CATHERINE JUN Julie Madden swims the
500-yd freestyle during a meet against Washington State and UC San
Diego earlier this season. Stanford 168 UCLA 133
Cal 161 UCLA 139
By Errol Erin
Daily Bruin Contributor
The No. 2 UCLA women’s swimming and diving team suffered
its first two losses of the season this weekend against No. 4
Stanford and No. 6 Cal.
On Friday, the Bruins battled the Cardinal at the Avery Aquatic
Center in Palo Alto. Stanford, who has never lost a dual meet at
home, was seeking revenge after being upset last year by the Bruins
(154-145) at UCLA’s Men’s Gym for the first time
ever.
This time Stanford won 168-132 despite strong performances by
UCLA swimmer Sarah Platzer and diver Heidi Prosser. Platzer took
the 50-yd freestyle (23:54) and the 100 free (51:33), while Prosser
dominated the 3-meter springboard, taking first place (209.45).
Stanford’s Misty Hyman earned event titles in the 200-yd
free (1:48.46), 200-yd butterfly (1:57.20), and the 100 fly (53.55)
to lead the Cardinal, while teammate Shelly Ripple posted wins in
the 200-yd backstroke (2:01.19) and 200-yd individual medley
(2:03.14)
Despite the tough loss, UCLA diving coach Tom Stebbins was
pleased with the overall performance. “The team was best in
the 1-meter, but (Stanford) does hard dives and they were flawless
(on Friday),” he said.
Saturday, the Bruins faced the California Golden Bears at
Berkeley. Platzer again led the Bruins, setting a new record in the
50 free (23:17), breaking the old Spieker Aquatics Complex record
of 23:25 set by Sandy Nelson of the 1987 USA National Team. Platzer
also won the 100 free (50:41) while senior Beth Goodwin placed
first in the 200 fly (2:00.36) and sophomore Erin Zehntner took the
500-free (4:59.98).
Prosser led the way for the diving squad, continuing her
outstanding performances by placing first in the 1- and 3-meter
events.
Cal was led by Natalie Coughlin, who set three new Spieker
Aquatic Complex records in the 200 free (1:46.93), 200 back
(1:57.02) and the 100 fly (52:68).
The Bruins will have a week to rest before facing USC to
conclude the regular season on Feb. 10. The Trojans’ diving
squad is led by Nicci Fusaro and Kellie Brennan.
Stebbins says the team is excited to face the No. 8 Trojans.
“We are going to need Heidi, Anne (Baghramian), and Regan
(Gosnell) to step up,” he said. “Heidi has really
battled back after a serious back injury to get back to where she
was a year ago, Regan is still rusty (from missing several weeks
due to injury) but is improving and Anne can break out at any
time.”
Earlier in the week, UCLA swim coach Cyndi Gallagher said the
team is focusing on the Pac-10 championships on Feb. 21. UCLA has
never won a Pac-10 title but Gallagher says they are the team to
beat.
“(We have) 35 girls while most teams have about 18 to 20.
We also have eight divers that can score, giving us the advantage
of being a big team,” Gallagher said.