If there is one thing that's true about the UCLA women's swimming and diving program, it's that from the moment an athlete steps foot on the UCLA campus until the moment she leaves, progress will be achieved. Whether it's knocking off a few seconds in a certain event, perfecting the most difficult dive or simply polishing up the areas that need working on, the UCLA swimming and diving program is four years of hard work, dedication and most importantly - progression.

With eight returning All-Americans and no losses to graduation, the 1997-98 season looks to be extremely successful as the Bruins take aim at improving on last year's 14th place NCAA finish and fifth place Pac-10 showing.

All-Americans -
Heading the list of returnees from last season's 6-3 squad are a pair of All-Americans and World University Games medalists in sophomore Keiko Price and senior LindsayEtter. Price, who captured gold in Sicily as a member of Team USA's 400 freestyle relay team, is eager to improve on her 11th-place finish in the 50 free at last season's NCAA Championships. Etter, who brought home silver as a member of the U.S. 400 medley relay squad, is a three-time All-American and the UCLA record holder in both the 100 and 200 breaststrokes. Her third place time of 1:00.77 at last years NCAA's was just shy of breaking the American record.

"Keiko and Lindsay's international involvement this past summer was was extremely beneficial," says head coach Cyndi Gallagher. "They now believe they can compete with anyone in the world, and if they believe they can, they will."

The Bruins have two other swimmers in Jill Jenkins and Cindy Bertelink that have legitimate shots at top-3 finishes at this year's NCAA Championships. Though Jenkins missed a large part of last season due to a back injury, the three-time All-American is fully recovered and looking make an immediate impact this season. UCLA's most versatile athlete, Jenkins, has the potential to score in three seperate events at the NCAAs. Bertelink, one of three Bruin seniors to reach All-America status every year since arriving at UCLA, adds even more versatility to very talented Bruin lineup. She currently ranks in the top-10 on the UCLA all-time top times list in four separate events, including the 500 free, 1000 free, 1650 free and the 400 IM. Junior Susan Trainer is another swimmer on the verge of UCLA greatness, as the two-time All-American finished last season ranked one and two in the 200 and 100 freestyles respectively. Rounding out UCLA's star spangled lineup is junior Amanda Hall and sophomores Amber Wines and Jackie Castellano. Hall, who could very well own UCLA records of her own before her time in Westwood is up, placed in three events at last year's NCAAs. Though Wines and Castellano were only freshmen last season, both significantly contributed on UCLA relay teams that placed high at last season's championships in Indianapolis.

Sprints -
By far UCLA's most dominant area last season, the Bruins return four swimmers, three of them All-Americans, to this area in the lineup. After a strong showing in both the 50 and 100 free at last season's NCAA Championships, Price enters this year as the Bruins' fastest swimmer. Along with an excellent NCAA performance, Price also recorded fifth and ninth place finishes in the 50 and 100 free respectively at the Pac-10 Championships. Now injury free, Jenkins is looking to pick up where she left off in '95 when she registered a 50.09 in the 100 free, placing her sixth on UCLA's all-time top-times list. With her senior year upon her, she's looking to put an exclamation point on a record setting UCLA career. The only other Bruin to place in the 50 free at the NCAA's, Castellano is ready to put up All-American numbers yet again in '97. Her involvement this past summer at the U.S. Nationals in Nashville, Tenn., should pay dividends throughout a difficult conference schedule and into post-season competition. Junior Rebecca Thompson, a transfer from the University of Hawai`i, is a swimmer that has the ability to make an immediate impact. Not only do the Bruins pick up a swimmer with experience, they get the Hawai`i record holder in the 100 and 200 freestyles. Lauren Westberg, Beth Goodwin and Heather DeFelice are three freshmen that could also see significant time at this area in the Bruin lineup before the year is over.

Middle Distance -
Bertelink, the 11th-fastest NCAA swimmer in the 500 free last season, returns this year to head up the Bruins' middle distance attack. Already sixth on UCLA's all-time top-times list in that same event, Bertelink registered a fourth place finish in the 500 free at last season's Pac-10's. After placing in the 200 free at last year's NCAA's, Trainer should also be a factor in this event. Price and Thompson, though primarily sprinters, are likely to see significant time in the 200 free as well and will most certainly provide UCLA will a solid middle distance foundation. Sophomore Kimberly Wilson is another swimmer that had good showings in both the 200 and 500 freestyles. Rounding out the Bruins' middle distance area will be sophomores Mandi Dobbs and Castellano, along freshmen Heather Teagle and Janie Egan.

Distance -
Along with being a force in middle distance, Bertelink returns as the No. 1 swimmer in the1650 free distance event. Looking to capitalize on last season's 10th-place NCAA finish in the 1650 free, Bertelink currently ranks third in the 1650 and fourth in the 1000 free on UCLA's all-time top-times list.

Backstroke -
Ranked second all-time at UCLA in both the 100 and 200 backstroke, Jenkins will again lead the Bruins in both these events. Hall should also be a top backstroke contender, as she owned UCLA's top-time in the 200 back last season. Also expected to contribute this year will be returnees Miranda Walz, who has a legitimate shot at making NCAAs in her senior finale, Lindsey Masterson and Kiley Ames-Klein. Two newcomers that may see action are Courtney Gulledge and Westberg.

Breaststroke -
A pair of All-Americans in Etter and Wines make the breaststroke the strongest area in the Bruin lineup. Etter returns as UCLA's all-time record holder in both the 100 and 200 breast. After only one season at the collegiate level, Wines is looking to add her name to the UCLA record books. Senior Lara Potter and sophomore Katie Simmons both posted solid seasons last year and will be expected to contribute significantly if the Bruins are going to win a post-season title. Two other additions to the lineup are incoming freshmen Nicole Dotts and DeFelice.

Butterfly -
A pair of sprinters head up the butterfly duties for UCLA this season. Both Price and Jenkins return after leading the Bruins in the 100 fly last year. However two freshmen, Goodwin and Egan, could emerge as UCLA's best in this event. While Goodwin specializes in the 100 and Egan in the 200, both could be participating at this years championships in Minnesota. Bertelink, Dobbs and senior Leslie Carr should all contribute in this area as well.

Individual Medley -
After leading the Bruins in the 200 Individual Medley last season, junior Emmanuelle Schick Garcia should be a force again this year as she currently ranks third on the UCLA all-time list in 200 IM and eighth in the 400 IM. Potter, who ranks sixth in the 400 IM, joins Schick as a serious NCAA contender in this event. Bertelink and Hall both recorded top finishes in IM events at last year's Pac-10 Championships and will again be expected to produce top-times once again. Incoming freshmen Brighid Dwyer and Dotts will also see action in IM events.

Relay -
The Bruins will have many swimmers competing for relay slots this season. Though Price and Jenkins are mainstays on UCLA relay teams, senior Katie Stuppi and sophomores Julie Flynn and Rosalind Dunn all have a chance to be part of All-American relay teams this season.

Diving -
With 1995 All-American Tracy Wilcox and Rose Huelskamp, winner of seven of eight meets last season, returning, the UCLA diving team should emerge as one of the conference's top diving programs yet again this season. Huelskamp, who finished third on both the one-meter and three-meter boards at the Pac-10 Championships last season, returns as UCLA's top diver. Wilcox, who finished eighth on the one-meter and ninth on the three-meter at that same event, is looking to leave UCLA a two-time All-American. Wilcox and junior Rebecca Ronsaville will head up the platform duties for UCLA this season. Incoming freshman Delilah More should have an immediate impact this season as she is a former high school All-American and Senior National competitor. Junior Laura Segundo and senior Alicia Solomon are two divers that will add experience to a young Bruin squad. Ami Achrekar, Anne Baghramian and Kathrine Weir are all freshmen that will contribute this season.