UCLA-USC meet to be emotional for swim and dive seniors
By Nathaniel Liebes
Feb. 14, 2014 1:58 a.m.
UCLA swim and dive seniors will see a chapter in their career end on Monday.
They will be competing in their final dual meet against the USC Trojans.
Emotions will be running high, both because this is the senior meet and because it will be a highly competitive meet against a bitter rival. USC is ranked No. 5 in the nation.
“I think it will be emotional for many reasons. Being a senior and it being the last meet that’s going to be emotional, but also racing ‘SC with so much history behind it will be really emotional too,” said senior breaststroke swimmer Emily Weir.
The Bruins, despite the sentiments that will undoubtedly be present, feel prepared for the meet. Senior freestyle swimmer Kathryn Murphy said she is confident that their training will pay off on Monday.
“I think we are really prepared. We have gone through our training the past 23 weeks so focused and so intense,” Murphy said. “We have been racing and perfecting our splits to make sure that all we need to do on Monday is think about stepping up on the blocks and winning.”
The Bruins will continue to look to underclassmen, particularly freshmen, to continue on Monday the way they have all season. Weir spoke about the confidence that the seniors have in them already.
“The freshmen are just so good this year. They are so competitive,” Weir said. “It’s great to have a freshman class like that senior year, one that you can look up to and count on under any circumstances is great.”
Senior diver Paulina Guzman said she hopes that in this meet she and her fellow seniors can help leave a lasting impression on those freshmen.
“Hopefully we set good examples for them and they follow in our footsteps and continue to work hard like they are doing,” said Guzman.
While their emotions will be running high and the competition will be intense, the Bruin seniors are very excited for this meet.
“This is hands down the best meet to end on,” Weir said.
