Tuesday was a day of recognition for the often-overlooked "small sports" at Cal.

"National championships at Cal are frequent, but in no way are they ordinary," Athletic Director Barbour said in her introductory speech in the Hall of Fame Room at Memorial Stadium at the unveiling of the display case honoring the Bears' national champions of 2009.

For a couple of the national champions, winning such a prestigious title was the culmination of weeks of hard work and personal struggle.

Cal men's swimmer Nathan Adrian, the standout freestyle sprinter who garnered NCAA wins in both the 50- and 100-yard freestyle in 2009, ripped his suit going up to the blocks at last year's national championship meet.

"I actually had to delay the meet for 10 or 15 minutes," Adrian said. "Getting up there was kind of tough because I had to let go of everything that had happened and focus on the race ... The current NCAA record-holder was in the race right next to me, so it was a big deal and made me really happy to get my hand on the wall before him."

Erica Dagg, who participated in the Cal women's swimming team's victorious 400-yard freestyle relay, said the wins were testaments to her ability to showcase her best talent in rising above past trials.

"I did not exactly have the most exceptional freshman year," Dagg said. "I just had to really clear my head, dedicate and go above and beyond anything I had ever done before. (Coach Teri McKeever) really helped me and so did (assistant coach Kristen Lewis-Cunnane) and all my teammates."

All in all, the champions' years of practice and dedication seemed to pay dividends.

"It was so much fun ... I knew we could win with the four girls standing there next to me. We knew we were a good group," Dagg said.

The winning relay team also included Hannah Wilson, Liv Jensen and Sarah Isakovic.

"As soon as Liv dove in and did her leg, I was like 'I know we have this.' I just knew," Wilson said. "I would kill to have that again, and it was such a special moment ... we knew how much effort we put in over the years, and it finally paid off."

The Bears added a first-ever NCAA title in women's swimming, an IRA varsity four championship in men's crew, two national relay wins in women's swimming, an NCAA win in women's tennis doubles and individual wins for six athletes from men's swimming, men's track and field, men's gymnastics, and women's swimming to the record books.

Although their achievements often go under the radar, the recognition the so-called non-revenue sports received Tuesday seemed to make it all worthwhile.

"We knew we had it in us," Wilson said. "It was just a matter of time as to when it would happen. To be part of that is something I really don't know how to describe."

Tags: TERI MCKEEVER, CAL, CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS, SANDY BARBOUR