Upon signing up, fourth-year biochemistry student Emily Gordon wasn’t just thinking about completing the 26.2-mile Nike Women’s Marathon – her first marathon– on Oct. 20. Although completion alone would have been noteworthy for a first-time marathon runner, the UCLA Triathlon member had something far greater in mind.

The UCLA swim team landed a solid group of recruits for the upcoming 2013-2014 season, and with two of the top five recruits in the state, the Bruins earned the No.

Freshmen Gage Brymer, Joseph DiGiulio and Mackenzie McDonald are part of the No. 2 recruiting class in the nation who joined UCLA men’s tennis this year.

Having competed against each other on various occasions by virtue of growing up as top-ranked junior players, the three will have the opportunity to collectively compete for the UCLA men’s tennis team, which ended its past season with a runner-up finish in the NCAA championships.

Opportunities for collegiate athletes to compete at the highest level with professionals of their respective sports can be few and far between.