Swim and dive to be tested against No. 1 Stanford, No. 4 Cal on the road
By Daily Bruin Staff
Jan. 28, 2011 3:54 p.m.
When the UCLA swim and dive teams head to Northern California this weekend, it will be with the momentum of a respectable 9-1 record and several months of intensive training behind them. The tortuous winter holiday training has them in top physical condition, while the lack of major competitions this month has allowed them to rest and focus on the challenges ahead.
All of this talent and preparation, however, will be put to the test when the No. 22 Bruins face off against two of the country’s most competitive teams: top-ranked Stanford today and No. 4 California on Saturday. These meets will mark the first competition for the Bruins since their 166-90 win over the unranked Washington State Cougars earlier this month.
If the Bruins hope to gain a preview of the competition they will face in the post-season, Stanford and Cal are ideal opponents. Both are familiar with NCAA excellence ““ Cal was the champion in 2009, and Stanford boasts an unbroken 29-meet win streak dating back to Jan. 26, 2008.
This past excellence shows no sign of changing this season. UCLA’s top competitors ““ senior Brittany Beauchan in the breaststroke, senior Lauren Hall in the IM and junior Yasi Jahanshahi in the butterfly ““ will all have the opportunity to compete against swimmers ranked in the top five nationally. But it is not only the swimmers’ individual prowess that will be tested.
Relays, an area in which UCLA has been weak in recent years, are a specialty of both Stanford and Cal’s programs. These races, which contribute more points to a team’s total than individual events, rely on explosive speed ““ an area in which UCLA’s freshmen excel.
While several standout recruits and a strong base of veteran talent, the Bruins have the raw talent to hold their own against Stanford and Cal, their potential as a relay team hasn’t yet been tested.
After this weekend’s competition draws to a close, both teams should have a much better idea of where they stand among the top teams in the nation. For senior Laura Winn and freshman Paulina Guzman, this knowledge will be put into play almost immediately ““ the two divers will take a red-eye flight to Iowa City Saturday night to compete in the US Diving National championships.
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Compiled by Liz Schneider, Bruin Sports contributor._
