Rugby
Fourpeat As Bears Win 7s Championship
PHILADELPHIA - The Golden Bears cemented their historic year with steely-eyed resolve Sunday in a three-match run through championship rounds of the Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championship at Talen Energy Field, following Pool A dominance Saturday over Tennessee and Maryland by beating Arkansas State, 24-14, in the quarterfinals, Arizona, 38-5, in the semifinals, and UCLA, 31-7, in the championship final to be named national 7s champions.
In taking its fourth straight CRC 7s national title, the program's 31st overall combined with 15-a-side play, California becomes the first team to win national collegiate championships in 7s and 15s during the same year.
"I'm so very proud of these boys for representing our University with such determination," said head coach Jack Clark, who has been at the helm for all four of the Bears' 7s titles and 23 of the program's 27 all-time 15s crowns. "They are exceptional young men."
Men's Crew
Cal Men's Crew Wins National Championship
WEST WINDSOR, N.J. - California men's crew concluded a successful 2016 season at the 114th annual Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) National Championships held on Mercer Lake in West Windsor, N.J. Cal started the day off with a resounding victory in the varsity eight, winning the team's 17th Varsity Challenge Cup in team history. A silver medal in the freshmen eight, bronze medals in the varsity four and second varsity eight, and a fifth place finish in the third varsity eight combined with the varsity title, brought the Ten Eyck trophy back to Berkeley for the second time in program history.
"It was obviously a great day for the Cal rowing family," said Head Coach Mike Teti. "Today the most important member of that family was our boatman of the past 35 years Mike Fennelly who spent most of his life dedicated to Cal Crew. His initials were embedded on the jerseys of all of our athletes. This regatta was dedicated to him because there's no doubt that he cares more about our program than the rest of us combined. We love him and we already miss him. I'm so happy for Mike and I'm so proud of our team. I'm so grateful for my coaching staff of: Scott Frandsen, Patrick Schulkers, Tom O'Connell, Jay Peart, Jovan Jovanovic, and Cole Reiser. I feel blessed to have such a group of quality people to work with on a daily basis."