UCLA’s three national championship teams from last year
entered Washington anxious, not knowing what to expect. They left
with a sense of gratification and memories to last a lifetime.
In recognition of their success, the women’s and
men’s water polo and the men’s tennis teams were
invited to the White House last Tuesday to meet President George W.
Bush and take part in a ceremony with 12 other national
championship teams from around the country.
The meeting was a first for all the Bruins and turned out to be
the largest meeting of NCAA championship teams ever at the White
House.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” UCLA
men’s and women’s water polo coach Adam Krikorian said.
“It definitely lived up to the hype.”
When they found out in early June that they would have an
opportunity to go to Washington, D.C., both of the water polo teams
were shocked.
Krikorian has won seven national titles coaching men’s and
women’s water polo at UCLA, with five of those titles coming
in the last five years. Yet this year marked the first time
Krikorian and his players have been invited to the White House.
“When I first heard about it, I thought it was a
joke,” Krikorian said. “It is amazing what comes along
with success.”
“We were thrilled to be asked to come,” said last
year’s men’s water polo senior captain Joe Axelrad, who
happens to be moving to Washington in a couple of weeks. “It
was such an honor. Everyone was beside themselves.”
The men’s tennis team, fresh off their first national
championship in 21 years, had seen other college tennis teams make
trips to the White House and were eager for an invitation.
“One of the first things the guys asked me after we won
the championship was, “˜When do we get to go to the White
House?'” coach Billy Martin said.
Nonetheless, when they found out they were headed to Washington
to meet the president, they were overcome with excitement.
“I had seen other teams get the chance to go, and I was
hoping we’d get invited,” said recently graduated
tennis captain Alberto Francis. “You only get to do something
like this once in your life.”
The teams arrived in Washington on Monday evening, then relaxed
and prepared for the events of the next morning.
The Bruin teams woke up early Tuesday morning to go to the White
House and were soon assembled in a room in the East Wing and were
told that President Bush would be there to visit them shortly.
The news had a quieting effect on the players in the room.
“We’re usually a very loose and talkative
group,” said Krikorian about his teams. “But when we
heard that the president was coming to meet us we got really quiet
and anxious. When we walked in the room, you could have heard a pin
drop.”
After the president walked in and casually introduced himself,
the room exploded in cheers.
“He was pretty cordial,” Martin said. “He made
us feel welcome and relaxed.”
After the introductions were made, representatives from each
team ““ Francis from the tennis team, Axelrad from the
men’s water polo team and Nicolette Grams from the
women’s water polo team ““ presented the president with
gifts.
The water polo teams presented President Bush with personalized
swimming robes for himself and first lady Laura Bush and the tennis
team presented Bush with a personalized tennis warm-up uniform.
Axelrad also presented Bush with a Speedo. As he handed it to
the president, he said, “You should try it on. It’s
quite liberating.”
“I think I’m going to liberate myself in
private,” was Bush’s response according to Axelrad and
Krikorian.
After the gifts were presented, Bush spent a few minutes making
friendly conversation with the players and coaches.
When Martin told Bush that one of his players, Francis, was a
fellow Texan, Bush became particularly interested. Francis comes
from the small town of McGowan, Texas.
“He knew all about my hometown, and he knew which high
school and elementary school I went to,” Francis said.
After the UCLA teams were done meeting with Bush, they attended
a ceremony with 12 other national championship teams at the South
Lawn. The UCLA teams were the first teams to be recognized by the
president.
“UCLA has won more NCAA championships than any school in
the nation, so it’s fitting that three of the champs here
today wear the uniform of the Bruins,” Bush said.
“I had the honor to meet all three teams. I’m glad
you’re here. Thanks for coming. Congratulations on a job well
done.”
After the ceremony, the teams took tours around Washington in
the limited time they had left and headed home that evening.
Although it was a short trip, the visit to the White House
provided the Bruin players and coaches with lasting memories.
“It was probably the quickest trip I’ve ever been
on,” Francis said. “But it was definitely well worth
it.”