NICOLE MILLER/ Daily Bruin Kristin
Guerin is ready to tackle the challenges facing her in her
last year on the water polo team.
By Emily Whichard
Daily Bruin Contributor
It’s senior year. Time to go out in style. But how do you
top a starting position, a scholarship and two national
championships? For women’s water polo senior Kristin Guerin,
that has been a difficult question to answer.
The Newport Beach native has given four years of her life to
UCLA water polo and the rewards have been sweet. She’s played
alongside Olympians, national team players and best friends in
pursuit of two national titles.
But in her final year as a Bruin athlete, Guerin has lost her
starting position to the returning Olympians. Following three years
of loyalty and dedication to the Bruin squad, Guerin is faced with
the prospect of a senior year on the bench. In the face of a less
than ideal final season, Guerin has remained a leader for the
team.
“When anyone plays at this level, the sport is a big part
of their life. I have so much respect for Kristin’s ability
to not let such a disappointment affect her game and her ability to
be a team leader,” said teammate Eleanor Murphy.
Guerin has certainly paid her dues to the sport. Entering with a
class of 13 freshman, she is the lone true senior left standing.
Her senior teammate, Coralie Simmons, is actually two classes above
Guerin. Simmons took two years off to play for the National Team.
Two classmates took redshirt years and will not graduate with her.
Ten more have left the sport.
Murphy, a junior, was one of the redshirts that entered with
Guerin.
“We are the only two who have been here all four years. I
count on her for support a lot. Through it all she has continued to
be a leader,” Murphy said.
Facing cold water mornings, time away from school, and a
restricted social life, the lure into the world away from water
polo always held some appeal. But with each teammate lost, Guerin
found a new reminder of the merits for staying in the sport.
“Seeing 10 other girls quit one by one for various reasons
made me realize why I play,” Guerin said. “It really
makes you appreciate it more.”
In addition to losing teammates to non-aquatic pursuits, Guerin
played on as other team members took redshirt years to play for the
U.S. National Team. Changes in the Bruins’ talent pool
weighed heavily on Guerin’s responsibility to the team.
In her freshman year, Guerin found herself surrounded by such
national team powerhouses as Coralie Simmons, Robin Beauregard and
Catherine von Schwartz.
“She was able to play without pressure,” Head Coach
Adam Krikorian said. “With so many stars around her, she only
had to concentrate on filling her role.”
Sophomore and junior years brought a new set of challenges for
Guerin as the team’s seven top players either graduated or
redshirted to play for the National Team.
“Kristin was suddenly thrust into a position as one of our
main “˜Go To’ players and she had a national title to
defend,” Krikorian said.
Guerin admits she is her own harshest critic . The added
pressure to lead the team and live up to her own expectations
caused problems.
“The new position was a lot more pressure than freshman
year. She began to be very hard on herself. She had so many
expectations and the pressure was hard for her to deal with,”
Krikorian said.
Senior year began with the highly anticipated return of Olympic
silver medalists Beauregard and Simmons. While the new talent
bolstered the team’s chances for another national title, it
left Guerin without an opportunity to start.
“I was upset at first, of course,” Guerin said.
“My roommates and teammates were really supportive. I finally
decided I could spend my senior year pouting or I could enjoy my
final moments in the pool, play my heart out and do the best I
can.”
Krikorian observed the grace with which Guerin handled the
personal obstacle.
“I’ve seen a big change in the way she approaches
games and practice. In the past, when she wasn’t playing her
best she would get really down on herself. I think she realizes
she’s a senior and people look up to her,” he said.
Guerin’s new attitude about her contributions to the team
has made her a better player.
“With her new outlook, when she’s not playing well,
she focuses on what we call, “˜playing in the now’. She
focuses on what she can control at that time,” Krikorian
said.
After her strong performance in recent matchups, including a
half court shot against Stanford this past weekend, Krikorian says
there’s a chance Guerin will return to her starting role.
“She’s playing well and she gives an important spark
to our defense. The energy she brings to the game’s start is
important,” he said.
Krikorian sees Guerin as a source of stability for the young
team.
“She’s been here four straight years, and
she’s really been the team’s rock. She’s provided
stability in her play and in her example out of the water,”
he said.
Kristin sees a similar role for herself.
“As a senior, I want to set an example in and out of the
pool. People look up to other phenomenal players for their
ability,” she said. “I hope they look up to me as I
help the freshman learn the ropes. It’s important that they
understand UCLA has a tradition of excellence, whether we are first
or 15th.”
It appears perseverance pays off. After a long road filled with
challenge and triumph, Guerin is determined to go out in style.
Starting or not, with or without her original class of teammates,
Guerin wants to win again.
“We are so close as a team. I think we can give everyone a
run for their money. It’s my senior year. I want to go out
with a win.”