Bruin digest:

Five former Bruins selected for U.S. Olympic Softball
team Five former Bruins were named to the U.S. Olympic
softball team, USA Softball announced earlier this week. Among
those that survived the cut from 18 to 15 players were two members
of last season’s NCAA championship squad, shortstop Natasha
Watley and first baseman Tairia Mims. Former Bruin catcher Stacy
Nuveman, pitcher Lisa Fernandez and utility player Amanda Freed
were also named to the team. The 2004 Summer Olympics will take
place this August in Athens, Greece. Also announced was a 14-member
Elite Team, which also includes five Bruins. The team will compete
at the 2004 Canada Cup and U.S. Champions Cup, among other events.
Bruins on the Elite Team include current underclassmen Caitlin
Benyi, Lisa Dodd, Andrea Duran, Jodie Legaspi and Emily
Zaplatosch.

TRACK AND FIELD: Both the UCLA men’s and
women’s track and field teams have earned top-10 rankings in
the preseason Trackwire Top 25, probably the most nationally
respected collegiate poll conducted by Trackwire Magazine. The
Bruin women are ranked No. 5, while the men check in at No. 8. The
women’s team features a host of NCAA qualifiers, including
400-meter hurdles champion Sheena Johnson and 800-meter runner-up
Lena Nilsson. The men will be led by pole vaulter Yoo Kim and
jumper Juane Armon. Indoor competition kicks off this month, while
the outdoor season begins in March.

RECREATION: Peter Asco, recipient of
UCLA’s Instructor of the Year award, will teach Chi-Kung
during winter quarter at the Wooden Center. Chi-Kung is a special
type of martial arts designed for physical, mental and spiritual
cultivation.

Compiled by Jeff Eisenberg, Bruin sports senior
staff.