UCLA splashes into season with victories over OSU, UCSB
By Daily Bruin Staff
Oct. 21, 2001 9:00 p.m.
By Calley Prezzano
Daily Bruin Contributor
The UCLA women’s swimming and diving team started off the
season with a pair of victories last week. The Bruins defeated both
Oregon State (169-95) and UC Santa Barbara (170-92) at UCSB on
Friday.
OSU gave the UCLA swimmers a run for their money at the
beginning, but the tide soon turned in favor of UCLA.
“There was a slim window of scare,” said UCLA
volunteer assistant coach Don Witzel of the margin between OSU and
UCLA at the start of the meet.
“Anybody could beat us on a certain day if we treat them
lightly,” UCLA head coach Cyndi Gallagher said. “Oregon
State raced us all the way through.”
OSU started out strong, led by freshman Birte Steven, who won
the 100 and 200 breast stroke with times of 1:03.89 and 2:16.79,
respectively. Trailing not even a second behind her in both events
was UCLA senior transfer Elvira Fischer (1:04.96 in the 100 and
2:17.17 in the 200).
UCLA junior Erica Shugart, who claimed second to Huston in the
100-freestyle (53.28), captured the 50-free for the Bruins in 23.79
seconds.
The Bruins found an “in” to take the meet when the
Beavers got disqualified during the 200-medley relay. The
UCLA team, comprised of junior LeAnne Cadag, senior Elvira Fischer,
senior Katie Younglove and junior Carolyn Conrad, acquired first
place with a time of 1:47.93.
Against UCSB, UCLA took first in 10 out of 14 events and came
out with four double-event winners. Svahnstrom’s,
Shugart’s and Fischer’s times all qualified for first
place against the Gauchos. Additionally, sophomore Kristen Lewis
won both the 100-butterfly and 200 fly (2:04.46). Erin Zehntner got
first place in the 500-free (5:00.84).
Although UCLA won both meets, the team is far from perfect.
“Friday’s meet was a reality check,” sophomore
Naoko Watanabe said. “Its easy to start taking little things
like technique for granted.”
The UCLA team has two victories under their belt, but the
intense training and attention to detail continues, and will become
more important as the season goes on.
“We’re working so hard,” Gallagher said.
“It’s important to keep our eyes on the end
goal.”
