Squad looks to repeat as conference champs

  MICHAEL MANTEL Sophomore Kristen Tinney
and the rest of the Bruins hope to defend their Pac-10 title at
Long Beach.

By Oshin Aivazian
Daily Bruin Contributor

The most intense competition of swimming in the western United
States is under way in Long Beach ““ the Pac-10
Championships.

The UCLA swimming team is confident that they can repeat their
past role as champions, especially since the meet is so close to
home.

The loss to USC in the last swim meet of the season two weeks
ago has in no way discouraged the team.

“We had the best heart and we gave it all we have,”
swimmer Stacy Kearny said. “We know at the Pac-10s
we’re going to beat them.”

The support of fans, which has provided the Bruins with a
driving force all season, is expected to be as large as in past
home meets.

“We love you UCLA fans!” the team yelled after the
USC meet, hoping that the same rowdy crowd would join them in Long
Beach.

The opponents the Bruins will face in the Pac-10 Championships
are all too familiar ““ among them Stanford, California and
USC.

With two meets against the Trojans in the past month, the Bruins
have probably encountered crosstown rival USC in the pool as many
times as they’ve driven past them on the freeway.

“We know what to expect,” diving coach Tom Stebbins
said. “We’re prepared to try our best.”

The diving team looks to add valuable points to the overall team
score, as they compete in the separate diving portion of the Pac-10
Championships, held in Tucson, Ariz.