As a junior, I was about to shed a tear at the end of year. This
time around, it’ll be difficult.
I never thought four years could go by so quickly.

Early last week the seventh-annual Peter J. Cutino Award ““
water polo’s version of the Heisman Trophy ““ nominees
were unveiled.
But the water polo community was surprised by the names not on
that list.

DAVIS “”mdash; A nostalgic Thalia Munro with a towel wrapped
around her head reflected on her career just one day before leaving
to UC Davis for her final NCAA Tournament.

DAVIS “”mdash; Her meekness fooled everyone, her play passive at
best and her attitude timid.
Heck, all season long she wore the same face ““ a
smile.

DAVIS “”mdash; The site and image were eerily familiar to UCLA
coach Adam Krikorian.
Watching his players yelp in elation in the middle of the Schaal
Aquatics Center pool.

Correction appended
Huddled around on a patch of grass as night fell, the UCLA
women’s water polo team watched coach Adam Krikorian point out each
player’s significance in Saturday’s match.

Lounged in a plush recliner seat in a Brentwood beauty shop,
redshirt junior Kelly Rulon sits and enjoys getting a pedicure.
UCLA women’s water polo coach Adam Krikorian sleeps in one
day every season.

It started with a visit during the junior European
championships, recalls Anna Pardo.
Coach Jovan Vavic approached Pardo, who was playing for Club
Esportiu Mediterrani at the time, and told her he was recruiting
for USC.

Gucci. Chanel. Dior. Fendi. Von Zippers. Whatever’s en
vogue, the UCLA women’s water polo players are sporting it on
their faces. White, black, pink, big frames, green lenses and thick
bands are just some of the features of the sunglasses that Bruins
wear to games.

Visions of defending its national title come into focus in a
mere 10 days for the UCLA women’s water polo team.
The third-seeded Bruins (26-4) will open the NCAA Tournament,
which is scheduled to take place May 12 to 14 in Davis, against a
familiar team in sixth-seeded Hartwick.