UCLA fares well in San Diego, Texas

By Calley Prezzano
Daily Bruin Contributor

This past weekend, the women’s swimming and diving team
continued a series of non-conference meets, dominating the pool in
San Diego and also placing well at the SMU Classic in Dallas,
Tex.

Auburn won the two-day SMU Classic for the second year in a row
with 346 points. SMU finished second overall with 323 points and
trailing behind in third was UCLA with 292 points.

“We took our wins as a big deal,” UCLA head coach
Cyndi Gallagher said. “The kids we were racing are all
scoring top 8 at NCAAs. There was a difference between our team and
Auburn and SMU. We have kids that are “˜good swimmers’
against their “˜National Champions.'”

After the first day of the meet the Bruins were in third, after
SMU, by less than 20 points.

Freshman Malin Svahnstrom won the 200 freestyle (1:49.46),
sophomore Sara Platzer came in second in the 50 freestyle (23.22)
and both the 400 medley relay (3:47.42) and 800 freestyle (7:28.99)
relays finished third. Four other UCLA swimmers also placed in the
top 5.

In diving, junior Heidi Prosser captured second on the one-meter
with 265.65 points, right behind Miami’s Michelle Davison who
set a new meet record, scoring 301.70 points.

In San Diego, UCLA defeated both USD (115-25) and Boston College
(118-22). Saturday was warm and sunny, which benefited the squad
physically, relaxing their muscles, as well as giving them a better
attitude going into the meet versus the cold and rainy last meet in
Santa Barbara.

“It’s good to know I can go this fast, pushing
myself.” said sophomore Krisy Tinney, who won the event.
“I’ll be able to go even faster when someone is pushing
me (at bigger meets).”

In the swim events, UCLA came in first in 13 out of the 16
events at the meet. Junior Erica Shugart and Naoko Watanabe each
won two events. Shugart placed first in both the 50 and 100
freestyle, and Watanabe won the 100 and 200 backstroke.

The Bruin divers also performed admirably. On the one- meter,
UCLA won first through fifth place, led by Regan Gosnell (236.50
points).