While most sports get some sort of break during the calendar year, two UCLA sports consistently operate on a year-round schedule: swimming and diving.
Competing as a club team named Team Bruin, swim coach Cyndi Gallagher and her athletes have geared up training in preparation for the USA Swimming National Championships in three weeks time.
The young team, which had a positive end to the last NCAA season, is using the summer to compete in events that field some of the top international swimmers and improve on individual times.
“It’s a little bit more casual without a dual-meet every other weekend,” Gallagher said. “You’re swimming more for yourself than your team.”
On the docket last week for Team Bruin was the Los Angeles Grand Prix, held at USC Thursday through Sunday.
The best finish of the long course event ““ which included top club swimmers and potential Olympians from around the world ““ came from the 400 medley relay team, which included sophomore Emily Andelson, senior Brittany Beauchan, junior Yasi Jahanshahi and recent graduate Kirsten Byers. The foursome posted a third place finish in a time of 4:17.84.
Jahanshahi also finished sixth in the 200 butterfly (2:11.74) and 19th in the 100 fly (1:01.06). Beauchan posted two top 10 finishes in the breaststroke events: ninth in the 200 (2:33.40) and 10th in the 100 (1:10.86).
“I’m pleasantly surprised because we’re kind of taking off from what we did this year,” Gallagher said. “We have that same kind of enthusiasm and confidence and it’s just kind of rubbed off on everybody now.”
Gallagher also pointed to the performance of Andelson in the 100 backstroke (1:03.78) on the final day, in which she finished 18th and broke a national standard time, as the best of the weekend.
“Her backstroke’s been looking really good, and she doesn’t train that much at it, so I think she even surprised herself.”
Diving competes at Zones
Senior Laura Winn and sophomore Michelle Vale represented UCLA this weekend in an offseason event. At the U.S. Summer National Diving Championships (Zone D) in Mission Viejo, Winn and Vale both earned spots at the Senior National Championships.
Winn qualified on tower, her best event throughout last year, while Vale qualified in the 3-meter springboard also the 3-meter synchronized, an event not contested during the NCAA season.
“For them to step up and move on … is a nice affirmation that the work we did this spring and summer is starting to take hold,” diving coach Tom Stebbins said.
The national meet will be held Aug. 10-15 at College Station, Texas.
Assistant coach resigns
Erika Stebbins, who served as assistant swimming coach under Gallagher for five years, announced her resignation last month after having her first child with husband Tom Stebbins.
“This job is just all-consuming,” said Gallagher. “When you have a newborn, it’s pretty difficult. With her and Tom traveling, you know, where do you put the kids?”
Stebbins will continue to be involved with the aquatics program by coaching the club Masters Swimming team.