Monday, September 22, 1997 Wide variety of teams offer exciting
opportunities SPORTS: Regular students can join athletic
competition on hockey, cycling, bowling, badminton teams
By Rocky Salmon
Daily Bruin Staff
The Bruins started to dominate on land, sea, air and snow last
year.
Like a masquerade ball, UCLA club sports surprised a lot of
teams last year, and many clubs made it to the playoffs for their
first time. The men’s lacrosse team had an extraordinary run to
make it to postseason play, and the cycling team even created a
legacy reminiscent of the Chicago Bulls by capturing a second crown
at the nationals competition.
This year, the Bruins hope to continue to improve and make it
back to the playoffs. Some teams may struggle because a lot of
players graduated, but others may continue to excel.
The club sports at UCLA read a little like a recipe with a lot
of unusual spices. Hopefully, these teams will be able to bring all
the right ingredients together to help boost the club programs at
UCLA.
Every recipe needs water, and in this case: ice. The ice hockey
team will try to forget a season in which nothing would go exactly
right. Several times, the team had the chance to put the opponent
away but could not bring them down. After a season-opening win
against USC, the club took perennial powerhouses, Stanford and UC
Berkeley, into overtime where they lost in shoot outs.
Yet, last year looked to be their building season, as this year
many players are returning, including sophomore sensations Ben
Theule and James Campbell. If the team can hold on through crunch
time, it looks like they can pull off many upsets.
Cycling returns this year with more title hopes than any other
club sport.
Two years ago, Keith Henderson was the national champion. Last
year, Lane Packwood took his spot and will hold the title, as
others from UCLA, who are the strongest riders in the conference,
try to take it from him at the national competition. If the Bruins
can win again, then there may be a dynasty forming in Westwood.
Women’s and men’s lacrosse look to be very promising in the
upcoming season. Last year, the women’s team struggled to find the
right mix, but many stars appeared, notably goalie Alina Wilga, and
showed that they would make this team better the next year. The
team lost a lot of close games last year because of weak offense,
but this year, experience should help put this team back in the
playoffs.
On the men’s side, things appear to be heading uphill. Last
year, the team ran off six consecutive victories to make the
playoffs before being trounced by previous champion Whittier. With
most of the core players having graduated, it would seem that the
team would be in trouble. However, the emergence of goalie Pete
Abbott and the offensive blitzkrieg led by sophomore Matt Hill
should push the men’s lacrosse team past the first round of the
playoffs.
The men’s and women’s rugby teams are opposites. The women’s
team is a powerhouse in their conference and consistently pound
teams, while the men’s team is trying to build up their tradition
once again.
The women’s rugby team made it to the nationals last year
because of their excellent record. This year, nothing should change
as they always field a strong and competitive squad.
The last of the playoff teams from last year is men’s
gymnastics. A former NCAA sport at UCLA, the men’s club gymnastics
team has continued its winning ways.
Last year the Bruins won the national club championship for the
second straight year. This year, there should be no changing of the
guard. UCLA gymnastics has always been strong, and this year it
will remain that way.
At the Marina Aquatic Center, there are sailing, crew, water
skiing, and windsurfing clubs.
Last year the crew team went to the finals in Northern
California, and the sailing team went to Hawaii for their finals
and even traveled to France for a tournament.
Rounding out the list of spices in the club programs is
badminton, bowling, fencing, shooting, surf and ultimate frisbee.
Each of these clubs periodically have tournaments.
Last year, the surf team went to Blacks Beach, while the bowling
team frequently travels to Las Vegas.
UCLA recreation has about any club sport available that you
could think of. All you have to do is ask.
If you are interested in joining any of these teams, the Wooden
Center has all the information you need, and you could get the
chance to try and bring home a title for the Bruins.
UCLA is becoming stronger and making a name for itself in the
club sports world, and it appears that this year most teams will
only get stronger.
Two UCLA club sports will try to make their dynasties last,
while many more are trying to get into the play offs and hoping
that this is the year that the Bruins wake up from hibernation.