Missy Franklin shows off her gold medal at an assembly on Aug. 27, 2012, at Regis Jesuit High School. The assembly honored the school's fall prep sports in addition to honoring Franklin's performance at the Summer Olympics, in which she won four gold medals and a bronze in London. (Marla R. Keown/Aurora Sentinel)

Olympic star Missy Franklin has made another golden choice —  to be a Golden Bear at the University of California.

The 17-year-old at Aurora’s Regis Jesuit High School, who won four gold medals and a bronze at the Summer Olympics in London this summer, ended a high-profile chase for her services when she chose Berkeley, home to last season’s NCAA champions.

Franklin also visited the University of Texas and the University of Georgia, but felt right at home on her visit to Cal as she told 9News, which first reported Franklin’s decision.

The Cal program has a slew of Olympic ties, as the Bears’ head coach is Teri McKeever, the coach of Team USA, while Olympic swimmers Rachael Bootsma and Elizabeth Pelton are currently freshmen.

Franklin will be in the pool with another familiar face to Aurora swim fans, as she joins former Smoky Hill star Caroline Piehl — who was her teammate on coach Todd Schmitz’s Colorado Stars team — who is a sophomore this season. Piehl swam in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Omaha, Neb., in June.

Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555

Courtney Oakes is sports Editor and photographer with Sentinel Colorado. A Denver East High School alum. He came to the Sentinel in 2001 and since then has received a number of professional awards from...