BRUINLIFE’S IN DEPTH LOOK INTO THE COMPETITIVE WORLD OF DRAGONBOAT

ABOUT ! e cover was shot by Tung X. Dao.

! e cover concept was created and composed by Jose Fredi Hernandez.

! e idea behind this cover was to mimics ESPN magazine. ! e models on the cover are from

UCLA’s Dragonboat team. From Le" to Right: First-year chemistry student Vivian Kwan, third-

year civil engineering student Eric Kwok and # rst-year math/economics student Amy Qiu.

LETTER FROM THE EDITORWhen you look at the sports section of previous

years you usually don’t see the hard work that it takes into making this section. Unlike previous years, we didn’t have a designated sports editor to do this section. One thing I learned is to have a sports editor. As the editor-in-chief its hard to do your overall duties and also do the sports section. It’s a tedious job and its not until this year that I learned the time it takes to bring this section together. I had to go through the Daily Bruin server and look through hundreds of photos each week and try and find photos that would represent each sport. Once the photo was selected, I had to write captions and not knowing that much about sports slowed down the process of getting the pages done. The articles in this section were also shorten from their usual length. What made this section even more difficult was the fact that many of the articles slipped though the cracks and when we got proofs we realized that some of them were never assigned to a copy writer. But here we are, a finished product and a darn amazing one, so everything turned out fine.

Following the theme of magazines, this section was a no brainer. It could have looked like Sports Illustrated or ESPN magazine. I decided to go with the ESPN magazine after I saw their January issue. Their design for the NEXT section caught my attention and that was the deciding factor. We decided to change the word “Next” to read “UCLA.” The design on page 326 was created over the span of three days. We orginally scanned the original design that read “NEXT” and tried to morph it to look like UCLA, but it looked very dirty in the sense that it obviously looked altered. The cleaner version was all in part due to Alan Nguyen teaching me how to use Adobe Illustrator. It turned out great and hope you appreciate its amazingness, after all it says UCLA.

What’s also different about this issue is that we decided to do athlete highlights. While the photos look stunning, they took forever to take. It was playing the waiting game because the athletes were always on time constraints and sometimes we wouldn’t get a response for weeks. This section also has a sports index to make it easier to locate team photos. Lastly, we dedicate this edition of the sports section to John Wooden.

Athl

ete

294 Marching Band300 Sports Divider320 Club Sports324 Dragon Boat

WE CALL HIM COACH: REMEMBERING JOHN WOODEN

326 UCLABecause it’s all about what’s happening here at UCLA. We are the future in sports.

The top players of the 2010-2011 school year. An in depth look at athletes from basketball, gymnastics, volleyball and softball.

328 Malcolm Lee! Niki Tom! Thomas Amberg! GionNa DeSalvatore!

Showing school spirit at sport events! The Den rallies UCLA fans.

288 The DenCheerleaders derserved respect for their athletics talent and dedication

290 Cheer Team

Voices for Victory! Yell crew shouts rally bruins at sport events!

292 Yell CrewThe essense of school spirit. Being the mascots.

293 Mascots

Dance the night away: UCLA Dancers twisted and turned with fl air

291 Dance Team

336

Inde

x

344

Students Show School Spirit

The Den. It was one of the most exciting things to be part of at UCLA. This official fan group supported all UCLA athletic teams, but the Den’s wild exciting nature was especially palpable during the football games and, because of this, many students started to relate the Den mainly to football. For example, first-year musical theater student

Melissa Barnum said, “I am a huge football fan, so I really enjoy going to them. Personally, I wish that the bus tickets were included in the price for the games; that would save so much trouble. But once you get to the game, it is a great experience; the student section is amazing and something definitely to experience at UCLA.” The Den heightened

ENTER THE DEN

the experience of people who were already football fans. In addition to this experience, the Den’s rowdiness became an attraction to some of the students. First-year undeclared student Taylor Bazley said, “If our football team played like our crowd cheered, the Trojans wouldn’t have stood a chance! The crowd is crazy; we used to be ranked as one of the most

intimidating crowds around and I think we’re going to get that back soon if we keep it up.” Bazley’s spirit showed that regardless of the team’s success the Den was always present to support. Along with that, students believed the Den to be a team of its own which competed with other schools’ fans. In addition to the Bazley-like fans were the ones

who opted out of attending the games, but watching the rowdy Den during televised games awakened their school spirit as well. Second-year molecular cell developmental biology student Aprajita Yadav said, “I want our team to win even if it’s against the odds or we aren’t playing so well that night. It’s fun to watch because there’s so much spirit. Even

when watching on the TV, and seeing all the people in the Den going crazy gives me a sense of community regardless of whether I am there or not.” The Den was more than just a student group to the students of UCLA. It gave them a sense of belonging and made athletics an integrated part of the Bruin life.

Students raise their arms for an 8-clap after the basketball team scores a point. Den members went to all UCLA sports events and always proudly showed their school spirit. Photo by Maya Sugarman, Daily Bruin.

Pompoms and Pushups

Kayla proudfully cheers on the Bruins during the basketball game against USC. The members of the cheer squad were most known for their stunts and appearances at sport events. Photo by Charlie Wang.

Whether ensconced on cushy couches watching the game !ash across the vivid screen of television or standing amidst roaring crowds of fellow Bruins at the Rosebowl, students manifested their school spirit in varying degrees. But one group of students took their enthusiasm to another level, and led UCLA in passionate cheers, supporting Bruin teams. Known as the Spirit Squad, the cheer and dance team performed routines and peppy cheers to ignite the fervor the audience. An amalgam of male and female students, the cheer squad employed both genders to execute inspiring and technically challenging routines. An all-female team comprised the dance group, who performed at the games alongside the cheer squad, helping to draw out the Bruin spirit of the sea of fans. "e cheer squad executed complex stunts to impress the audience, with the male members exhibiting their physical prowess as they bench-pressed their female teammates. "e dance team ignited applause with their rhythmic routines and !ashing pompoms waving in tune to the music from the UCLA band. To keep the Spirit Squad at its best, a slew of experts worked behind the scenes. Spirit Squad director, Mollie Vehling, a UCLA alum with a B.A. in dance, along with Nicole Cohen, the dance coach and also a Bruin, coached the teams to perfection using their own experiences, talent and love for UCLA. To ensure the physical #tness of the team, #tness trainer Stacey Herring assumed the role as group #tness coordinator, keeping the members in top notch condition. Making sure every curl was in place was the make-up and hair consultant Denise Baker, another integral member to the team. "e Cheer and Dance teams, equipped with an arsenal of experienced coaches, successfully led students through another spirited year of Bruin sports.

CHEER AND DANCE

Top Row: Dominic, Sarah, Dana, Doug and Matt. M iddle Row: Wade, Melissa, Jason, Justin and Kayla. Bottom Row: Nate, Kali, Ben, Roxanne, Chelsea, Kevin and Kelly. Photo by Don Liebig, ASUCLA Photography.

(From Left to Right): Lizzi, Maya, T iana, Jenna, Kate, N ikki, Erin, N icolette, Savannah, Frankie and Lani. Photo by Don Liebig, ASUCLA Photography.

VOICES FOR VICTORYWhile Cheer and Dance

waved their pompoms at the crowds, UCLA’s slightly furrier duo pranced around the football !eld with arms raised, drawing raucous roars of approval from the student body, who all donned Den shirts plastered with the faces of the mascot. Joe and Josie Bruin, the only Bruins who ran, walked and skipped on two legs, always pleased exuberant fans with their spirited antics and cartoonish smiles. Joe Bruin

paraded through Pauley Pavilion during basketball games, o"en sitting amongst students and joining in on spirited eight-clap cheers. Accompanying the hairy pair, Yell Crew engaged the fans with their booming voices and charisma. Together they initiated the beloved chants and cheers, supporting the teams with their vocal chords and enthusiastic appeal. Above all the raucous yelling, applauding and cheering, their voices

could still be heard. Some Yell Crew members jumped up and down in front of student fans, waving their arms frantically as they tried to conduct cheers in unison, while others waved huge signs prompting students to yell “Go Bruins.” Before school even began, Yell Crew, alongside the rest of the Spirit Squad, practiced for the impending year at a boot camp in August. To ensure another spirited season of sports, the Crew trained

hard at practice, never losing their buoyant attitude or their characteristically loud voices. Every student recognized their smiling faces and their white and blue uniforms, and always responded back to their prompts with a thunderstorm of cheering. Both the mascots and Yell Crew brought the community of sports fans together.

YELL CREWFrom Left to Right: Simon, Casey, Danny, Alicia, Drew, Ilinca, Selina, Brandon and Ralph Photo by Don Liebig, ASUCLA Photography.

MASCOTS Joe Bruin and Josephine Bruin. Photo by Don Liebig, ASUCLA Photography.

MARCHING BAND

Joe Kovach and Krystina Johnson both

played the trumpet for the 2010-2011 school year. Band members worked

hard during rehearsal in order to sound in sync during the real

game and provide the well known marching

tunes that Bruins know.

Photo by Tung X. Dao.

!e Solid Gold Sound kept Bruins roaring for victory. UCLA’s Marching Band, recipient of the 1993 Sudler Trophy, continued its tradition of excellence, igniting the spirits of sports fans with a series of incredible performances. BruinLife sat down with two marching musicians--"rst-year music student Joe Kovach and fourth-year mechanical engineering student Krystina Johnson--who provided unique perspectives and shared some amusing anecdotes of what it is really like to march to one’s own drummers.

BruinLife: How did you come to be in the band? What sparked your interest?

