Recent UCLA graduate Kim Vandenberg captured first in her
signature event, the 200-meter butterfly (2:11.75), at the 39th
annual Santa Clara International Invite last weekend. The meet
featured international competitors, including American Olympians
Michael Phelps and Natalie Coughlin, along with Australian Olympian
Ian Thorpe. Vandenberg, a top UCLA swimmer throughout her four
years with the Bruins, powered past the international competitors
in the 200m fly while posting an eighth place finish in the 100m
fly (1:02.09) and helping the 800m free relay team to a 15th-place
finish (8:44.53). Also representing UCLA at the George F. Haines
International Swim Center were Luisa Los-Santos, Jeana Fuccillo,
Isabel Miesner, Courtney Iverson and Jane Imagane. Bruins competing
under different titles who also fared well at the event were Chiemi
Yamamoto, competing for Japan, Shannon Hackett for Canada, Amy
Thurman for Orinda Aquatics and Anna Poteete for Santa Cruz.
Combined, UCLA swimmers tallied 14 top-20 finishes during the
four-day competition. Last season, the Bruins ranked 20th in
national competition.
BASEBALL: Sophomore shortstop Brandon Crawford has been selected
to be a part of the U.S. National team’s 22-man roster.
Crawford batted .318 with six home runs last season and led off for
the Bruins for much of the season. The Bruins have also inked
another recruit for next year. J.D. Haver, a 6-foot-5 pitcher from
Long Beach Wilson High School, signed a National Letter of Intent
to play for UCLA, becoming the 10th recruit to join the Bruins next
season. Haver posted a 7-4 record last season with a 1.44 ERA along
with a .303 average and 22 RBI. The power pitcher also threw for
the Tampa Bay Devil Rays scout team. Former UCLA outfielder Chris
Jensen, who graduated in the spring, has begun his professional
career with the Los Angeles Dodgers’ rookie affiliate, the
Ogden Raptors. In his first game on June 22, Jensen went 2 for 5
with a grand slam and six RBI. Jensen batted .325 with six home
runs in his fifth and final season with the Bruins.
MEN’S SOCCER: Twelve former Bruins are Major League Soccer
All-Star nominees. Notables among them include Jimmy Conrad of the
Kansas City Wizards, Matt Reis of the New England Revolution and
Greg Vanney of FC Dallas, all three of whom made the All-Star game
last season.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Former Bruins Nikki Blue and Lisa
Willis faced each other for the first time in their WNBA careers.
Blue’s Washington Mystics and Willis’ Los Angeles
Sparks met at the Staples Center on Saturday. Blue scored one point
in the game while Willis scored seven. In 11 appearances prior to
Saturday, Blue was averaging 2.2 points and 1.9 assists per game.
Willis was averaging 3.2 points and 1.8 rebounds per game in five
appearances.
Compiled by Bruin Sports senior staff.