Murphy meets lack of playing time with dedication and heart

COURTNEY STEWART/Daily Bruin Eleanor Murphy is
just happy to be in the same pool as the rest of the UCLA women’s
water polo team.

By Susana Zialcita
Daily Bruin Contributor
[email protected]

There is no “I” in Eleanor Murphy.  Ask any of
her teammates on the UCLA women’s water polo team, and they
will all tell you the same thing: the heart she puts into the team
is inspiring.

It shouldn’t seem exceptional that a player on a five-time
national championship team would give 110 percent, so what’s
so special about Murphy?

It’s that she tries hard despite never starting or really
seeing that much playing time. On a team whose starters are Olympic
hopefuls, it would be easy for a player in Murphy’s position
to feel that there’s no reason to push herself in practice
because hopes for recognition are slim.

But Murphy knows better. Her efforts make her one of the most
important members of the team; her teammates and coaches easily
recognize that fact.

“Whenever I think I have it rough, I look at Eleanor
working hard and not seeing playing time, and I know I have to suck
it up and work harder,” junior center defender Robin
Beauregard said.

Murphy’s role on the team is a tough job to have. An
immense amount of emotional strength helps her reconcile that
although she’s dissatisfied with not getting playing time,
she can take great pride in knowing that her teammates are
successful because she challenges them in practice.

“I would have liked to play more, but not playing allowed
me to play a role that I wouldn’t have been able to
otherwise,” Murphy said. “Our starters have to worry
about themselves, their health and their mental health, but I can
worry about them. I can go out and know that when I try my best,
it’s really for the team. I have never been satisfied not
playing, but I’ve always felt I was where I needed to
be.”

She’s had many places on the team, but one of the most
important ones is being right on the heels of the first team.
Murphy comes out to practice as if she were coming out to a game,
because practice is where she gets her chance to show that she
wants to play and win just as much as her starting teammates.

But it hasn’t always been easy for Murphy to maintain that
feeling. Many times during her previous four seasons on the team,
she felt that her presence was ineffectual. She almost quit a few
times, and felt that she didn’t do anything for the team,
spending most of her time on the pool deck.

During those times, Murphy said that it was the people in the
program that made her realize that she was important to the
team.

“Coach (Adam Krikorian) has been really wonderful about
making sure I knew I had a role. Even though I didn’t play, I
felt needed,” Murphy said, “And when I wanted to leave,
my teammates kept me going. They kept me coming back.”

Murphy remembers a morning swim set four years ago when she
tried to keep up with Olympian and All-American Coralie Simmons.
Former teammate Nicolle Payne noticed Murphy’s effort and
approached her later that day on campus.

“She said, “˜You were swimming so fast and trying so
hard in practice today. You are going to be on the National Team
one day.'” Murphy said.

Murphy knew it would never happen.

“But just having Nicolle notice and tell me that really
meant a lot to me.”

Now Payne coaches Murphy and still admires Murphy for her
attitude.

“Eleanor has a lot of pride,” Payne said.
“Knowing her as a player and now as a coach, she never
changes. Her work ethic is so consistent and she’s built on
it. A lot of people wouldn’t have the heart to be in her
spot, but she never complains.”

“She’s always portrayed the good angel that you see
in TV commercials,” Krikorian added. “You’ve got
a bad angel on one shoulder, and then you’ve got Eleanor
speaking into your ear on the other. I respect her because
she’s not afraid to let you know how she feels.”

Now, as the Bruins near the end of their season, Murphy’s
career is coming close to an end. She has been a part of the team
for five seasons.

“I don’t regret one thing,” Murphy said.
“I would never give up not playing here for playing somewhere
else.”

It’s true; Murphy could have gone to a different school
and probably would have played a lot more. She might have even been
the star of another team. But for Murphy, that thought pales in
comparison to what she accomplished at UCLA.

“I’ve learned how far I can push myself, and that
it’s not OK to quit,” she said. “I am so proud to
be a Bruin ““ to compete for this school ““ and I do
everything I can to represent such a great tradition.