Joe Kovach: I became interested in joining the band when I came to visit UCLA last year and got to watch a band practice. I had never been in a marching band, but I had always been interested in joining one, especially at the collegiate level. A#er seeing

the practice, I told the band director that if I came to UCLA, I would really would want to be a part of it.BL: What was the audition like?

JK: Most people do send in an audition for the band, but as a music major I had to audition for the school anyway. !e band directors looked at that audition and took it into consideration for my joining the marching band.

BL: What instrument do you play, and why did you chose this instrument?

JK: In "#h grade, we were told we had to play an instrument for band. I was trying to decide between the clarinet and trumpet. !e band teacher said I had the right lip for the trumpet, so I ended up choosing the trumpet, and I have stuck with it since.

BL: How long have you been playing for?

JK: I have been playing for about eight years. I played all through middle school and high school in various bands and ensembles, but I had never done marching band before this year.

BL: At which events does the band perform?

JK: We perform at any home game for football and and both men’s and women’s basketball. We also occasionally play for soccer and volleyball. During football season, we do one trip to the Bay Area to do a show up there. When we play USC, we occasionally go to their campus to preform. We also perform at a bunch of UCLA events, like the Beat SC Rally, at Orientation, and at other gigs in and around Los Angeles.

BL: As a new member, what has your !rst year been like?

JK: It has been a lot of work being a new member, but it has been great. When I came in, I did not know steps or drills or any of the fundamentals. We had a band camp and that whipped me into shape. Camp is held for all band members the ten days leading up to Zero Week. We marched 12 hours a day for 10 days, but it was really fun and I got to meet a lot of the band and quickly made a few great friends. Beyond that, it has been really fantastic; it is such a spirited group. It helped to have a friend base when school started, and it was a really great way to connect to people socially.

BL: Has your experience in the band helped you to feel more connected to UCLA?

JK: De"nitely. I don’t know if i would have gotten involved in watching the games or the spirit of the sport if I hadn’t done band, and I have so many friends now that I wouldn’t have had otherwise.

BL What are your responsibilities as a band member?

JK: I am responsible to make sure that others

THE NOTES OF BRUIN SPIRIT

Instructors: Ariel Campos, Keith Kupper, Kelly Flickenger, Gordon H enderson (back middle), W illiam Plenk and Sean Garnreiter. Photo by Don Liebig, ASUCLA Photography.

Staff: John Soliman, Andrew Ge, Christine Van Horn, James Coomes (back middle), Courtney M ilender and Brandon Kovacic. Photo by Don Liebig, ASUCLA Photography.

Color Guard Front Row: Andrea Guzman, H elen Durand, Elizabeth Schleder, Ashley McFadden, V ictoria Whitener and Tami Bi. Back Row: W esley Cheng, Guillermo C isneros, Robyn Kamp, Rachel Goldman, Andrew Wang, K imberly Shaul and A llison G ill. Photo by Don Liebig, ASUCLA Photography.

Color Guard: Justin Grant, Jessica Schlosser, Jacob Ferrin, David Yuong Chan Cho. Photo by Don Liebig, ASUCLA Photography

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are on task during drills and are where they need to be. A big part of it, though, is being responsible for yourself. You need to know your part, show up to games, and be on time for the buses that leave at eight in the morning. I also call others in the morning and make sure they are awake too.

BL: What are practices like? Do you have sectionals?

JK: Typical practices begin with a group warm up. We then split to sectionals for thirty minutes. All trumpets practice parts they are having di!culties with, and other instrument sections do same. We regroup and go over our marching steps without music to make sure we are hitting the right spots. "e last hour, we go through the steps with music to make see how it will actually be when we perform. Practice is usually three hours long, every Tuesday, "ursday, and Friday. It made my Fall quarter very busy because I was also pledging my fraternity and getting into the new school system, but I’m glad I did it. I made it out alive, and it was worth it.

BL: How much time do you spend practicing?

JK: "ere are always sections of songs you need to take it upon yourself to practice, but the majority of practice is done during practice times. I am also in a number of bands here; I have been in two large ensembles and I have worked with a private instructor. Being a music major, I practice more than the typical band member, but I probably spend 21-25 hours practicing a week.

BL: How is the band organized--who are your leaders?

JK: "e lead band director is Gordon Henderson, and the assistant band director is Keith Kupper. A#er that, we have four student drum majors who are the ones conducting on the sidelines, the ones we watch for for tempo. "ey are typically fourth-year students who have been in the band a long time. We also have an equipment crew of students who take care of all of the big instruments that students can’t take to the dorms, including tubas and drums. Each instrument section also has a section leaders. As for the instruments, there are trumpets,

mellophones--which are like french horns but are more portable--four di$erent kinds of drums, %utes, piccolos, trombones, tubas, clarinets, and saxophones. We also have a color guard. I believe there are 260-275 members in the band.

BL: What songs are in your repertoire, and which is your favorite?

JK: "e songs we did this year were a Muse show: three songs taken from the band Muse. "at was our main show. Gordon normally arranges all the songs in our shows, but this year we also had a cartoon show organized by Will Plank, who was a guest arranger. My favorite was the Muse show-- the music was really sick. We also have the classic stand tunes that we play when we are in the bleachers. "ose include the &ght song, the “Sons of Westwood,” all the favorites. We also have pre-game, which is a medley of all the UCLA theme songs. Last year there was a Western Show, a Classical Show, and a Latin Jazz show; next year we plan on doing the “Fall of Troy,” which is basically a show about us defeating the Trojans. "ese shows are played at half-time at the big games. BL: How do you learn to march in formation?

JK: I basically had to jump right into it without knowing anything. "e typical step is “8 to 10,” which is 8 steps for every 10 yards. Basically, at band camp we work on developing muscle memory, memorizing how wide your steps have to be to hit the 10 yards. "ere is also an “8 to 5,” where you take smaller steps. At practice, we are given a drill chart. Each drill chart shows 28 or so di$erent places where you are supposed to be or walk to, and those are set points. So, we go step by step. We start with step one and walk to step two to see where it is. "en we march to it with the music, doing it step by step. At the college level, people are generally experienced enough to know where to go. I de&nitely struggled with it a little bit at the beginning of the year, but by the end I was getting it pretty easily. Gordon is really good at writing drill and making it easy for us, and that’s why we’re the best band in the Pac-10.

BL: Do you have competitions?

JK: We had one this year, but we really only went as a guest group, because it was a

high school competition. We did not go to compete, but to showcase our band.

BL: What is the most challenging part of being in the band?

JK: "e time commitment, because practices alone take up a lot of time. But where you really get hit hard is during the weekends. Saturdays are game days. You have to wake up at seven to meet the 8 o’clock bus, and we don’t get back till 11 at night. "at entire day is devoted to band activities, and it leaves you very little time for work or for free time.

BL: Can you describe any entertaining experiences you have had with the band?

(Laughs) "ere are a lot. I think one of my favorites was at this year’s USC game. Right before we were going to march into the stadium, we were getting ready on the buses. A drunk USC fan decided he needed to pee right in front of the buses. He was standing leaning against a tree peeing for a number of minutes, right in front of our entire band (laughs). "e best experience over all was going on the Cal trip. It was like a weekend getaway with the band, and it was so much fun. We drove up Friday night, and we had Saturday day for free time. We went driving around San Francisco, and went to Ghiradelli Square and Koit Tower as a group. "e next day was game day, and we performed at Berkeley. It felt like a vacation with the band, and a#erwards we all felt really close.

BL: Anything else you want to share with fellow Bruins?

JK: If you play an instrument and you think you might like band, but are unsure or nervous, you should try it out. It was de&nitely the best way to start a school year for me; I was busy but I loved every second of it.

BruinLife: What instrument do you play and how long have you been playing for?

Krystina Johnson: I play the trumpet, and I’ve been playing since fourth grade. My dad was very interested in music all throughout his life, so he made all the Johnson kids play an instrument. But I ended up enjoying it.

BL: Why did you join the band and how long have you been in it for? …continued

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Trumpets Front Row: Gina Tucker, Andrew Levin, Natalie Meza, Andrew Webber, Kevin Hudson, Samual Karp, Douglas Carbajal, Mark Lee and Marlee Newman. Second Row: Katelyn Foster, James Simonelli, Peter Chang, Kevin Torres, Zach Gannaway, Justin Vuong, Krystina Johnson, Xia Du and Eric Crose. Third row: Michael McGalliard, Brendan Hommick, Jorje Parra jr., Eddie Zeng, Maxwell Montrose, Matthew Ishibashi, Casey Claborn, Kiefer Greenspan, Nathaniel Clark and Alejandra Garcia. Back row: Gabriel Cerecedes, Michael Nolta, Eric Kveton, Alex Akashian, Alex August-Schmidt, Jason Moore, David Ross, Cody Alvarado, Stephen Nochols, Timothy Jewell and Joe Kovach. Photo by Don Liebig, ASUCLA Photography

Mellophones/French Horns Front Row: Anne Lum, Katrina Madlansacay, Katherine Morrett, Ashton Moura, Alanah Nowotarski, Amanda Hutson, RisaCanonizado and Cristina Prodigalidad. Back row: William Faught, Jeff Shum, Andrew Elliot, Nishad Sathe, Fred Westinberg, Daniel Moyer, Annie Rittenhouse, Amy Callison and Crystal Valentine. Photo by Don Liebig, ASUCLA Photography

Tenor Saxaphones Front Row: Helen Papadopoulos, Briana Popeny, Derek Wun, Rehka King, Kim Bowen and Melannie Lim. Back row: Jeffrey Lin, Katie Meschke, Josh Epport, Brad Scott, Charles Underhill, Jose Morales and Laura Porter. Photo by Don Liebig, ASUCLA Photography

Alto Saxaphones Front Row: Aurora Garcia, Alyssa Lee, Natsumi Miyakubi, Danny Dolan, Heather Dennis, Freesia Quezada, Allison Cardoso and Talisa Tam. Back row: Caroline Barrack, Chris Carandang, Benjamin Brown, Matt Gafney, Trevor Hershberger, Brannon Altenhofen, Nicholas Wong, Derek Lee and Colleen Sullivan. Photo by Don Liebig, ASUCLA Photography

Flutes/Piccolo Front Row: Elizabeth Truong, Cynthia Wang, Eugenia Leonadho, Kaylee Griffith, Amy Poliner and Belinda Sumali. Middle row: Amanda Michael, Amanda Young, Emily Barton, Jin Chen, Natalia Pfaff and Lisa Shue. Back row: Sean Morris, Alice Wang, Jackie Hollada, Natahia Allen, Erica Skoglund, Robyn Monroe and Kimberly Pike. Photo by Don Liebig, ASUCLA Photography

Clarinets Front Row: Audrey Urrutia, Jowlyn Estrada, Hanna Kim, Sarah Cox, Petra Prado, Sheena Cruz and Cindy Chavez. Middle row: Michelle Monroe, Jill Haney, Tiffie Keung, Kyle Priske, Noah DeMoss, Amanda Selnick, Jason Scapa and Micah Shaw. Back row: Anthony Sanchez, Michael Chavez, Joseph Lujan, Cameron Lundy, Kevin Petersen, August Johannsen, Joseph Alonso and Aaron Go. Photo by Don Liebig, ASUCLA Photography

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Trombones Front Row: Kelsey Uyeda, Jemma Stentiford, Jeff Johnson, Andrew Mai, Margarete Krick, Stephanie Rodriguez, Lauren Dickinson, A.J. White and Kelsey Chesnut. Middle Row: Kasia Johnson, Dakota LaFee, Joel Holian, Matt Waters, Michael Mohlman, Paul Addleman, Rupen Dajee, Heather Lord and Erick Quintero. Back row: Brandon Bies, Daniel Higushi, Paul Blatchley, Berry Beckemeyer, Welsey Mercado, Alex Smith, Zongwei Li, Daniel Peterson and Andrew Olsen. Photo by Don Liebig, ASUCLA Photography

Snare Drums: Reki Downs, Andrew Yoon, Tyler Ryan, Lauren McWorter, Ben Harounian, Andrew Neeld, Philip Idell, Brian Bauman and Matthew Le. Photo by Don Liebig, ASUCLA Photography

Tenors: Ryan Johnson, Stephen Hufford, Ritesh Gupta, Ryan Barnoya and Matt Sumida. Photo by Don Liebig, ASUCLA Photography

Cymbals: Yosephine Lumintang, Mariam Kaddoura, Jennifer Zhang, Kirby Kool, Katie Due, Samantha Sechrist, Lisa Miyamoto and Menze Chiong. Photo by Don Liebig, ASUCLA Photography

Basses: Eric Briggs, Jasmin Harounian, Alex Lee, Philip Caltabiano, Bryce Flor and Nathaniel Chin. Photo by Don Liebig, ASUCLA Photography

Sousaphones Front Row: Katherine Starzyk, Kevin Tieu, Sidhant Kanchan, Ryan Richter, John Combs, Alfonso Landeros, Ryan Tieu and Sarah Andrade. Back row: Zach Johnson, Dustin Chavkin, Joseph Dwyer, Patrick Ryan, Jorge Sincuir, Lauren Quintanar, Michael Bright and Arit John. Photo by Don Liebig, ASUCLA Photography

KJ: I did marching band in high school. I decided to do college band if the college had a prominent athletics program, which UCLA obviously does. I sent in a recording the summer before my freshmen year, and that was my only audition. I have been in UCLA’s Marching Band for four years now.

BL: Describe the band community--are members close?

KJ:!ere are de"nitely section lines that you have to respect. Every section has its own stereotypes. !e trumpets are primarily male and so are a bit wilder, while the #utes have only one guy, so they do cutesy things like movie nights. For our section, I host “trumpet crumpet” nights, because Trader Joe’s sells crumpets. We also have section dinners. As an older member, I try to get the younger members into doing things with the section; we try to get the freshmen to swipe the section into the dining halls. I am also in the band sorority which has a lot of di$erent section members, and I met a lot of di$erent friends.

BL: How has being part of the band a!ected your social life?

KJ: !e majority of my friends are de"nitely from band. Actually, it is interesting because there are a lot of engineers in the band, and I have classes with them. I guess it is because band is kind of artistic, but it is also very structured, so engineers like that and can wrap their heads around that. I’m also the vice- president of the band sorority--the band has both a sorority and a fraternity. We do fundraising, and we host events like game nights. !ere are also a lot of activities for freshmen; they miss some freshmen activities because of band and we try to "ll in the gap. I do recruitment and membership education, weekly candidate meetings-- things like that.

BL: What has it been like working with the band leaders?

KJ: Gordon Henderson is our director, and Keth Kupper is the assistant director. Keith used to be a drum major, but he graduated last year. It has been a easy transition to this new position, and it has been nice having him around. !ere are four drum majors. Most of them are seniors, and I’ve been with them for four years. It’s cool to see

them climb up from section leader to drum majors. All the band leaders are great, and it has been good working with them.

BL: What is one of your favorite memories from your time in the band?

KJ: My freshmen year, we went to the Vegas Bowl with the football team over winter break. !ey put us up in Venetian all for free and even paid us. !e "rst day, the band took over the bu$et, and we were running wild around Vegas. !ere was a lot of section bonding, which was awesome. Once, I also traveled with the basketball team to a NCAA tournament on a charter plane. It was awesome because it was a UCLA-only plane, with just the basketball team, the yell crew, the dance team, and the band. When I was getting on the plane, I was holding my trumpet and knocked a basketball player in the knee. I felt very sheepish and embarrassed a%erwards, but it was a fun experience.

BL: Has the band changed any since you "rst joined?

KJ: !e band is very freshman-heavy this year, probably because last year there was a huge senior class. It has been kind-of nice having a young band, because people as a whole are more enthusiastic, as everything is so new.

BL: Has the band changed you any since you "rst joined?

KJ: I am more outgoing as I am now more comfortable with how things work. I was more quiet freshman year because my high school band was really strict. College is a lot more relaxed, though. I have also been helping the freshmen along to help with section unity. I do this thing the "st day of band camp where I write a note with my name and number and tell freshmen to send me any questions they might have. I get great freshmen questions, like “where do I buy white socks?” or “I’m on Westwood, how do I get back to campus?” (Laughs) I love getting those questions because I feel like an expert. I also have them get their schedules and we walk through campus together and I show theme where places are, things like that.

BL: #e UCLA marching band has been

featured in a number of movies--do you know anyone who has been on the silver screen?

KJ: Some people in band were in a McDonald’s commercial. I know a lot of people who have been in that, they are still getting residual checks. !ere also might be a Honda commercial, and everyone is trying to get in. !ey shot a scene with the band for 300 Days of Summer my freshman year with some senior band members. We also do some fancy gigs like weddings and high-class celebrations.

What do you think is the most important function the band performs? How does the band a!ect school spirit?

KJ: I think at any sporting event, we bring a lot of spirit. At women’s basketball or sports that don’t get much attendance, I know the teams appreciate it we sit on the court and interact with them. We even have pizza parties with the women’s basketball team, and some people are Facebook friends. Everyone knows the “eight clap,” but we provide the energy and keep everyone together.

Do you plan to do anything with music a$er graduation?

KJ: Probably not right away, but I might join a community band a%er graduation. !ey also have an Alumni Band that comes to some football games. !ey play tailgates, and come into the Rose Bowl and play di$erent pep songs. I’m looking for a job right now. I’m just in the interview process, and it’s funny because I always end up talking about band in my interviews.

BL: What, in your opinion, is the best part about being part of the band?

KJ: I think it’s the people. UCLA is so large, and the band provides a smaller community that is much easier to relate to. People are not required to be in band, so those who are there want to be and are really excited to be a part of it. Band members are also really involved in other things at UCLA, and you can get to know a lot of the UCLA community through them. I have made some close friends, and it has been a really wonderful experience.

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AthleticsFall SportsMen’s Soccer

FootballWomen’s Soccer

Men’s Cross CountryMen’s Water Polo

Women’s Volleyball

Winter SportsMen’s Basketball

Women’s BasketballGymnastics

Women’s SwimmingWomen’ Water Polo

Men’s Volleyball

Spring SportsMen’s Tennis

Women’s TennisWomen’s Rowing

Men’s GolfWomen’s Golf

Men’s Track & FieldWomen’s Track & Field

BaseballSoftball

Redshirt junior pole vaulter Tori Anthony carefully bends hers body to avoid knocking down the pole as she follows through witht her pole vault. Each member of the track and field team specialized in an event such as jumps, distances, sprints, hurdles, throws, or pole vault. Photo by Blaine Ohigashi, Daily Bruin.

The men’s soccer team once again entered this year strong and finished off strong, garnering record-setting game attendances and numerous individual player honors on the way up to making the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals. Despite losing seven starters and returning with four, this year’s recruiting class was ranked first by College Soccer News, making it coach Jorge Salcedo’s third No. 1-ranked recruiting class in his seven years of coaching the team. This class included five All-Americans: Victor Chavez, Earl Edwards, Zack Foxhoven, Kelyn Rowe, and Red Williams.

Junior midfielder/defender and sociology student Andy Rose also saw little concern for the effect of only four returning starters on the season, as he commented in a Q&A with UCLA’s official athletics site: “I think a lot of guys with fresh legs and something to prove is a good thing and can heighten the team’s competitiveness, so I think overall we are going to be a very strong side again.”

Underclassmen made their mark in the beginning of the season, scoring 11 of 12 winning goals in the first six games of the season which were contributed by Kelyn Rowe, Victor Chavez, Ryan Hollingshead, Evan

Raynr, and Reed Williams. Redshirt junior goalkeeper Brian Rowe also delivered strong performances, as he tied his season record of seven saves and secured his third shutout at an away game against Cal Poly in double overtime.

Going into the Pac-10 Championships as two-time defenders, the team started off with a 1-0 shutout over No. 14 Washington when freshman defender Joe Sofia utilized a corner kick from freshman midfielder Kelyn Rowe, breaking Washington’s six-game winning streak. Another highlight came in the second round as freshman forward Victor Chavez scored a hat trick in under five minutes for a 4-1 victory against Oregon State, which was the first by a UCLA freshman in 24 years.

The Bruins ended the conference with a record of 8-2-0 and a regular season record of 14-4-1. This was enough to earn them the No. 8 seed for the NCAA Tournament, in which they eventually fell just short in their game against No. 1 Louisville with a score of 5-4. Although they lost their chance to advance to the College Bowl, they still could boast an overall season record of 16-4-1, the most victories since 2003.

A Well-Timed Kick

Sophomore forward Chandler Hoffman boots the ball away from an onlooking defender. Despite hours honing individual skills, soccer required ultimate teamwork in order to succeed. Photo by Kimberly Lajcik , Daily Bruin

!ree things could always be found at a UCLA Bruins football game: shirtless students with paint over their chests, the Yell Crew pumping up the audience, and cheerleaders creating human tower a"er tower a"er tower. !en the players showed up and brought thunderous cheering every time they did.

!e team started o# the season with two losses, but opened the school year with a 31-13 upset of the Houston Cougars during week zero. !ousands of students rode back on the rooter buses with the pride of victory in their chests as they set o# to start the new school year. !en, as if propelled by the spirit of 40,000 students, the Bruins grinded out three wins in a row.

One of the most impressive wins during that streak was a 34-12 win at Texas against the No. 7 Longhorns. It was UCLA’s $rst road win against a ranked team since 2001. At the end of that game, the blue-clad Bruin fans in a small corner of the stadium cheered louder than the home-team Longhorn fans. According to Associated Press, senior o#ensive tackle Sean Sheller said, “I can’t grasp it. It’s like [being] a little kid at Disneyland. We heard our fans all [throughout the] game, and sometimes even louder than Texas fans.”

Unfortunately the Bruins did not get to see another win until over a month later against Oregon State, in a hard-fought victory that was not decided until the game’s $nal second. !at game ended with second-year wide receiver Randall Carroll running out of bounds a"er his catch with four seconds le", which at $rst the referees ruled to be no good. “No matter what, that’s what I was going to do,” said sophomore quarterback Richard Brehaut about throwing to Carroll, according to !e Orange County Register. But a"er the Bruins challenged the call, the proper time was restored to the clock, allowing senior kicker Kai Forbath to make his kick for the 17-14 victory.

!e Bruins $nished the year with a record of 4-8, good for ninth in the Pac-10. Yet at least they performed well during home games in the Rose Bowl, $nishing 3-3 and providing students with victories to celebrate for. Away from home, their record was 1-5.

On December 4th, the Bruins faced o# at the Rose Bowl against University of Southern California in a technically inconsequential game, as UCLA was out of bowl contention and USC was ineligible. But since it was the traditional rivalry matchup, students and players were pumped all the same.

Among exciting news this year was team captain and junior outside linebacker Akeem Ayers declaring for the National Football League dra", as well as junior free safety Rahim Moore. In a UCLA Athletics press release, Ayers said, “I will miss playing with my UCLA teammates next year but I feel that the decision to go to the NFL is what is best for my family. I will always be a Bruin.”

With key players returning next year and Coach Rick Neuheisel returning for his fourth season, the Bruins are looking up in hopes of improving both their record and standing against a certain unnamed red and gold team next year.

Football Tradition, Upsets, and Promises

Junior corner back Aaron Hester ruthlessly tackles his USC opponent to minimize the repercussions of an interception. Unfortunately, the Bruins were ultimately defeated by USC in a game of 28-14. Photo by Tiffany Cheng, Daily Bruin

Being a Division 1 school and part of the Pac-10 conference, UCLA’s teams and athletes were well known for their abilities. !e 2010 women’s soccer team was no exception as it thrived in the regular season. It had a winning record of 13 wins and eight losses along with two ties. !e team faced tough competition throughout the regular season competing against the Pac-10 and other hard nosed teams.

!e team had started the season with a bang by pummeling Cal Poly with a "nal score of 7-0. But as the season progressed, the Bruins started su#ering from losses in extremely close games. !eir only signi"cant losses were against Stanford, losing 2-0 and Oregon State, ending 3-0. Regardless of these few bumps and tribulations along the road, the soccer team "nished a successful regular season. !roughout the season, junior forward Sydney Leroux led the team in goals, scoring a total of 13 and senior defender Lauren Barnes scored "ve goals and led the team in assists. On Leroux’s return to the lineup, senior mid"elder Kylie Wright said to the Daily Bruin, “It’s going to be a huge boost. We de"nitely missed [Leroux] when she was out for these past three games. Her ability to turn and shoot, her speed and just her willingness to get to the goal is going to be important for us. It will be great to have her back on the "eld.”

A$er its exceptional regular season, the team made it to the NCAA Tournament, where the Bruins were successful against their "rst two opponents as they tied the "rst game against Brigham Young University Cougars and claiming a 2-1 victory against University of Central Florida. However, the team was eliminated from the tournament by No. 1-seed Stanford who had a record of 18-2-0, having not lost a game in the entire 2010 season. !e Bruins played in a downpour for the entire game and trailed the entire way as the Cardinal scored a goal in the "rst "ve minutes of the game. At the end, the scoreboard read 3-0 and the Bruins’ season was over. A$er making the NCAA Tournament, the Bruins had a bitter ending as their loss resulted in the team’s quickest elimination from the tournament in nearly a decade. Despite the loss, the Bruins went out with dignity and good sportsmanship. A$er the game, Coach Jillian Ellis said in a UCLA Athletics press release, “We certainly want to congratulate Stanford and wish them all the very best, to bring a championship to the Pac-10. !ey’re a terri"c team.”

Although the season for these Bruins ended in early in the playo#s, their future seemed to be promising. A majority of the players on the team were underclassmen with very few seniors. So, in the coming years, these Bruins were expected to gain experience and this precious experience would translate into success on the "eld. Even in the 2010 season, the experienced Sydney Leroux was named to Soccer America’s MVP First Team and gained the All-America !ird Team honors along with Lauren Barnes. Under their leadership, success was inevitable and the 2011 year seemed brighter for these lady Bruins.

Playing the Field

Senior defender Lauren Barnes prevents the ball from being stolen by University of Central Florida players. U CLA ultimately defeated U C F 2-1. Photo by Evan Luxenberg , Daily Bruin

!ere was much promise for the women’s cross country team as it went into the 2010 season with the fourth-ranked recruiting class gathered by assistant coaches Forest Braden and Johnny Gray, ranked by Flotrack. !e team also had a strong returning class, led by senior Shannon Murakami as the number one runner for the team since the start of the 2009 season. She was also joined by redshirt senior and fellow team captain Kelcie Wiemann. Coach Gray added in a UCLA Bruins Athletics statement, “!e good thing about this year is that we have built a solid foundation the past year with these kids instead of kind of coming in the middle of their training. !at gives us a big advantage because everyone knows each other more […] Overall, everyone is coming in with more con"dence in themselves and the coaches. Being con"dent will make a huge di#erence in the training.” Such training included summer camp at Mammoth for high altitude training.

A$er an early morning race at 8:30 that required the team to be up four hours prior, the ladies ran a strong start to the season at the Fullerton Season Opener Invitational, which included more than 500 runners from 23 teams. First four places were all taken by the Bruins with Murakami (21:24.5), freshman Melissa Skiba (22:06.7), freshman Sierra Vega (22:28.6), and Wiemann (22:28.6). !e Bruins were also able to garner the team title by almost 50 points. Re%ecting on the race, Murakami said on the athletics website, “We were all running together, almost like practice. It was such an amazing feeling to know that my teammates were literally running in stride with me as we crossed through the mile marker.” While everyone is running her own race, they could still support each other as a team.

!ey continued to hold their own in the highly competitive Stanford Invitational that hosted some of the top 15 West Regional teams, placing "$h a$er Stanford, California, Long Beach State, and Cal Poly. It also "nished 12th in the Notre Dame Invitational over two nationally-ranked teams, No. 24 Iowa and No. 30 Notre Dame. !e team split between the Bronco Invite for new runners and the Pre-National Invite, which held the site of the NCAA Championships allowing for runners to get a feel for the course. Murakami repeated as the top runner for the Bruins at 17:03 in 18th, with Vega following a$er for the third consecutive race at 17:23 in 38th.

In the postseason, the ladies headed to Seattle, Washington for the Pac-10 Championships. Coach Braden said on the athletics website, “!e last two weeks have been the best weeks of the season for us, the team is healthy and "t, and I expect great things this weekend and beyond.” !e team overall placed sixth with Stanford winning the title, an improvement from last season in which they placed seventh. Murakami still maintained her spot as the top Bruin runner, along with Vega racing as the second for every meet of the season. Wiemann and sophomore Allie Lopez were named to the Pac-10 All-Academic teams, which was a second consecutive honor for Wiemann. !is season was also quite a debut for Vega, who quali"ed for the World Junior Cross Country Championships with her fourth place time of 22:00 at the USATF Junior National Meet in San Diego.

Junior David McDonald described it perfectly on the team website: “With my stomach full of butter%ies and my eye on the starting gun, my brain thinks just as fast as my heart beats. Visions of the home stretch and the sounds of inspirational songs pair up to create a nostalgic peace of mind while silencing the cheers of sidelined fans.”

To many onlookers, cross country was a sport in which participants endured pain, characterized by the number of miles that runners piled on each and every day. But to the runners themselves, cross country was much more. “You have to visualize the race,” redshirt senior Jake Matthews said to the Daily Bruin. It was a sport that tested the body as well as the mind, the spirit of camaraderie and the very will and determination of the runners themselves. !e sense of team extended far beyond the racecourse itself, as the teammates were close even away from competition. !ey frequently carb-loaded together before races and went sightseeing at various campuses and places that the season took them. In a Daily Bruin interview, sophomore Zack Torres said, “We have a chance to do something big, as long as we’re willing to go through the [struggles] for one another.”

But, above all, these men were still athletes. Looking to build upon a forgettable year, the men’s cross country team, led by Matthews and redshirt junior Dylan Knight, began the 2010 season ranked sixth in the West Region and 36th nationally. A$er early successes at the Fullerton Season Opener and San Diego State University Aztec Invitational achieving "rst place in both, the Bruins faced sti# competition throughout the rest of the season, including showdowns with Pac-10 heavyweights Stanford and Oregon, all with the ultimate goal of competing and winning at the NCAA Championships.

As the season wound down, the Bruin’s "nished 4th place in the Pac-10 Championships and 8th place at the NCAA West Regional. Ultimately, the team failed to qualify for the NCAA Championships, though coach Forest Braden maintained reason for optimism. While the Bruins failed to meet their goal in the 2010 campaign, the team is on the rise, with a promising group of underclassmen ready to rise to the challenge for many seasons to come. As Braden said to the Daily Bruin, “I was pleased and proud of [our team. It] shows something about where we’ve come, and the future is de"nitely bright.”

The Home Stretch

Running Through the Pain

Members of the men’s cross country team run at their best even in the heat during the Fullerton Invite. W ith no major obstacles and only minor sicknesses and injuries, the team ran consistently throughout the season. Photo by Don Liebig, ASUCLA Photography.

W ith a look of determination, freshman T iffany LaMar leads the way for the U CLA women’s cross country team. By measuring themselves with opponents, Bruins paced themselves and received motivation to live up to their highest potential. Photo by Don Liebig, ASUCLA Photography.

!ere was much promise in the 2010 Men’s Water Polo team. Fresh from a loss to University of Southern California for a second place "nish at the 2009 NCAA Championship Tournament, the team was "red up to start anew, with senior attacker Ben Hohl leading the o#ense. Coach Adam Wright emphasized tougher practices that focused on a strong defense. “!e group chemistry is strengthened through struggles...[so] tough training is important because it brings them together,” he said, “Everything is defense. !e team that reaches the others’ goal more is going to win. And that’s really how you build a team.”

!e season began with an explosive victory by the Bruins over No. 12 Concordia with a "nal score of 12-4. With success on their minds, the Bruins went into the NorCal Tournament with high morale, winning three games against Air Force, Paci"c and Stanford to reach the "nals. But this run was ended by none other than cross-town rival No. 3 USC, with the Trojans winning by a single point to end with 11-10.

!e season continued with the SoCal Tournament, hosted at home this year at the Spieker Aquatics Center. !e Bruins made a strong showing, winning three games against Princeton, Paci"c, and UC Irvine, but were foiled by No. 1 USC, who defeated them in a "nal match a second time, yet again, by a single point (9-8). “!e di#erence was a second in the USC match. We let our guard down for one second and it was the di#erence between winning and losing. I hope that in the future, we will learn from this. Every game is do or die,” said Wright.

On the heels of this defeat came another, as the Bruins were upset by No. 4 Cal in their "rst Mountain Paci"c Sports Federation game, but managed to rebound with a victory over No. 7 Paci"c, followed by a string of victories that cemented their No. 3 ranking. However, when the time came for the Bruins to yet again test themselves against No. 2 USC, they were delivered another defeat with 8-5.

Despite a frustrating third loss to USC this season, the Bruins were not deterred, and they managed to win their remaining three MPSF games. “We started number two. Looking back, there were many positive signs. We were a young team...and we had to struggle through injury. !e players got more experience than expected due to injuries, and this should give us depth in the future, as they gained a lot of experience over the course of the season,” said Wright.

Going into the MPSF Tournament, the Bruins were pitted against No. 6-seed Paci"c, which was fresh from a rash of victories, including an upset over Stanford. However, Paci"c’s spirit was no match for the Bruins, who handily won the match 7-5. !e moment of truth then came, as they were pitted against No. 2-seed USC for the automatic bid to the 2010 NCAA Championship Tournament. However, they still ended up being routed by USC with a "nal score of 10-5. !e Bruins then proved unable to triumph against No.1-seed California for third place and the at-large berth, culminating in a fourth place "nish in the MPSF Tournament and no NCAA Championship bid.

Not Just Splashing Around

Bruin attacker attacks the goal in an O ctober 15, 2010 game against Pacific. The Bruins won 10-9. Photo by Morgan Glier, Daily Bruin.

!ey were ranked 12th in the nation at the end of the season, and they concluded conference play 4th, with a record of 11-7 and 22-9 overall. As a result of their skill and hard work, the women’s volleyball team "aunted its Bruin pride for all who attended their games or checked their statistics. Coach Mike Sealy and assistant coaches Dan Conners and Joy McKenzie-Fuerbringer led the team of twenty that consistently impressed friends, family, and fellow Bruins during each game of the season that ran from August to December.

!e team received an entirely new coaching sta# right before the season started because of the retirement of previous coach Andy Banachowski. Sealy, a dedicated and knowledgeable coach, pushed the girls to work harder during every practice and game. !e team and the new coaching sta# got on the same page by incorporating a number of team activities on and o# the court. “We did some out of the gym team-building exercises during pre season; we actually did the obstacle course at Sunset Rec,” said Sealy. !is idea played into his program philosophy of the importance of life and team balance; however, not everything was fun and games. “Everyone will be treated fairly, but not equally,” said Sealy. With that mindset, Sealy motivated the players to prove themselves as serious athletes. According to Sealy, “winning is the byproduct of hard work. For the sake of an analogy, like an artist puts his soul on canvas, the players need to put their skills on the court.” Sealy strived for excellence from his girls and challenged them during their daily practices. !e beginning of the week is less di$cult and more technical; however, as the week progresses the practices get more intense. As a result, the players were pumped for Friday when they faced their opponents.

Lainey Gera, a third-year women’s studies student, played two important roles on the team. As the junior defensive specialist and co-captain, she had her

hands full. Luckily, she had a great support system through both her Bruin family and her real family. “My family comes to every single game, so I celebrate and spend time with them a%er the games,” said Lainey. Her routine before each game allowed her to get into the zone, which was also meant to mentally and physically prepare herself. “Before a game, I stay calm and go over everything that I need to do during the game. I also eat a lot of carbohydrates and protein before the games,” said Lainey. !is process enabled her to perform to her best abilities throughout the season.

!ough UCLA had one of the shorter PAC-10 teams this year, the players made up for their height through their heart, scrappiness and defensive strategies. !ey successfully beat Washington and Stanford, the 5th and 6th nationally ranked college volleyball teams. !e wins were two of the most satisfying accomplishments throughout the season. “Personally, I wanted to play the best I ever have this season. I passed the 1,000-kill mark, and I was third in PAC-10 in kills per set. I de&nitely exceeded my goal,” said Dicey McGraw, a fourth-year history student. As senior outside hitter and co- captain, she “had to lead by example”, which is evidenced in her national ranking for kills per set. Her love for the game also extended to her teammates as well. “I love the team aspect of volleyball. !ese are the girls who are my best friends, roommates, and future bridesmaids. !ey are the friends that I’ll have forever,” said Dicey. !is team bond was evident in the way the players were able to work together during the games. Dicey also reminisced about “having dance parties in the locker room” to celebrate wins this season, which were some of her favorite memories.

!e lady Bruins started the season as underdogs, yet they overcame adversity due to the new coaching sta#. !ey proved that UCLA was not only highly regarded for its academics, but also its sports programs.

Underdogs No More

Freshmen outside hitter Meg Norton drives the ball into the University of Arizona’s court. The women’s volleyball team beat the University of Arizona 3 games to 1. Photo by Sarah Michelle Lahti Daily Bruin.

! e men of basketball continued the Bruin tradition with another strong season.

It was the last year students could be found lining down the hill outside Pauley Pavilion. It was the last time, at least for a long while, that home basketball games would be at UCLA. Approved in July 2009, Pauley was set to be renovated.

It was a huge inconvenience for students walking to class everyday—sometimes the back path would be closed, forcing students to take a detour around Pauley and be late to class. ! e inside though, even though in its " nal year, was as grand as ever as it provided host to the Bruins.

UCLA " nished the Pac-10/Big 12 series 19-7 and " nished the year 25-11. ! e Bruins split games with rivals Berkeley and USC, winning the home

game for both, to the delight of the fans. But the players played for something deeper than a school rivalry. ! ird-year sociology student Lazeric Jones said, “our biggest game…the game that meant the most to us was the BYU game, they were a good team, and it really showed how we could come together, we got the win, we wanted to win it for Coach Wooden”

UCLA lost a close match against Cal. ! at was sent to overtime, thanks to a

heroic buzzer-beater three by junior guard Malcom Lee. Although he commended the e# ort and hard work his boys put in, Coach Ben Howland reminded, “every game in my heart is a must win. We have to have that heightened sense of urgency every time we step on the $ oor.”

In the last game of the season to be played in Pauley, as if magic were sprinkled on the court, John Wooden’s great-grandson junior guard Tyler Trapani hit the " nal shot to defeat the Arizona Wildcats.

Jones re$ ected upon a mostly successful year for the Bruins: “! e season’s been pretty good, ! ere’s always ups and downs though…but way more highs than lows, especially for myself, coming here, since it was my " rst year.

UCLA " nished the season with a 7th seed in the NCAA tournament. ! ey made it past the " rst round, but was eventually knocked out by the Florida Gators. With most of the athletes returning next year, the future looked bright as the Bruins looked to improve on their record on the march towards the NCAA Championship.

Bruins on the March

Junior guard Malcom Lee fi nishes a strong drive to the basket with a layup against Arizona State. The Bruins beat the Sun Devils 71-53. Photo by Terence Lee.

Bruins were leaders in all time NCAA championships. Consistent success in all the sports led the Bruins to this feat. Women’s basketball team, accordingly, was no exception. Ranked eleventh in the nation, these women were having a remarkable year, as they had a 22-3 record.

! e Bruin’s were downing heavy competition as the neared the end of the regular season. ! ey had faced heavy Pac-10 conference competition throughout the season, but were triumphant in most cases. Stanford was the only obstacle that stood in their way and leadership of the conference. Ranked second in the nation, Stanford had defeated UCLA twice during the regular season. First on January 20th, 2011, Stanford su" ered a heartbreaking loss as the Cardinals pounded the Bruins, 64-38. However, the second game was much more competitive as the Bruins went head to head with the Cardinals for the # rst half, 28-28. Second half, on the other hand, was a completely di" erent tale as Stanford pulled away, outscoring UCLA by fourteen points. Guard, Darxia Morris led the Bruins by scoring fourteen points in 38 minutes. Nonetheless, disappointment was rampant a$ er the game. Coach Nikki Caldwell said, “We’ve got to make shots. We must have missed 20 layups.” Bruin shot a lowly 31.4% from the # eld, compared to the 42.0% by the Cardinals. ! e game drew a season high fans, 6725, who were disappointed but supported the team simultaneously. Ryan Sakamoto, a # rst year mechanical engineering student said, “We put up a # ght, I know we are a ranked team, but Stanford is just on another level. But still, I am proud of our team.”

! e 2010-2011 season for these Bruins was more than about basketball. Coach Caldwell, especially, spearheaded the Breast Cancer Awareness movement. Women’s team sported pink jersey’s on several occasions and they raised $3000 for the Breast Cancer Research. ! is reactionary movement was somewhat like a % ashback. It reminded many of the days of the Bill Walton in the 1960’s. Of the days when basketball stood for something more than basketball. It stood for something greater.

Shoot to Score

Sophomore Guard Mariah W illiams dribbles past her defender for an easy lay up during the November 21, 2010 game. U CLA won 4-0 beating U C Davis in Pauley Pavillion. Photo by Terence Lee.

A!er winning the NCAA championship in 2010, the women’s gymnastics team joined the leagues of other NCAA winners in the White House where President Barack Obama commended them for their skill and talent as student athletes. Fueled by this presidential recognition and honor, the team came back for the 2010-11 season determined to defend their national title. Voted No. 1 by a preseason poll, the Bruins practiced hard to live up to the lo!y expectations. Composing the squad of winners were some strong returning members including NCAA vault champion junior Vanessa Zamarripa and "oor champion senior Brittani MuCullough along with three All-Americans: senior Niki Tom, junior Aisha Gerber, and junior Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs.

Under the stress of expectations, they competed in two highly anticipated season openers. In Salt Lake City, they fell to #!h-ranked Utah, setting the tone of disappointment for the top ranked team hoping to defend its title. At the Pac-10 showcase, they came in second with 195.925 overall, falling behind Stanford. For the rest of the season, they oscillated between

victories and defeats, losing to Southern Utah and Stanford while winning against Stanford, Oregon State, North Carolina State, and Cal State Fullerton. $ey placed third at the Chicago Style Classic, #rst in the John Wooden Challenge, second at the tri-meet with Georgia and Arizona, and second in the Pac-10 championships.

$ey demonstrated their dominance at the NCAA Athens Regional, scoring a 197.425, beating out the competition and securing the team a spot in the NCAA Championships. Winning the all-around her personal high score of 39.5, freshman Olivia Courtney represented the achievements of the team. Junior Tauny Frattone and senior Brittani McCullough won the bean and the "oor respectively, clinching the victory for the Bruins.

$e gymnastics team did not disappoint in the 2010-11 season, bringing experience and pure talent to the table to live up to the high expectations while attempting to defend their national title.

Junior Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs performs her uneven bars routine during the Pac-10 showcase. Hopfner-Hibbs won the all-around with a 39.55 and also took first place on beam and floor with scores of 9.95. Photo by Evan Luxenberg, Daily Bruin.

Senior center Grace Reynolds uses all her strength to make a powerful shot against the opponent’s goal. The Bruins used a technique called “fake pumping” to trick opposing teams into committing too early to block a shot . Photo by Jenn Lally, Daily Bruin.

Defending Their Title

Season of Preparation

Making Waves

A!er the swim and dive team "nished o# the summer season with a strong showing at the USA Swimming Nationals, they welcomed back a team full of experience and talent refreshed for competition in the fall. $e season kicked o# with strong showings at their "rst dual swim and dive meets, winning 156-95 against UCSB and 165-121 against UC Davis, and started the season o# 6-0. $ey trained and competed hard during the season, but their eyes were "xed on the goal of an NCAA championship. Tournaments were competitive and exhilarating, but more than that, Coach Tom Stebbins told the Daily Bruin, “We use these meets to prepare for NCAAs more than anything else. We don’t worry so much about the result today or tomorrow, but more about the process of getting better long-term.”

$is long-term improvement manifested itself in the "nal stretch of the season a!er winter break. Senior diver and captain Laura Winn said to the Daily Bruin, “It’s always exciting to go through that period of work and get broken down, because now it starts to be the fun part of the season.” $e “fun part” consisted of invitational tournaments, and began in January with the Bruin Diving Invitational at Spieker Aquatic Center. UCLA won the invitational over Cal and Stanford with Winn leading the way with 278.70 points, and the team used it to gauge their skills against their Pac-10 opponents.

$e rivalry meet between UCLA and USC in February proved to be both challenging and heartbreaking for the team. Despite breaking both school and personal records in events such as the 200-meter freestyle, 50-meter freestyle, as well as the 200-meter medley, the Bruins still fell to the Trojans with a "nal score of 176-124. A total of 50 season-bests, 3 meet records, 2 freshman records, and 27 NCAA cuts were achieved, and this meet concluded the regular season for the Bruins. $ey ended with a total record of 9-4, and a Pac-10 record of 3-4. Head coach Cyndi Gallagher told the Daily Bruin “USC is an incredibly talented team, and I don’t think any team in the country could have beaten them today. We did our best in where we are for preparation…and I am so proud of how our team has stepped up. We keep getting faster with every meet, and I’m really excited for the next month of competition.” $is meet concluded the preparation period for the team, and they could only look forward to the fruit of their hard work in the Pac-10 and NCAA championships.

$e women’s water polo team won "ve straight national championships from 2005-2009, but last year, Loyola Maramount proved the Bruins were mortal, and halted their title hopes quickly in the postseason. A!er coming back from the disappointing loss, the team came ready to "ght their way to the top again. Senior Grace Reynolds told the Daily Bruin, “Even though it was so long ago, we’re using it as incentive, and not taking any team for granted.” $e Bruins came into the season ranked fourth in the nation and began by playing in a tournament at the University of Michigan in late January in Ann Arbor. $ey went 4-0 at the tournament and had a promising performance. Junior goalkeeper Caitlin Dement said to the Daily Bruin, “We’re a lot more con"dent, have a lot more composure – we’re a lot stronger altogether.” $is newfound con"dence and mindset set the tone for the year, and the Bruins were ready to make another championship run in the likeness of previous years.

UCLA went into the Stanford Invitational in February with con"dence. Senior center Katie Estrada told the Daily Bruin, “We’re a lot more con"dent taking our leadership roles, and that’s something we’ve all kind of grown into the past couple of years.” $ey "nished a seemingly lackluster third, losing to the second ranked rival Trojans 10-8. However, because of their win over Long Beach State 7-6, they still managed to boost their ranking up to third.

At the next tournament, the Bruins got their vengeance. $ey won the Triton Invitational at UCSD and beat the Loyola Maramount Lions 12-9 in "nals, the team that extinguished their championship hopes last year. $ey swept the other teams at the tournament, "nished the weekend 4-0, and held their ranking steady at number three. Although the Bruins looked strong, the season was still in the making, and the team still needed to work hard in order to have a shot at reclaiming the championship trophy.

Sophomore Maggy Boyd makes a graceful dive down the diving board at the Bruin Diving Invitationals. The Bruins defeated Kansas 168-132 and Fresno State 245-55 in Spieker Aquatics Center. Photo by Michael Chen, Daily Bruin.

Bump. Set. SpikeIt is the routine that kept these individuals going, the process that united

them as a team, that brought them towards the goal.In a season marked by highs and lows, the men’s volleyball persevered

through each one of their trials and struggles, ultimately emerging as one team, bonded as a fellowship of athletes workings towards the same goal: the elusive (or maybe not so elusive for UCLA volleyball) NCAA title.

!e Bruins entered the season with high expectations, looking to best re"ect the program that had already earned 19 national championships. Led by renowned coach Al Scates, who boasted a career record of 1,201-267 in 49 years of coaching, the volleyball team viewed their preseason #9 ranking as a sign of disrespect. Coach Scates even boldly predicted to the Daily Bruin, “I don’t expect us to be anywhere lower than fourth by the end of the season.” And it was hard to argue against the Hall of Fame coach, as the team returned 15 players (four starters) from a team that ended 16-14 and ranked #7 in the nation. A young core consisting of junior quick hitters !omas Amberg and Nick Vogel, junior setter Kyle Caldwell, and redshirt junior opposite hitter

Jack Polales looked to improve on the previous year’s run. And, considering the roster, which also boasted two highly touted freshmen, optimism was not unwarranted.

!e team, however, was not simply six men deep, as each player possessed a unique skill set valuable to the team. “!e great thing [about our team] is we have 20 kids […],” Polales said in a Daily Bruin interview, “[…] whenever someone goes down, we’ve got another guy with a lot of talent ready to step in.” And that depth proved crucial in the early parts of the season, when two starters missed time with injuries. Midway through the season, the seventh-ranked Bruin’s record stood at a respectable 8-8. But with many matches against highly-ranked teams – UCI, Pepperdine, and USC – still looming, there remained many opportunities for the volleyball team to cement its place in the top four, as one of the nation’s #nest programs. “It’s good we got our losses out of the way early,” redshirt junior setter Alex Scattareggia told the Daily Bruin, “We’re going to try and move forward and maintain our goal to win league.”

Bruin’s volleyball looks towards a 20th national championship

Red shirt junior setter Alex Scattareggia musters up strength to make a winning pass against UCS. Despite the hard work, UCLA Men’s Volleyball fell to USC 3 games to 1. Photo by Lexy Atmore, Daily Bruin.

Junior David McDonald described it perfectly on the team website: “With my stomach full of butter!ies and my eye on the starting gun, my brain thinks just as fast as my heart beats. Visions of the home stretch and the sounds of inspirational songs pair up to create a nostalgic peace of mind while silencing the cheers of sidelined fans.”

To many onlookers, cross country was a sport in which participants endured pain, characterized by the number of miles that runners piled on each and every day. But to the runners themselves, cross country was much more. “You have to visualize the race,” redshirt senior Jake Matthews said to the Daily Bruin. It was a sport that tested the body as well as the mind, the spirit of camaraderie and the very will and determination of the runners themselves. "e sense of team extended far beyond the racecourse itself, as the teammates were close even away from competition. "ey frequently carb-loaded together before races and went sightseeing at various campuses and places that the season took them. In a Daily Bruin interview, sophomore Zack Torres said, “We have a chance to do something big, as long as we’re willing to go through the [struggles] for one another.”

But, above all, these men were still athletes. Looking to build upon a forgettable year, the men’s cross country team, led by Matthews and redshirt junior Dylan Knight, began the 2010 season ranked sixth in the West Region and 36th nationally. A#er early successes at the Fullerton Season Opener and San Diego State University Aztec Invitational achieving $rst place in both, the Bruins faced sti% competition throughout the rest of the season, including showdowns with Pac-10 heavyweights Stanford and Oregon, all with the ultimate goal of competing and winning at the NCAA Championships.

As the season wound down, the Bruin’s $nished 4th place in the Pac-10 Championships and 8th place at the NCAA West Regional. Ultimately, the team failed to qualify for the NCAA Championships, though coach Forest Braden maintained reason for optimism. While the Bruins failed to meet their goal in the 2010 campaign, the team is on the rise, with a promising group of underclassmen ready to rise to the challenge for many seasons to come. As Braden said to the Daily Bruin, “I was pleased and proud of [our team. It] shows something about where we’ve come, and the future is de$nitely bright.”

It’s Tough Love

Making a Raquet

The 2010-11 UCLA women’s tennis team was led by seniors Noelle Hickey, Maya Johansson and Andrea Remynse. These three experienced players were the only ones on the team who could boast winning championships, as Remynse was the only player still on the team from UCLA’s 2008 National Championship squad. Hickey and Johansson both won the USTA/ITA National Indoor Team title with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in 2008 before transferring to UCLA. Along with Remynse, they provided an invaluable source of leadership throughout the season.

Junior McCall Jones commented, “They’ve been really good captains. Since I’m new, I almost feel like I’m a freshman again, starting over with a new program. They’ve made me feel really welcome. They’ve been really good leaders on the court, they’re really good at encouraging everyone.” With six freshmen on the team, the leadership of the upperclassmen was a key factor in the team’s growth and improvement. Before heading into the Indoors Tournament, head coach of 15 years Stella Sampras Webster said, “We’ve got three seniors, and this is their last shot. Experience is really on our side, so it will be exciting. Top teams can deliver at a high level throughout a match.”

However, Webster knew at the beginning of the season that changes were going to be needed this year. After the loss of the powerhouse number one singles player and captain Yasmin Schnack from 2010, the team needed major adjustments. However, despite these changes, the team started the season with a 7-3 record in their first ten games. “We haven’t decided on what players are going to play and if we want to hold some out and rest them,” Sampras Webster said. “We’ll evaluate where people are at…and there could be some changes.” The team was well aware of the changing nature of the line-up, and supported the head coach in her decisions. “Whatever Stella decides is what happens,” Remynse said. “She’s making decisions for what is best for the team. (Our) individual goals are completely put on the side. I want to play wherever she thinks we’re going to win and whatever puts us in the best possible situation to win,” she continued. Clearly the players had the right mentality, and were all willing to put the team before the individual, ultimately doing whatever it took to bring more wins to UCLA.

Senior Amit Inbar goes for backhand pass. Inbar Ended the season with an 8-3 doubles record and a 4-2 mark in singles action. Photo by Daily Bruin.

Freshmen Courtney Dolehide serves up a powerful shot at the start of the match against an LM U opponent. U CLA beat LM U 7-0. Photo by Evan Luxenberg, Daily Bruin.

UCLA Women’s Rowing team began its 2011 spring season with a bang. A!er sweeping all races against Loyola Marymount on March 5 and winning "rst against San Diego State on March 13 the upcoming season seemed to be promising.

#e team "nished as the "!h seed in the competitive Pac-10 conference during the previous season as it earned its "rst bid to the NCAA Championships where they "nished 12th overall. A!er having a successful season a year before, the team buttressed its roster during the o$-season as it signed eight new rowers who had been successful in their rowing endeavors during high school. All the members of the new signing class were recognized athletes as they came from backgrounds in several other sports including soccer, water polo, volleyball, "eld hockey, so!ball, and tennis. #is wide spectrum of sport participation was a fair representation of the athleticism of the

signing class, which was more than welcomed by the team.As a result of all the new additions to the team, some changes

needed to be made. For example, during an interview a!er the win at the San Diego State meet, head coach Amy Kearney said, “I don’t want to say we are in pre-season mode but we are trying to "nalize line ups...we are changing lineups every week, don’t even have "rst, second and eighth [positions] set up right now...and [the athletes] are battling in practice right [for these positions].” Accordingly, this in-team competition was de"nitely for the team’s best interest because it allowed UCLA to put its best athletes out there for the meets.

With the beginning of the 2011 spring season, the team began its hunt for its second consecutive berth in NCAA Championships. With the new talent on the team and a wonderful start, this feat was very likely.

Rocking the Boat

The women’s rowing team practices with each other during a weekend. The team finished off 5th in the Pac-10. Photo by Don Liebig, ASUCLA Photography.

Coming back from being considered the youngest batch to enter the NCAA Tournament last season, the men’s golf team was entering as one of the most experienced and highly ranked (No. 1 by GolfWeek and No. 2 by GolfStat). Players like freshman Patrick Cantlay, sophomore Pontus Widegren, and sophomore Mario Clemens were coming in with individual championship titles, and the team had earned a tournament win and runner-up !nishes. Coach Derek Freeman was optimistic about the team’s performance for the season, according to the UCLA Athletics site: “It was a very good o"season for the team and the players are excited about the competition. If we manage what we have control over, the results will take care of themselves. #is is a very exciting team that loves to compete.”

Early in the season, the team was able to secure their second consecutive and defending championship title at the Battle of the Beach tournament, a$er coming out of the second round in third place. Senior Connor Driscoll made his career best !nish at that time with a score of 206 (-4), tying for third and being one of the !ve players under par. One such player was Cantlay, as he posted three scores under par and contributed with his second runner-up !nish. “We came from behind last year in this event; it almost seems like (coming from behind is) what we do,” said Driscoll to #e Daily Bruin.

At the USC Collegiate Invitational, Cantlay continued as one of the players to beat with his individual title for a 54-hole score 207, which was six under par. As a team, the Bruin secured second place just two shots behind San Diego State. #en junior Gregor Main took the lead at the Del Walker Intercollegiate, ultimately winning the tournament by six strokes with a !nal 54-hole score of 203.

A$er slipping a bit at Southern Highlands Invitational

and Callaway Collegiate Match Play Championship, the No. 2 team prepared for the Insperity Augusta State Invitational. In addition to defending champion Augusta State, Oklahoma State led a competitive !eld consisting of No. 3 Alabama, No. 11 Illinois, and No. 22 Washington.

Widegren expressed con!dence in his team earlier in the season: “We know that we can win against any school…We know that if we all put a good round together, we will end up on top,” he said to #e Daily Bruin. Comparing to the 2008 championship season, Driscoll also predicted, “We have the ability, just like that team did. I think if we all stay motivated and stay excited to play, and not let ourselves get burnt out through this long, intense spring season, we should have a good shot at the national championship.” With the individual honors and comeback performances seen by this season’s lineup, the men’s golf team continued its spring season with much to look forward to.

