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Swim and dive seeks to set strong tone against conference opponents USC, Arizona

Sophomore swimmer Gabby Dang – who posted the top time of any swimmer in the 100-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly versus Fresno State – said UCLA swim and dive is taking full advantage of every opportunity to compete, no matter the opponent. (Lillie Yazdi/Daily Bruin)

By Ricardo Garcia

Jan. 21, 2021 5:31 p.m.

It’s the beginning, the middle and the end of the Bruins’ season – at least that is how coach Jordan Wolfrum puts it.

UCLA swim and dive (1-0) will travel to take on Pac-12 rivals USC (0-0) and Arizona (1-1) in a crosstown tri-meet affair this weekend – its second regular-season meet of the year and first meet against conference opponents.

It also happens to be the start of a long stretch of road meets to end the regular season. Times at the tri-meet will be recorded for postseason qualification purposes, but no dual scoring will take place this weekend.

While UCLA beat Arizona in last year’s dual meet and placed ahead of the Wildcats in the Pac-12 championship meet for the first time in seven years, the Bruins placed fourth, one spot behind the Trojans. UCLA hasn’t defeated its crosstown rival in a dual meet since 2007, when it slid by with a 152-148 victory.

“Both Arizona and USC are two teams that we are consistently challenged by, … both in regular-season competition and championship competition,” Wolfrum said.

With the season already shortened, sophomore swimmer Gabby Dang believes it is important to set a strong tone against their conference rivals.

“I think it’s really important because this is our first conference meet, and we don’t get a lot of meets very often with COVID-19 right now,” Dang said. “I feel like any meet is an opportunity to do well (and we should) get something out of it.”

While the opponents happen to be the two of the Bruins’ biggest rivals, junior swimmer Claire Grover – the team leader in individual wins – does not necessarily see a dire need to prove something against the Trojans and Wildcats.

Grover holds records in the 400-yard medley relay and 200-yard freestyle relay, and also finished in second in the 200-yard individual medley in UCLA’s victory over Fresno State last weekend.

“I don’t feel like I have anything to prove,” Grover said. “I tend to just swim the best that I can against anyone.”

For Wolfrum, however, while setting a strong tone is key, it is not the only aspect she wants her team to focus on.

Wolfrum said getting comfortable in the pool has been a work in progress – in spite of the fact that the Bruins won all but one of their events last weekend, with the team’s only loss in the 200-yard backstroke in the meet’s third event.

“We need to practice racing, execution of some details and also just what racing feels like,” Wolfrum said. “Before last weekend, it had been a long time since a lot of these girls raced, so getting comfortable in those racing scenarios is what we’re working on.”

At the same time, she does not want to overlook the big picture of the circumstances of the shortened season.

“It’s important to us,” Wolfrum said. “Where we’re at in the season, we’re also acknowledging the fact that we are five or six weeks away from the Pac-12 championship, so it’s important that we be at our best.”

UCLA will take on USC and Arizona all day Jan. 22 and 23 at Uytengsu Aquatics Center.

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Ricardo Garcia | Sports reporter
Garcia is currently a reporter on the women's water polo beat. He was previously a contributor on the swim & dive, track & field and men's water polo beats.
Garcia is currently a reporter on the women's water polo beat. He was previously a contributor on the swim & dive, track & field and men's water polo beats.
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