Jan. 5, 2004

The Bruins will host Washington State on Wednesday, January 7, in the first home meet of the new year. UCLA is 4-1 overall, 2-1 in the Pac-10. Washington State is currently 1-3 overall, 0-2 in the Pac-10.

The Bruins have an All-time undefeated record of 4-0 against the Cougars. The last time the two teams faced off, UCLA won 213-49.

College Swim Coaches Association of America Poll
In the College Swim Coaches Association of America's latest poll, released November 26, the Bruins were ranked No. 10 in the nation with 131 points. Topping the list was defending NCAA Champion Auburn with 200 points. UCLA was one of five Pac-10 teams ranked in the Top-10.

Top-20 Performers
Nine Bruins are ranked in the Top-20 in the nation so far this season:

Katie Arnold (13th, 100 Back)
Jane Imagane (13th, 500 Free; 15th, 1650 Free)
Kristen Lewis (3rd, 200 Fly; 6th 100 Fly)
Katie Nelson (7th, 1650 Free)
Sara Platzer (4th, 50 Free; 7th, 100 Free)
Kim Scarborough (8th, 400 IM; 18th, 200 IM)
Malin Svahnstrom (4th, 200 IM; 7th, 200 Free; 17th, 100 Free)
Kim Vandenberg (1st, 200 Fly; 3rd, 100 Fly)
Naoko Watanabe (15th, 200 Back)

2004 NCAA Qualifiers
Five Bruins have automatically qualified for the NCAA Championships, held March 18-20, 2004 in College Station, TX, and 16 Bruins have provisional qualifying times.

Automatic qualifiers are Kristen Lewis (200 Fly), Sara Platzer (50 Free), Kim Scarborough (400 IM), Malin Svahnstrom (200 IM/Free) and Kim Vandenberg (100/200 Fly).

Provisional qualifiers are Katie Arnold (50 Free, 100/200 Back), Shellene Catalano (200 Breast), Jane Imagane (400 IM, 400/1500 Free), Courtney Iversen (200/400 IM), Kristen Lewis (100 Fly), Jackie Lobdell (200 Back, 200 Free), Isabel Miesner (200 IM), Melissa Miller (1500 Free), Katie Nelson (200/400/1500 Free), Sara Platzer (100/200 Free), Kim Scarborough (200 IM), Lindsey Smart (200 IM), Malin Svahnstrom (100 Free), Amy Thurman (50 Free), Naoko Watanabe (200 IM/Back) and Vandenberg (50/100/200 Free).

The following Bruin relays have also qualified provisionally: 800 Free Relay (Vandenberg, Imagane, Nieto, Winkler), 200 Free Relay (Vandenberg, Thurman, Svahnstrom, Platzer), 400 Free Relay (Vandenberg, Thurman, Svahnstrom, Platzer), 200 Medley Relay (Watanabe, Thurman, Lewis, Svahnstrom), 400 Medley Relay (Arnold, Hovsepian, Vandenberg, Platzer).

2004 NCAA Zone E Qualifiers
Bruin divers Carly Banks, Amanda Blong, Sara Clark, Janine Strack and Paige Thompson have qualified for the NCAA Zone E Championships, March 11-13 in Oklahoma City, OK. The top finishers at the Zone meet advance to the NCAA Championships.

National Letter of Intent Signees
During the Fall Signing period, Head Coach Cyndi Gallagher has received four National Letters of Intent. Head Diving Coach Tom Stebbins has received a National Letter of Intent from Heather Peng. Shannon Hackett, Erin Ketchum, Jillian Ochs, Heather Peng and Nicolette Teo will join the Bruins as true freshmen in 2004.

2004 Olympic Trials Qualifiers
With the 2004 Olympics just a few months away, nine current Bruins have already qualified for the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials, held June 7-14, 2004.

Leading the way are seniors Cathy Coler (200m Breast), Kristen Lewis (100m/200m Fly), Jackie Lobdell (400m Free), Sara Platzer (50m Free), Naoko Watanabe (100m/200m Back) and Brooke Winkler (200m IM). Sophomore Kim Vandenberg, the 2003 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, has qualified in the 100m and 200m Fly.

Rounding out the list of Bruin Olympic Trials qualifiers are freshmen Jeana Fuccillo (400m IM) and Jane Imagane (400m/800m Free).

Senior Malin Svahnstrom has qualified for the Swedish Olympic Trials.

Looking Ahead
UCLA will face UC San Diego in La Jolla, CA on Saturday, January 17, at noon.