Normally, fans from opposing teams would not mention football game scores at swim meets; however, the rivalry between USC and UCLA runs deeper than that.
Though the Bruins did not prevail in delivering recompense for the 50-0 pounding at “The Crosstown Showdown” this past November, UCLA swim and dive put forward an impressive effort against No. 7 USC (6-2, 5-2 Pac-12) this past Saturday.
“I’m from Texas, so I didn’t really understand the huge rivalry between USC and UCLA,” said freshman diver Emma Ivory-Ganja.
“But it’s really fun and great to be a part of. I had more fun today than I’ve had at any other meet.”
This meet also marked the last regular-season competition of the year, as well as the last home meet for senior swimmers Bianca Casciari, Madison Fitzgerald, Yasi Jahanshahi, Kelsey Louden, Annie Stefanec, Paige Treleven and Isabel Williams.
Despite the 170-130 final score, the Bruins (4-5, 2-5 Pac-12) posted numerous season-best marks and 24 NCAA “B” qualifying times.
“I love swimming against ‘SC,” said sophomore swimmer Kathryn Murphy. “You don’t really know what it means until you get here. Everyone gets going, your heart races, and you get excited for everyone else, watching (them) have great swims. It really contributes to your own success.”
Murphy won the 50-yard freestyle event and competed as the first leg of the meet’s final event: the 200-yard freestyle relay. The Bruins won the final race, earning an NCAA “B” time and erasing the facility record posted by No. 1 Cal just two weeks ago.
The diving competition commenced on Friday with the 3-meter dive and continued on Saturday with the 1-meter dive and platform dive event. The diving team was led by Ivory-Ganja who placed second in both the 1-meter and 3-meter dives.
“I thought we bounced back from that being tentative (on Friday), and we really kind of got after it today,” said diving coach Tom Stebbins. “While we made some mistakes, and weren’t perfect, I thought we were really good both on 1-meter and tower.”
Junior Maggy Boydand sophomore Paulina Guzman placed third in the 3-meter and 1-meter, respectively, and redshirt sophomore Michelle Vale placed fourth in both dives.
“This is always the biggest meet of the year for us,” Stebbins said. “I think our group is really zoned in on what’s going to happen in two weeks at the conference meet. I think we’re in a really good position to make a run at potentially winning our area, and that’s been our goal and our focus from the beginning of the year.”