Golden Nuggets: Berkelocene, and a whole mess of Athletes of the Week!
Another win for the UCB Chemistry Department and Lawrence Berkeley! I get partial credit for that C- I got in Chem 1B.
Hello and welcome to Golden Nuggets! In this weekly write up, we try our best to cover all things Cal, Berkeley, Bearkeley, UC Berkeley, University of Cal Berkeley, University of Berkeley at Cal, BerkeleyInspire, and California State University Berkeley that happened more or less in the last week! Let’s dig in!
UC Berkeley Chemistry Department - 17, Stanford University Pee-Wee Chemistry Department - 0
Listen I’m not actually keeping score but we all know who is winning. Anyways, a few weeks ago we mentioned that researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory recently discovered a new molecule, berkelocene. Chase Hunter at Mercury News wrote some words on the discovery here. In a fitting tribute, Berkelium was used for the experiment in the same lab that it was first discovered in by Glenn Seaborg.
“Russo, researcher Stefan Minasian, and 17 other scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory had created berkelocene, a new molecule that usurps theorists’ expectations about how carbon bonds with heavy-metal elements. In the future, berkelocene may help humanity safely dispose of nuclear waste (editor’s note: much like that found around Palo Alto!), according to a study published in the academic journal Science in February.”
Hot Links
ESPN previewed the incoming recruiting classes for Women’s Basketball in 2025, including your 21st Ranked Incoming California Golden Bear Class
The Berkeley Library is hosting a new exhibit, “From Cartonera to Cordel” exploring the cartonera movement in Buenos Aires in 2003 “when local artisans began creating handmade books with striking painted covers”. The exhibit runs through August. Check it out!
ESPN entertained the 64-Team Football Playoff a la March Madness. Your California Golden Bears got a 15-seed and nearly upset Notre Dame
Russell Wilson helped Camden Jones and his family out in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire in Los Angeles
Marshawn Lynch in a resurfaced interview talked about how Aaron Rodgers covered one of his mistakes back in his freshman year
The University of California was created 157-years ago this week!
Golden Bear Honors
Former Men’s Gymnastics Coach Barry Weiner was announced into the USA Gym 2025 Hall of Fame
Isabelle Stadden, Leah Polonsky, Mckenna Stone, and Mary Ambre-Moluh set a Cal record in the 2025 NCAA Championships in the 200-yard medley. They also were announced as All-American First Team members!
Ruby Swadling was named to the Cutino Award Watchlist for Women’s Water Polo
Georgia McCorkle (Cross Country, Track and Field) was featured as part of Women’s History Month
Mya Lauzon was named the ACC Gymnast of the Year to the surprise of no one who has been paying attention. Mya was also named the All-Around Beam and Floor Champion of the ACC.
Maddie Williams was named the ACC Floor Co-Champion
Justin Howell and Elisabeth Crandall-Howell were named ACC Co-Coaches of the Year
Cal Rugby earned a No. 1 seed in the National Collegiate Championships
Rand Santos and Solomon Williams (Rugby) have been named as Rudy Scholz Award Nominees! Vote for them here!
Cal Men’s Tennis moved up to #10 in the ITA Team Rankings
Cal Women’s Tennis moved up to #17 in the ITA Team Rankings
Jessica Alsola (Women’s Tennis) was named the ACC Player of the Week
Bernardo Munk Mesa (Men’s Tennis) was named the ACC Freshman of the Week
Johnny Goode was named the Men’s Track Athlete of the Week
Brandon Cheeks II was named the Men’s Track Freshman of the Week
Jacob French (Baseball) was named the ACC Player of the Week
Cal Athletics Recap
The NCAA Women’s Swim and Dive Championships happened! Read the recaps here (Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4)
Men’s Tennis beat No. 6 Virginia and Virginia Tech
Track and Field competed at the Hornet Invitational in Sacramento (Day 1, Day 2)
Women’s Tennis beat Virginia and Virginia Tech for their 8th Straight Meet
Lacrosse lost at Duke but beat Winthrop
Softball went 2-2 on the week against Virginia (6-7, 5-6, 12-3) and Howard (9-3)
Beach Volleyball lost to LSU but beat Texas, and beat Florida International and Georgia State
Baseball swept Stanford (13-7 RUN RULED, 13-4, 6-5) and beat USF 10-6
Rugby beat Saint Mary’s
Women’s Water Polo lost to USC
Women’s Basketball lost to Mississippi State
Women’s Gymnastics came in 2nd at the ACC Championships
Cal Pros Recap
Georgia Hunter Bell is the first Golden Bear in history to win a medal at the World Indoor Championships, taking bronze in the 1500m race
Karlie Lema got things rocking in her Bay FC Home Debut with this absolute gem of a goal
Marshawn Lynch was selected into the Madden 25 Ring of Honor
Cam Jordan hosted former USC/Washington and current Texas Coach Steve Sarkisian on his podcast where Sark talked about game planning against Cam
Jared Goff is set to appear in the 2nd Season of Netflix’s “Quarterback” series
The Oakland Ballers announced that they re-signed former Cal Pitcher Luke Short
Next Week in Bear Territory
Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships begin (3/26-3/29)
Men’s Tennis plays against Old Dominion (3/26), Boston College (3/28), and SMU (3/30)
Women’s Tennis competes at Florida State (3/28) and Miami (3/30)
Softball plays at James Madison (3/26) and Clemson (3/28, 3/29, 3/30)
Men’s Golf competes in The Goodwin (3/27-3/29)
Track and Field competes in the Texas Relays (3/27-3/29)
Women’s Golf competes in the PING/ASU Invitational (3/28-3/29)
Baseball competes in Louisville (3/28, 3/29, 3/30) and against Sacramento State (4/1)
Men’s and Women’s Rowing competes in the San Diego Crew Classic (3/29)
Lacrosse competes at Clemson (3/29)
Women’s Water Polo takes on Indiana in Bloomington (3/29) and Michigan (3/30)
Well that about does it this week. Pretty light week! Thanks Spring Break! As always, let me know what I forgot in the comments, and what you plan to use berkelocene to clean up in your life!
Thanks for all the info on Cal spring sports