Junior Alex Shi Yup Kim follows through on a swing. Kim was one of the returning players who contributed to yet another successful season in 2010-2011. Photo courtesy of Rich Bertolucci.

Ripping Up the Green

!e men’s track and "eld team ran, jumped, threw, and hurdled to another spectacular season this year, "nishing the season with top individual achievements from many athletes. In the "rst meet of the season at the University of Washington Invite, the men’s distance medley ran a 9:39.62, a top-10 NCAA time at that time. Fi#h-year business-economics student Scott Crawford anchored the "nal mile of that relay, which ended up ranking 16th in the country. He also "nished the indoor season at the NCAA Preliminary Round with a lifetime best of 1:47.78 in the 800m, which was the seventh fastest in UCLA history: “I had a personal best indoors by a few seconds, I think I was 22nd in the country in the 800.”

!ree Bruins quali"ed for the NCAA Indoor Championships in College Station, Texas. First-year undeclared student Alec Faldermayer won sixth place in his "rst NCAA Championship with a hammer throw of 68 feet, 3.25 inches—a lifetime best. Fourth-year philosophy student Cory Primm ran in the 800m on the "rst day, "nishing 12th overall with a time of 1:50.52. Fourth-year psychology student Jonathan Clark "nished with a 50 foot, 9.5 inch jump in the triple jump.

!e three Bruins combined to "nish 50th overall for UCLA. “We couldn’t go to Texas with them but we trained with them every day,” Crawford said, addressing the individualistic nature of track and "eld but still having close team bonds. “When they le# early in the morning we said good-bye and good luck. We’re a pretty close team between the di$erent event groups. And of course when the races were going on, we were all on laptops watching them live.”

Fi#h-year history student Bo Taylor opened the 2011 outdoor season with a discuss throw of 185 feet, 2 inches, and was very proud of the team’s indoor season results: “I think they did pretty good overall. Coach Manor is doing a pretty good job. He just started last year, so he’s trying to build up.”

!e future looked bright—at least, it did in the eyes of the veterans who looked to pass the team to their younger teammates. “We’re de"nitely in a rebuilding stage,” Crawford said. “We have a lot of plans for the young guys coming up. We’re not where we want to be right now but its heading in that direction pretty quickly.”

Tearing the Track

Red shirt junior Scott DiCesare braces himself as he completes the pole vault. Though he tied for 13th in the vault at Pac-10s in 2010, DiCesare looked forward to being competitive in 2010-2011. Photo by Corrina Hui, Daily Bruin.

In the Tee Zone

Running Wild!e women’s track and "eld team came into the 2010-11 season looking to improve on

their performance from the previous year. !e Bruins "nished 25th in the NCAA outdoor championships and 56th in the indoor championships in 2009-10 season. However, this was not nearly good enough for the members of the team, including head coach Jeanette Bolden. When re#ecting season, Bolden commented in the Daily Bruin, “We got used to winning, because we were winning Pac-10 titles year a$er year, being in the top 10, top 5, winning NCAAs. And then when I became the Olympic coach [in 2008], it kind of went [downhill] and I wasn’t here as much. But the di%erence now is that I have my depth back; we don’t have 34 people, we have 64. And I have a lot of quality depth.”

!is depth of the team, including participation from former Pac-10 champions sophomore hurdler Turquoise !ompson and senior hurdler Lindsay Rowe, helped them excel in the early parts of the season. !e team had impressive performances in both the season opener at the University of Washington and the New Mexico Classic, with a number of the team members setting career bests in both meets. As the season progressed, the team continued to improve with hopes of sending more and more athletes to the NCAA championships. Speaking to the Daily Bruin, senior hurdler Lindsay Rowe said, “We just need a couple more good performances and a couple more teammates to go to the national championships, and I think they will do really well.” !is was shortly a$er she had just set a new personal best time at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Senior sprinter Ashlea McLaughlin also set a personal best at the same race, beating her previous time in the 800-meter by almost "ve seconds. A$er the race, she commented to the Daily Bruin on the team’s relationship. “It’s amazing how close we are. At the end of the day there might be little groups, but in the end we’re like a little family,” she said.

In February, the team added nine new freshmen to the family, which helped them excel at the MPSF championship, and a "nal NCAA quali"er in Seattle. As March approached, the team headed into the NCAA indoor championships with con"dence, and hoped to improve even further before the Pac-10 tournament and the NCAA outdoor championship in May and June. With such great depth and team members who consider each other family, the women’s track and "eld team was sure to "nd success.

The women’s golf team began the fall season as the top ranked team in the nation. Expectations to succeed were high as Coach Carrie Forsyth returned for her 12th year, and the team brought back all but one returning player. They would be competing against other top-ranked teams in the Pac-10 as well, such as No. 3 USC, and No. 4 Arizona. Glory Yang, a returning senior, said to the Daily Bruin “Sometimes it’s a wake-up call that we need to practice on different parts of our game. At the same time, it gives us confidence that we have a great chance of winning all the time.” The Bruins began their season with a 7th place finish in Texas, and a strong third place showing at the Wilmington Landfall in North Carolina. Junior Stephanie Kono told the Daily Bruin “Whenever I had a bad swing or stroke, I just try to recover with the next one. I just try to minimize my mistakes; that was the key for everyone today.” After their victories, they headed to Stanford in November to wrap up the fall season by competing in the inaugural Pac-10/Southeastern Conference Challenge. They finished first over Alabama, with a 54-hole score of 856, four over par.

They went into the winter season ranked 4th, lower than they were at the beginning of the year, but still with strong hopes for a shot at a championship. They went to the Northrup Grumman Regional Challenge in February, but a less than stellar third round caused by damp and rainy weather cost them a spot in the top two. They finished with a scored of 887 behind the Trojans, who scored 884, and Arizona, who scored 886. However, the tides changed as the Bruins headed to Santa Clarita to host their own tournament – the Bruin Wave Invitational. They started strong, and held onto the lead, and finished the tournament with a score of 860, winning by 20 strokes. Not only did the finish first as a team, but sophomore Lee Lopez, senior Glory Yang, and junior Stephanie Kono took the top three individual awards as well. Yang told the Daily Bruin “I feel comfortable about this season and know that my teammates are really good players.” After coming into the season with high expectations, the Bruins have found their rhythm and chemistry, and are looking towards the championships in the spring.

Senior Lindsay Rowe flies in the 400m hurdles event as she tries to attain her personal best. One of the team’s greatest strength was its diversity of talents. Photo by Nathan Kwok, Daily Bruin.

Senior Glory Yang observes her swing during the Stanford Intercollegiate. Tied up for 10th at the Pac-10 Championship in 2010, Yang hoped to do better in 2010-2011. Photo by David Gonzales, Daily Bruin.

Jack Norworth’s 1908 classic baseball song, “Take Me out to the Ball Game,” truly captured the essence of the sport lovingly referred to as “America’s favorite past time.” !e lyrics of the song typically burst from fans’ mouths during the seventh inning stretch of any major league baseball game. !ough college fans did not always participate in the tradition of belting out this tune, the mechanics of the game did not di"er between the professional and college leagues. In fact, many college baseball fans frequently partook in a number of the sport’s other rituals, such as eating “peanuts and cracker jacks,” like Norworth’s famous song exclaimed.

Baseball was a sport played between two opposing teams of approximately twenty-#ve players each. !e objective of the sport was for one team to score more runs than the other throughout the nine-inning game. !e two teams switched between o"ensive and defensive positions during every inning. As a result, an inning was divided into two parts, which gave both teams an opportunity to bat and play the #eld. Nine players from the team on defense occupied the #eld, while there were one to four o"ensive players on the #eld at any given time. !e nine defensive positions were as follows; catcher, pitcher, #rst baseman, second baseman, third baseman, short stop and the three out#eld positions. Although each player performed an essential role, the pitcher held a great deal of responsibility for the way in which the game proceeded. !is was because the pitcher, who stood in the center of the baseball diamond, was required to hurl the ball in such a manner that it would render the o"ensive player unable to hit it into the #eld with his bat. !us, the pitcher’s job was to strike out the players of the opposing team. An out could also be achieved by getting the ball to a base before the runner reached it, by catching the ball hit by an o"ensive player, or by tagging an o"ensive player with the ball. As a result, the line, “For it’s one, two, three strikes, you’re out,/ At the old ball game,” from Norworth’s song had the rules right. However, the process of eliminating o"ensive players, or securing an out, was easier

said than done. Due to hours of batting practice most players underwent, it was no surprise that college and professional players could frequently make contact with the ball.

In order to score a run, a player on o"ense had to hit the ball and successfully reach #rst base without getting “out”. !is could be accomplished in three ways. First, the o"ense must successfully hit the baseball into the #eld without being caught by a defense player. Second, an o"ensive batter can take four balls, either intentionally or unintentionally, and go to #rst base. Lastly, a player that is struck anywhere on their body with the pitch is rewarded #rst base. !e player then had to make his way to each of the bases without being tagged by his opponent. !e only way a player could score a run was by touching the #nal base in a series of four bases placed ninety-feet from each other around the baseball #eld. !ough not necessary, the o"ensive team had the opportunity to implement a #rst and third base coaches, who gave signs to the o"ensive players in an attempt to better the odds of scoring a run.

!e baseball season took place during spring, which a"orded the players and the fans with good weather and natural light later in the evening. !ough the season was scheduled for a particular time of the year, the teams that quali#ed for playo"s had an extended season. !e process of the playo"s went as follows; a team successfully eliminated its competition from a series particular rounds, which would then take them to Omaha, