This post was updated Jan. 17 at 11:56 p.m.
Up against 14 schools, the Bruin divers made their 2024 debut, claiming a top spot on the podium.
No. 25 UCLA swim and dive hosted the Bruin Diving Invitational at Spieker Aquatics Center on Friday to Sunday. While the swimmers found success at a dual meet against Utah on Saturday, the divers had a three-day-long competition with varying success.
Freshman Lauren Hallaselkä said the three-day format of the competition brought in extra challenges compared to the typical dual meet.
“You do need more recovery, like longer sleep, better food,” Hallaselkä said. “I think I handled this weekend well even though the meets were long and took a lot of stamina.”
The Finnish diver said she had some nerves going into the weekend.
“Not for the meet itself really, but certain singular dives that have not been going that well in practice,” Hallaselkä said. “My hardest dive, the front 3.5 pike, it’s been varying in practice a bit, but I did it well here.”
Diving coach Tom Stebbins said that despite Hallaselkä’s trouble with the dive in recent practice, he has faith in her.
“I think she’s wildly capable,” Stebbins said.
Hallaselkä took first place in the 3-meter springboard event with a 675.30. The freshman recorded a season-best score in the finals with a score of 365.10. Junior Zoe Jespersgaard also claimed a spot on the podium, taking third with 610.85 points.
“I feel like there’s definitely much to be improved,” Jespersgaard said. “To be third at this point, I’m happy with that.”
A notable absence from the meet was sophomore Eden Cheng, who was originally scheduled to compete. Stebbins said the Olympian sat out for precautionary measures for her shoulder, and should be back for the Bruins’ next competition.
Despite sitting out of the meet, Stebbins added that injured athletes like Cheng were able to step up and help out the team in other ways, such as assisting with announcing at the meet.
In the team event Friday, the Bruins took eighth place, with No. 4 USC taking first.
Freshmen Maya Shtolzberg, Laura Fisher and Molly Brascia represented the Bruins in the team competition, notching 250.15 points.
On the final day of the competition, Fisher was the sole competitor for the Bruins. On her birthday, the freshman placed sixth in the 10-meter platform diving event with a score of 445.00 points.
The Bruins will return to action Feb. 2 at Spieker Aquatics Center in a dual meet against No. 10 Stanford.
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