Samaniego leads divers in Texas

After a subpar performance Friday, senior Marisa Samaniego led the UCLA diving team with a strong performance on Saturday at the Art Adamson Texas A&M Invitational.

Samaniego, after posting a score of 252.50 for the three-meter dive event that placed her sixth, advanced to the finals with a score of 267.25 in the preliminary round, which was good for third.

Freshman Alyssa Robinson was 18th with a score of 222.40, while senior Brittany Hill was 20th with a 216.50.

On Friday, no UCLA diver advanced to the three-meter final. Senior Tess Schofield led the Bruins with a score of 235.05, placing her 14th.

Following close behind were seniors Hill and Samaniego, who finished 16th and 21st with marks of 232.10 and 220.55, respectively.

Robinson put up a score of 203.35, placing her 24th, while sophomore Morgan Erpenbeck followed right behind with a score of 200.60.

SWIM AND DIVE SIGN RECRUITS: Last Thursday, dive coach Tom Stebbins and swim coach Cyndi Gallagher announced the official 2009 recruiting class that features seven swimmers ““ Emily Andelson, Stephanie Christofferson, Laurence Delisle, Kelsey Hall, Lindsey Marchand, Andrea Reigel, Karoline Sanderud ““ and two divers ““ Margaret Boyd and Michelle Vale.

Gallagher landed two of the nation’s top recruits in Andelson and Marchand.

“Andelson and Marchand are two very experienced swimmers that will help our team immediately in the sprint events and relays,” Gallagher said. “They are also incredibly focused and goal-oriented and are ready to take this team to a higher level.”

Both Andelson (100m fly) and Marchand (100m breast, 200m breast, 100m fly, 200 IM) competed in the 2008 Olympic Trials.

“I am very excited about our swimming recruiting class this year,” Gallagher said. “We have seven incredible student-athletes who excel not only in the pool but in the classroom. This could be by far the best academic class we’ve ever signed.”

With current freshmen Yasi Jahanshahi and Madison Fitzgerald performing at high levels, the addition of seven incoming freshmen could help offset the loss of key seniors Kristen Fischer, Anna Poteete and Madeleine Stanton next year.

“(The freshmen) have responded well to the different college environment,” Gallagher said. “The more they compete with the best, the better they’re going to be. We are looking forward to that.”

Stebbins has added two divers, Margaret Boyd and Michelle Vale, who are both expected to provide depth for the next season’s Bruin squad.

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