UCLA swimmers cheer on the sideline during a race. (Leydi Cris Cobo Cordon/Daily Bruin senior staff)
There are two options a team can take amid tough competition.
Sink or swim.
And at their second Big Ten Championships, the Bruins took the latter option, earning six school records and four individual podium finishes.
Every meet, every practice and every record set is preparation for the Big Ten Championship – the culmination of elite swimmers battling each other at the most competitive meet in the nation.
Swim & Dive
Most meets for the Bruins begin with a dance party on the pool deck.
And the last conference competition of the regular season will start no differently – no matter the opponents’ storied history.
A swimmer can feel when they are having a fantastic race.
“I knew something special was going to happen because every time I get up there – especially for the two-back (200-yard backstroke) – I always want to do something cool for my team, and the energy was getting a little flat, so I knew I had to bring it back up for us,” said senior Rosie Murphy.
While teams are always gunning for a victory, doing so against their rivals may provide extra motivation.
And the opportunity to kickstart a winning streak could be the icing on top.
Homecoming is one of the most anticipated events of the school year for many students.
The same can be said for athletes.
UCLA swim and dive (1-1-1, 1-0-0 Big Ten) had an eventful weekend during its home debut, beating Iowa (1-3) on Friday, before sweeping a quad meet against Iowa, Utah (2-2) and UC Santa Barbara (1-1) on Saturday at Spieker Aquatics Center.
The new year is bringing a slew of new competition to Westwood.
UCLA swim and dive (0-1-1) will host the Bruin Diving Invite, a dual meet against Iowa (1-2) and a quad meet featuring the former in addition to UC Santa Barbara (1-1) and Utah (2-2) this upcoming weekend at Spieker Aquatics Center.
This post was updated Jan. 7 at 12:00 a.m.
Roster turnover is one of the few things guaranteed in college sports.
And the Bruins lost substantial talent to graduation and the transfer portal after last season.
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