, the Cardinal will be represented by seven swimmers at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Five-time Olympic gold medalist Katie Ledecky '20 swept every event she competed in at the Olympic Trials – qualifying in the 200m free, 400m free, 800m free and 1500m free. Joining Ledecky in Tokyo will be:
- Brooke Forde '21- 4x200m free relay (USA)
- Torri Huske- 100m fly (USA)
- Simone Manuel '19- 50m free (USA)
- Andi Murez '13- 100m free (Israel)
- Taylor Ruck- 100m free, 100m back, 200m back (Canada)
- Regan Smith- 100m back, 200m fly (USA)
Thank You Seniors
A highly-decorated senior class bid farewell to The Farm this season. Brooke Forde, Katie Glavinovich, Lauren Green, Hannah Kukurugya, Mia Paulsen, Lauren Pitzer, Ashley Volpenhein and Grace Zhao won two national titles and three Pac-12 titles in their Stanford careers. As individuals, the group won five national titles, nine Pac-12 titles and claimed 39 All-America honors.
The group went 22-1 in dual meet action.
Welcome to The Farm
Stanford will welcome another standout class under the direction of the Paul A. Violich Director of Women's Swimming Greg Meehan. Meehan, along with associate head coach Tracy Slusser and diving coach Patrick Jeffrey have signed seven to join the Cardinal for the upcoming campaign.
The signing class of Lauren Burch, Torri Huske, Meghan Lynch, Aurora Roghair, Anna Shaw, Sam Tadder and Amy Tang will join Stanford as freshman. The Cardinal will also welcome Regan Smith, Lillie Nordmann and Samantha Pearson this upcoming season – the three signed with the program as members of the Class of 2020, but deferred enrollment due to complications from the pandemic.