UCLA has never been modest about its athletic achievements. Last spring, when it became the first school in the nation to amass 100 national championships, the school released a flood of banners, logos and television spots announcing the Bruins’ dominance.
But for women’s water polo, the team that won No. 100, all the talk and hype of that accolade is far behind them as they prepare for a new season.
Coach Adam Krikorian has built the program into a dynasty. The Bruins’ 5-4 win over Stanford in last year’s title game gave them a third straight national title .
Since then, the team has been the center of attention throughout the off-season. The Bruins were guests of honor at the 2007 Lexis Gauntlet presentation at UCLA, grand marshals of the 2007 Blue and Gold Parade and were even honored at the White House.
Now the 2008 Bruin team is ready to move away from the commotion of last season and focus on their upcoming season and the possibility of taking home an unprecedented fourth NCAA championship.
Krikorian agreed that despite the whirlwind year that ensued following the 2007 win, his team will not dwell in the past.
“(The championship win) is already past us,” Krikorian said. “The new season has started. Every year is completely different and this year’s team is completely different than last year’s team. We’ve already moved on and looking forward to improving and getting to where we were last year.”
With just 12 returnees and 11 freshman, the team is not only much larger than previous years (the Bruins had just 17 players last year), but also less experienced.
“A lot of the older girls have a big challenge this year, as do I and the rest of the coaching staff, trying to get these (new) girls up to speed with what our philosophy is and our style of play,” Krikorian said.
“I’d like to think that our youth is going to be somewhat of a strength in the fact that they bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm. Hopefully that can rub off on some of the older girls.”
With the team divided almost in half between freshmen and returning players, the Bruins will have to work to find the same sense of unity that they have had in years past.
“It’s easy to be somewhat separated and naturally they will be somewhat separated,” Krikorian said.
“But as long as they’re working together and respecting one another and learning from one another, it will be okay.”
Senior Courtney Mathewson also commented on the team’s adjustment.
“Slowly as each practice goes by, we’ve gotten closer and I think that will be essential for us if we want to make a run for the final tournament of the year,” Mathewson said.
“It’s nice to bond with new people. We’ve always had a small team with one or two additions each year, but with such a big group of new girls there’s a lot of personality and it’s fun.”
Mathewson, who has been a part of championship-winning teams for the past three years, is a part of the group of upperclassmen Krikorian expects to emerge as a motivating force within this large and diverse group.
“The juniors and seniors that are in this program have all the accolades, all the experience and all the knowledge,” Krikorian said.
“Certainly they need to get a little bit better, but any one of them can be and are leaders every single day at every single practice.”
As for the game itself, the returning players are confident that they will be ready for the approaching season, which begins with pre-season competitions this weekend in Ann Arbor, Mich. at the University of Michigan Invitational.
“Definitely our counterattack and our aggressiveness (will be some of the team’s strengths),” Mathewson said.
“We’ve been playing against each other for all of fall quarter and these past two weeks, so we’re definitely ready to play against other people. I think slowly as each day goes by we’re going to be more prepared.”
Despite their youth, the Bruins enter the season ranked No. 1 in the MPSF.However, they will have to work hard throughout the season to finish at the top.
Most of all, they want to put the hype of their last championship behind them and concentrate on winning their next.
“I think all the attention has been great for our program, our school and our sport,” Krikorian said.
“But we’re still the same people, our work ethic and our attitudes haven’t changed. We don’t think we’re big shots now, it’s just business as usual here.
“There (are) going to be growing pains at times, but there will also be signs of brilliance.”