One diver, seven swimmers to represent UCLA in NCAA Championship
By Marion Patricio
March 18, 2013 11:29 p.m.
For the first time in four years, a diver will represent UCLA in the NCAA Championship, which begins Thursday.
Last week, three divers competed in a three-day competition in their last chance to qualify for the NCAA Championship. Sophomore Emma Ivory-Ganja was the lone Bruin to qualify on the first day.
“I qualified for NCAAs, so I’m really excited and glad that I had a good weekend and a lot of good dives,” Ivory-Ganja said.
Finishing just half a point out of third place, Ivory-Ganja passed the qualifying mark in the 3-meter dive. By the end of the weekend, she had racked up three top-five finishes, including a fifth-place finish in the 1-meter, and fourth-place finish in the platform event.
Though Ivory-Ganja will not be able to practice until she gets to Indianapolis for the NCAA Championship, she said she has had enough time throughout the season to perfect her dives.
As she heads to the NCAA Championship, Ivory-Ganja will join seven Bruin swimmers, including three returners, in one of the biggest groups the team has sent to NCAAs in recent memory.
Senior Stephanie Christofferson, who will compete in the 200-meter butterfly, said that she has been training all season for this weekend and is as prepared as she can be.
“I think we’re very prepared. We have a really great group of girls this year and we’ve had really good team chemistry,” Christofferson said.
The chemistry and the mindset that coach Cyndi Gallagher instilled in this team has left it with a feeling of readiness for its final meet of the season, with a focus on enjoying the moment rather than dwelling on rankings and times.
“We’re all focusing on getting excited and using that excitement to swim fast,” said junior Kathryn Murphy.
“We deserve to be there. We earned a spot at this meet and if we swim to our best ability, we can compete at this level.”
Looking back at the season, the team is satisfied with its individual performances and the way the Bruins have grown as a team, according to Christofferson.
“(This season) was great. It was my senior season. I had a really fun time just being with all the girls,” Christofferson said.
While the positive championship mindset is present for the Bruins, they will have to get through finals before they can go out into the water again next week.
“It’s an amazing opportunity – and to think how many girls would love to be in our shoes – it’s just incredible,” Murphy said.
