By Errol Erin
Daily Bruin Contributor
The No. 6 UCLA women’s swimming and diving team tore up
the competition taking second place behind the No. 2 Arizona
Wildcats (1,229.5 points) this past weekend at the Pacific 10
Conference Championships. The Bruins (1,130) edged out No. 10 USC
(1,099.5), which finished third, while No. 3 Stanford (1,033.5) and
No. 4 Cal (942.5) finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
“It all came down (to us) finishing at the end against
(several) legitimate schools,” said swimming Head Coach Cindy
Gallagher.
The Bruins, who were in third place for the first two days of
competition and considered the underdogs going into the weekend,
surged to second on the last day at Weyerhaeuser King County
Aquatic Center in Federal Way, Wash.
“It was a total team effort,” said diving coach Tom
Stebbins. “We went in as the underdogs and challenged
everyone. It was the closest Pac-10 (championship) in history and
the kids were sensational.”
Freshman Sarah Platzer and senior Beth Goodwin paced the Bruins
during the three day meet.
Platzer continued her astounding season performances taking
third in the 50-yd freestyle with a season best time of 22.82,
while sophomore Erica Shugart finished fifth with a season best
23.21 in the same race. Goodwin added to the effort placing third
in the 100-yd butterfly with a season best time of 53.39 and
freshman Brooke Winkler placed third in the 400 individual medley
with a season best 4:17.03.
“It was really exciting (setting the records) because the
whole team got into it,” said Winkler.
The divers were led by senior Anne Baghramian and sophomore
Heidi Prosser. Baghramian finished fourth in the 3-m event (493.70)
while Prosser placed fifth in the 1-m (270.35) and seventh in the
3-m (459.65). Sophomore Regan Gosnell led the squad on the platform
as four Bruin divers placed into the top twelve including
Baghramian (375.10), junior Chrissie Amorosia (367.75), and
freshman Michelle Brown (338.05).
“We were well-trained, calm and patient,” Baghramian
said. “As a team we did a really good job and finished ahead
of Arizona.”
Placing second was even more rewarding for the Bruins as they
avenged conference losses to USC, Cal and Stanford.
“The Pac-10s are more like the NCAAs and beating them
means we are getting better,” Gallagher added. “It was
a good rehearsal.”
With the exceptional performance at the Pac-10 championships,
both teams are excited and hold high expectations for the NCAA
Championships.
“I am so encouraged by my kids right now and we are very
confident heading into the Zone E meets,” said Stebbins.
“We have a strong team of nine swimmers heading into the
NCAAs and we have what it takes to win,” Gallagher added.
The swimmers have several weeks off before the NCAA
Championships in Long Island, N.Y. on Mar. 15-17. The diving squad
will return to Federal Way, Wash. to compete in the NCAA Zone E
Diving Championships on Mar. 9-10.
 CATHERINE JUN Senior Beth Goodwin is
shown here competing in the 100 yard butterfly in a meet earlier
this season. 1.Arizona 1,229.5 2.UCLA 1,130 3.USC 1,099.5
4.Stanford 1,033.5 5.Cal 942.5