USC 2018 | The year in athletics: USC racks up 3 more national titles, hits 130
? Year in review: From team championships in water polo and track to strong individual performances, Trojans left their mark on the playing field — and in the community, too
The football season may not have turned out as we’d have liked, but Trojans had plenty to cheer about where USC student-athletes are involved — including the university’s 128th, 129th and 130th national championships. Take a look back at some of the highlights on the courts, course, track and especially the pool.
? An unbelievable run — for a national title
USC’s women’s track and field team won the program’s second NCAA team title by winning the meet’s final event, the 4x400m relay by 0.07 seconds with a dramatic, come-from-behind win. USC’s title was its first since the 2001 team won the program’s first championship. (Watch video of Kendall Ellis’ amazing 4×400 performance.)
? Men win in the pool …
After a memorable season, the men’s water polo team brought a seven-goal lead into the fourth quarter of the championship match and there was no looking back. National Coach of the Year Jovan Vavic’s squad held out to defeat host Stanford 14-12 on Dec. 2 to win the 2018 NCAA title — the Trojans’ 10th men’s water polo title, and seventh since 2008. USC finished with its first 30-win season (30-3).
? … and so do the women
The men’s squad was simply following the path of its female counterparts: In May, the women’s squad, also led by Vavic, also beat Stanford to claim the national title. It was the sixth title won by the women’s team — and both squads’ titles have come under the watch of Vavic, who was also this 2018 women’s National Coach of the Year.
? A new look for an old friend
Cranes and construction crews made for a unique year at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, where a $300 million project got under way to update the 95-year-old stadium and add world-class amenities. But the show must go on: The legendary field — the only stadium in the world to have hosted two Olympics (with a third on the way) — continued to host Trojan and Rams football games.
? More winners in the pool
Trojans’ victories in the pool weren’t limited to water polo. Among the swimming highlights of the year were sophomore Louise Hansson winning USC’s first NCAA title in the 100-yard butterfly (with the second-fastest mark of all time) and the men’s team of Dylan Carter, Santo Condorelli, Robert Glinta and Carsten Vissering winning the 200-yard medley relay with the second-fastest NCAA-title-winning-time ever.
? Top-ranked golfer, top team
On the links, senior Justin Suh had arguably one of the best seasons in USC men’s golf history. Suh, the world’s top-ranked amateur golfer, led the team to individual and team Pac-12 Conference titles for the first time since 2011.
? Another USC QB goes in the first round
Following the likes of first-round picks Mark Sanchez, Matt Leinart and Carson Palmer, Trojan Sam Darnold headed to the NFL as the No. 3 pick in the first round of the draft. Darnold headed to New York; he took the field in the season opener and led the Jets to an impressive 48-17 win over the Detroit Lions.
? Fourth time in the top four
USC joined Pac-12 rivals Stanford and UCLA at the top of the Division I Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup standings. With 2017-18 national championships in women’s water polo and women’s outdoor track and field, the Trojans placed fourth, their fourth top-four finish in a row.
? Making a difference off the field, too
The dedication of USC’s student-athletes extends off the field, too, through the USC Athletics community service initiative known as Trojan Outreach, with participants from all 21 varsity sports pitching in. Last year, 650 student-athletes performed more than 5,000 hours of volunteer work. That hard work is getting attention: USC was honored as winner of the 2018 Community Service Award sponsored by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and the Fiesta Bowl.
