When men’s soccer coach Jorge Salcedo took over the UCLA program in 2004, he understood he was taking over a team that would be a perennial national contender ““ 22 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and an all-time NCAA record of 54-29. He also recognized that he’d be surrounded by numerous players with national-team experience ““ […]
Author Archives: Bryan Chu
Next in line
He admitted he was embarrassed. He didn’t want to bug him. He literally felt unworthy. After all, he’s just a water polo coach meeting one of the greatest coaches ever to grace the sidelines. Nonetheless, it was happening. And it was one of UCLA men’s and women’s water polo coach Adam Krikorian’s most memorable moments […]
W. polo: Senior Golda ends golden career with Cutino Award
It’s been a storybook ending to the perfect season for senior Natalie Golda. Chosen as the Player of the Year by the American Water Polo Coaches Association, Golda led the UCLA women’s water polo team to an undefeated season (33-0) and an NCAA title, the third of her career in Westwood. Now she can add […]
W. polo: Bruins try out for national team
When some of water polo’s youngest stars and craftiest veterans congregate at Los Alamitos, Calif., this weekend to vie for a spot on the U.S. Women’s Senior National team, many of them will be familiar faces. Thirty-one players will partake in the grueling three-day tryout, 10 of whom are from UCLA. The Bruins will be […]
No holds barred
His head pressed firmly into the mat, with his chin and stomach arched toward the air, Sulaiman Tokhi rotates his neck to keep it loose for the abuse it is about to take. As he stands up after stretching, his fingers shake while he retightens the black bandage around his fists. Sulaiman says he isn’t […]
W. polo: Next season to produce new challenges in leadership, competition
Just three days removed from garnering the NCAA Women’s Water Polo Championship, the Bruins can’t help but start thinking about next season. Gone will be one of the most explosive players in collegiate water polo, senior Natalie Golda, who will graduate next month. Yet even without her, next year’s Bruins will have a dynamic similar […]
W. polo: Dual water polo wins reveal coach’s talent
At Monday’s ceremony honoring UCLA as the winner of this year’s crosstown rivalry over USC, four of the school’s most prominent coaches took pictures with the Lexus Gauntlet Trophy. Absent from that photo was the UCLA coach who did the most to help the Bruins garner this honor for the second time in four years. […]