NEW COMMIT: Saskatchewan, Canada’s distance standout Michael McGillivray has announced his verbal commitment to Cal and will suit up for the Golden Bears in the fall of 2021.
He will also join Jack Alexy, Jacob Soderlund, Kai Crews and Trent Frandson as members of Cal’s class of 2025.
McGillivray, who has three cousins and two siblings who competed at the college level, swims year-round with Regina Dolphins Swim Team under coach Abderrahmane Tissira. He currently owns 16 Sasktachewan records, including 5 open records. He most recently placed eighth in both the 800m free and 1500m free at the Canadian Swimming Championships this past summer after earning bronze in the mile and taking fourth in the 400m/800m free combo at Canadian Trials in April. McGillivray was also a member of Team Canada’s Junior Pan-Pac team in 2018 where he raced the 200m free. He also competed at the Junior Open Water World Championships.
He told Swimming World:
“Super excited to announce my verbal commitment to swim and study at University of California, Berkeley with the best team in the NCAA. Thanks to my family, teammates, coaches, and friends for all the support! Go bears!”
In LCM, his best times include:
- 200m free – 1:54.84
- 400m free – 3:54.34
- 800m free – 8:05.57
- 1500m free – 15:27.62
In SCY, those times convert to:
- 200 free – 1:40.48
- 500 free – 4:21.28
- 1000 free – 9:01.41
- 1650 free – 15:04.42
When he makes the 1600-mile journey to Berkeley for the start of the 2021-22 season, McGillivray will add valuable freestyle depth to the Bears’ roster. Under head coach Dave Durden, Cal earned their second-straight Pac-12 Championship title and were crowned National Champions after a convincing team win at NCAAs last season.
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