It’s that time, that stage of the year again.
A sense of finality is beginning to emerge. For some, the grueling four-day Pac-10 Championships may just be another step in the journey, but for others the trip to Federal Way, Wash., will be the final go-around.
Hard training and conditioning throughout the long season have provided the UCLA women’s swimmers and divers an opportunity to shine on that huge stage.
This will be the final Pac-10 meet for two separate platoons of seniors: a quartet of key seniors backstroker Erin Frizzell, IM/breastroker Kristen Fischer, sprinter Anna Poteete, and backstroker Madeleine Stanton, and a quartet of divers Brittany Hill, Shannon Pirozzi, Marisa Samaniego and Tess Schofield.
The swimmers and divers will travel together to Washington for the first time in three years.
The stage is set.
“It’s definitely bittersweet, but we have a good group going in, and I think we are going to do well,” Samaniego said.
For Schofield, it’s the ever-changing team dynamic and chemistry that has left a lasting impression on her.
“As seniors go and as freshmen come, I’ve seen that you can really maintain that competitive greatness,” Schofield said. “I have really enjoyed the different phases that the team has gone through.”
The Bruins finished with a 4-5 record while notching just two Pac-10 dual meet victories early in the season.
The team has, however, improved its performance throughout the season, especially at USC.
“We’ve just been trying to take it one race at a time and leave everything in the pool,” swim coach Cyndi Gallagher said.
Senior Madeleine Stanton was named UCLA Student-Athlete of the Week after her stellar performance in which she broke five records and set two lifetime-bests en route to victories in both the 100-meter and 200m backstroke against USC.
Her times rank among the top 15 in the NCAA this season.
Sophomores Lauren Hall, Danielle Milligan and Sam Vanden Berge also had solid outings against USC.
And even faster times are expected this week: The Bruins are now equipped with high-speed suits.
“We’re way better than what I envisioned at the beginning of the year,” Gallagher said. “They’ve worked really hard and the seniors have done a great job of never giving up and improving. We’re going to be fast.”
Samaniego and freshman diver Alyssa Robinson both placed against USC and perhaps had their season-best performances.
“The last couple weeks have been the best of the season, but at this point you are going to have to take hold of what you have and go to battle with it,” dive coach Tom Stebbins said.
Thus, weight training, running and overall workouts have been reduced.
As a result of the tapering, coaches hope the team has the energy necessary to perform at a high level for four days.
“They’re sharp and they’re definitely ready,” Gallagher said.