Seniors recall their most unforgettable moments

Seilala Sua, Women’s Track and Field
BEST MOMENT: It was when we won the indoor
championship this year because it was the first one for UCLA. At
the last couple outdoor championships, we only lost by a couple
points. *UCLA’s female winner of the the 2000 Pac-10
Conference Medal *The winningest female athlete in NCAA Outdoor
Championships history *The first athlete in NCAA history to win a
single event (discus) for four consecutive years *All-time leading
UCLA track and field scorer with 107 points Jess Strutzel,
Men’s Track and Field MOST EMBARRASSING
MOMENT: I forgot my shoes at home when we went to the 1999
outdoor championships. I had to borrow Derrick Peterson’s
shoes, and I wasn’t used to them. The year before (in
’98) I wasn’t supposed to get into the finals, and I
did. So coming back the next year, everyone expected me to do well.
I didn’t even make it into the finals. *2000 national indoor
champion in the 800m *Set the UCLA and the season’s best
collegiate time in the 800m in 1998 by clocking 1:45.81 at the
Brunswick, Maine Distance Festival Keiko Price,
Women’s Swimming BEST MOMENT: It
was when we beat Stanford this year (as the underdog), which
we’ve never done. I don’t think I’ll ever forget
when we knew we were going to win and we all got in a huddle and
were cheering. After the last event, when we beat Stanford in the
relay … I just remember the celebration, the hugs that I got, the
looks on my coaches’ faces; they were so happy. *Placed second at
the 2000 NCAA championships in the 100 free *Four-time All-American
Brandon Kramer, Men’s Tennis BEST
MOMENT: Prior to this year, a match had never come down to
me. Because of my style of play, I have a tendency to be one of the
last guys out there, but I never had it be tied 3-3 and have the
match come down to me. At “˜SC, that happened, and I was able
to come through and win it ““ that is a real shining moment
for me in my career. *Two-time All-American in doubles *All-Pac-10
selection *Formed the Pac-10 doubles team of the year with senior
Jong-Min Lee. Julie Adams, Softball MOST
PAINFUL MOMENTS: Dislocating my shoulder in the World
Series, then coming back from three surgeries, and the whole ordeal
with the needle. I sure hope no other UCLA athlete has to
experience that. *1999 Regionals and World Series Most Outstanding
Player *Two-time All-American *Three-time All-Pac-10 Annica
Cooper, Women’s Tennis WORST
MOMENT: My freshman year at National Indoors, there was a
huge crowd and everyone was cheering, and I lost an important
three-set match against Duke. If I had won, we would have gone on
to the semifinals and gotten our best placing in the tournament out
of any year that I played here. The crowd was loud, and they
definitely made it worse to lose the match. *Three-time
All-American *Won the ITA women’s Regional Championship in
doubles in 1999 with senior Amanda Basica *1997-98 Pac-10
Conference Player of the Year Rob Henkel, Baseball
MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT: During my first year,
all the freshmen had to wear a “˜freshman suit’ on a
travel weekend. I wore tight pink bell-bottoms that barely fit me
with my cup and a funky-colored shirt. I looked absurd. I had to
walk around the airport begging for money. On the flight, I was
called over the plane’s PA system to pass out peanuts. All of
the passengers were staring at my package. *Three-time Louisville
Slugger National Player of the Week in 2000 *Graduating with 3.2
GPA, a degree in sociology and a business specialization
Heidi Moneymaker, Gymnastics MOST
UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Just before the second meet at
NCAAs, Valorie (coach Kondos) told me and Lena Degteva that, to
her, it didn’t matter if we won or lost as long as we had
fun. She said, ‘No matter what, I want you to go out there and
enjoy yourself.’ That meant a lot to me. I knew how bad I wanted to
win and I knew how bad she wanted to win, but it was more important
to her that we go out on a good note for ourselves. *Won an NCAA
title every year at UCLA *Two-time Region 1 and Pac-10 Gymnast of
the Year Danny Farmer, Football/Volleyball
BEST MOMENT: It was just knowing I was playing in
the actual Rose Bowl game. When I was running out of the tunnel
right before the game, it was like, ‘Wow, this is what I dreamed
of.’ While growing up, it was always special for me to watch the
Bruins play in the Rose Bowl, and it was something our team
ultimately shot for. To finally get that ““ that’s a
memory I’ll never forget. *No. 1 at UCLA in career receiving
yards (3,020) and No. 2 in reception (159) *Helped football team
earn two Pac-10 titles (1997-98) and volleyball team win two
national championships (1996, “˜98) Skylar Little,
Women’s Soccer BEST FEEL-GOOD
MOMENT: At the Wake Forest tournament, we were in the
locker room before the game when Jill (coach Ellis) said, ‘I have a
surprise for you. Someone came a long way to tell you good luck.’
And then Will, this kid with Down Syndrome who became a fan of
ours, came into the room. A lot of people were crying and laughing;
it was really great. And after that Will warmed us up ““ he
led us through the jogging and the stretching, and got us water and
sat on the bench. *Two-time NSCAA All-West selection *1998 UCLA
Most Valuable Player Brandon Taliaferro, Men’s
Volleyball MOST STUNNING MOMENT: My
sophomore year when we played Long Beach in MPSF playoffs, about a
hundred of my closest friends came to the game all dressed up, like
in thrift store clothes and sunglasses. They walked into Pauley
chanting UCLA fight songs. I knew they were coming, but not in that
size and force. I just went completely numb. The rest of the game
was anti-climactic. *Four-time All-American *Alternate setter for
the 2000 Olympics *Bruin career leader in assists (6,840), digs
(831), and aces (176) Catherine von Schwarz, Water
Polo MOST UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: It was
during halftime of the championship against ‘SC this year. We were
up 7-1 and it was unbelievable. Everyone had a smile on her face.
Adam (coach Krikorian) was trying to calm us down and tell us that
the game wasn’t over, that ‘SC could come back. But if your team is
down by that much, all your confidence is gone. And to be on the
flip side of that and know that they were hurting … you could
just feel our energy. *First female athlete at UCLA to be a member
of four national title teams *Four-time All-American Web adaptation
by AVISHAI SHRAGA/Daily Bruin Senior Staff