Thursday, March 13, 1997
SWIMMING:
Gallagher’s philosophy stresses working together
UCLA Sports Info
Cyndi Gallagher
By Evelyn Chan
Daily Bruin Contributor
Swimming head coach Cyndi Gallagher, while sitting in her
cubicle office, looks up from her computer keyboard. A sign on the
far wall behind her displays the motto, "Teamwork" right above her
head.
As the swim season comes to a close, the success of the UCLA
squad  which will send eight swimmers to the NCAA
Championships on March 20 Â can be attributed to that
philosophy.
Many of the team’s accomplishments reflect the unique training
program that Gallagher has for each individual. In contrast to most
swimming programs throughout the nation, Gallagher notes that she
is more of a guide for the swimmers than a strict enforcer of
training regiments.
"I really believe in each swimmer taking responsibility for
their own destiny and success. We give them the information. They
could take it and then use it or not use it (at all)," Gallagher
said.
"The coaches are only here for four years (for the swimmers).
This is a lifetime experience and they (the swimmers) should be
able to grow and learn, and be able to know in four years when they
graduate that they did it themselves."
Recent losses to No. 2 Stanford, California and USC may have
been disappointing, but Gallagher hopes her team has learned from
the setbacks.
"Number one, racing against fast people is always good and
that’s who we race against in Pac-10s and NCAAs. We just go in and
have fun."
In the Pac-10 Championships, Gallagher saw her team finish a
disappointing fifth behind Stanford, USC, Arizona and Cal. Despite
the standings, individual finishes were extremely promising.
Although the season may have ended for most of the swimmers,
those that have qualified will compete in the NCAA Swimming and
Diving Championships, Mar. 20-22 in Indianapolis, Ind.
"My eyes are always on the NCAAs. That’s what my job is Â
to get the most amount of people in the NCAAs," Gallagher says.