Common sense dictates that the average student doesn’t start preparing for final exams the first week of school.
But members of the swim and dive team do not fit this rule. They are already preparing themselves for their final exam: the NCAA Championship.
The team will be racing time until they get to Auburn, Ala., where the NCAA Championship will present a final test for the athletes.
After this weekend, the Bruins (2-2, 0-2 Pac-12) will host their final three meets at home against Pac-12 juggernauts Stanford (4-1, 1-0), Berkeley (4-0, 3-0 Pac-12) and USC (4-0, 4-0).
“They have all won NCAAs before,” swimming coach Cyndi Gallagher said. “We aren’t lacking for competition, that’s for sure.”
The swim team will travel to Corvallis, Ore., to compete against Oregon State (1-3, 0-2) and Utah (7-3, 1-3).
The Bruins have dominated Oregon State in previous years, leading the series 10-0. Conference newcomer Utah has never competed against the Bruins.
“It’s a Pac-12 conference meet, so we aren’t taking anything lightly,” Gallagher said. “We’re getting everything ready now before Stanford, Cal and “˜SC. It’s another opportunity to go out there and compete.”
Over winter break, the team took advantage of the homework-free weeks to train intensely, and so they will go into this meet somewhat drained.
“We’re trying to get healthy and injury-free,” Gallagher said.
“They really put a lot of time and effort into the training. They worked really hard. At Christmas, we were here, and had nothing to do but swim.
“I’m sure that as it gets closer to the end of January people will get healthier and injury-free.”
For the first time this season, the diving team will be sending five athletes to compete as they travel to Palo Alto for the Stanford Diving Invitational.
Competition will commence with the three-meter dive on Friday, the one-meter dive on Saturday and tower on Sunday.
Along with the swim team, the dive team is also gearing up for a meet against Stanford and Berkeley.
“Our focus will certainly be on Stanford and Cal, and what they bring,” diving coach Tom Stebbins said.
“We’re going to see them in two weeks for a dual meet, and this (weekend) will be a preview for that.”
Despite the increased number of athletes competing, the team is not at its full capacity as two of its members have recently returned from injuries.
“We’re at full-strength, but we’re not at full-strength,” Stebbins said.
Paulina Guzman, sophomore, injured her ankle six weeks ago, and has not been back since.
Michelle Vale, redshirt sophomore, is joining the team after recovering from a severe back injury and shoulder surgery.
She has not competed since last summer.
“It will be weird to not have competed for six months, but I’m really excited,” Vale said. “I’m just focusing on me and competing again.