Senior swimmer Krista Daley plans to run the San Diego Rock
‘n’ Roll Marathon in June. The thought of a 26-mile run
in the sun would give anyone an uneasy feeling in their stomach.
But for Daley, that challenge doesn’t compare to the
magnitude of this Saturday’s meet against USC. The home
matchup versus the Trojans is the last collegiate dual meet for
Daley and the five other seniors on the team. During the
competition, all of the seniors will be introduced as they stand on
each of the diving blocks. “We will give the seniors the
respect they deserve,” coach Cyndi Gallagher said. Saturday
night after the meet, the team will have a senior recognition
banquet. Gallagher said they hold the banquet now so that all of
the seniors are given the opportunity to thank people such as
parents, tutors and counselors. Gallagher said the seniors
successfully put forth the necessary efforts in their collegiate
swimming careers. “They lead by example and they have all
grown within,” she said. Senior Kendall Butler, who will join
Daley in running the marathon, says the opponent of
Saturday’s meet, crosstown rival USC, makes her more
determined to win. “I haven’t spent that much time
thinking about it being my last dual meet,” she said.
“I am getting more and more pumped up.” Throughout this
week, seniors have helped the lowerclassmen prepare for the
rivalry. Surprise visitors from other UCLA sports teams have made
speeches at the swim practices all week. Monday, the Bruins’
softball coach motivated the swimmers by emphasizing the importance
of team camaraderie. Butler says she enjoys hearing different
perspectives on the intense rivalry. Most of the guest speakers
share an interesting story about a past USC competition. In
addition, many of the seniors tell motivational stories during the
week. “We know what the meet is like. We know it best and so
we can help the younger girls get ready,” Butler said.
Although the team often ends practice with a “Go
Bruins” cheer, this week that phrase is substituted with
“Beat ‘SC.” The school band and the cheer squad
will attend the meet. Daley said that the Student Activities Center
pool is a small area and should get very loud Saturday
“It’s time to get ready to race,” said Butler,
whose parents and grandparents are flying in from Atlanta, GA. She
says they could not have picked a better weekend. Daley’s
parents, meanwhile, are coming from Auburn to see her swim and to
attend the banquet where all the seniors will give speeches.
“I’m really excited,” Daley said. “I want
the meet to be today.” While preparing for the meet and the
rest of the season, the coaches remind the girls to show their
competitive greatness. Another method of training during the season
is that the team runs together for 30 minutes twice a week. At
least one of the coaches, Gallagher or assistant coach Erika
Hansen, runs with the swimmers. They can often be spotted running
in a tight pack around the perimeter of campus. In June, Hansen
plans to run the San Diego marathon with Butler, Daley and senior
co-captain Eileen Seissen. Maybe after Saturday, the marathon girls
will consider running more. Until then, those seniors and the rest
of the women’s swim team share one main concern: beating
‘SC. “It’s time to be great, at this meet and all
of the meets left in the season,” Gallagher said.
DIVING: While the Trojans may have the advantage of an Olympian
diver on their squad, the Bruins have the favor of a bad diving
facility. “The Canadian Olympic medallist is really good, but
she cannot dive at our pool,” said redshirt junior Sara
Clark. “It’s fun for us to watch the other teams
struggle at our pool.” In order to keep a competitive
advantage during the season, the Bruin divers practice three times
a week at the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center in Pasadena. Three other
days, the girls train at the Sunset Canyon Recreation Center pool
on campus. The Rose Bowl provides better facilities that include
diving towers not found at Sunset. The towers are used only in
championship meets because the squads only compete in the 1-meter
and 2-meter events at dual meets. Saturday’s dual meet
against USC will be held at Sunset at noon. In regards to the meet,
Clark said, “We are at our best now and the rivalry is
strong.”