2016 Olympic Trials finalist Cassidy Bayer announced earlier this week on Wednesday she was leaving Cal Berkeley, and will join the Tennessee Volunteers in the fall of 2021.
“To Berkeley & Cal Women’s Swim, thank you,” Cassidy Bayer wrote on social media. “Thank you for pushing me to the impossible, helping me when I needed it, and for bringing me friends I will have for a lifetime and beyond. Sometimes life happens and we need more help than we thought. I want to thank Cal for the help I received as well as the wonderful team and coaches who have supported me since day one and continue to do so.”
Bayer, a member of the U.S. national team, finished third at the 2016 Olympic trials in the 200-meter butterfly (2:07.97) and fourth in the 100 butterfly (58.11), nearly making the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in two events at age 16. Both of those times were second on the all-time list in the 15-16 age group behind Mary T. Meager.
Bayer redshirted last season for the Golden Bears. As a freshman, she was a big contributor and scored points for Cal in the 200-yard butterfly at the 2019 NCAA Championships, finishing 15th in 1:55.77. She also placed 57th in the 500 free (4:49.99). She swam one and a half seasons in Berkeley, as she left school in January to take time away from swimming for personal reasons.
Cassidy Bayer was an elite age group swimmer at Nation’s Capital Swim Club and shined in high school in her hometown of Alexandria, Virginia, at West Potomac High School.
Cassidy Bayer will be joining a Tennessee freshman class next year that includes:
- Brooklyn Douthwright
- Summer Eaker
- Josephine Fuller
- Sammy Huff
- Kate McCarville
- Asia Minnes.
- Amber Myers
- Cory Shanks
- Summer Smith
- Sara Stotler
- Lauren Wetherell
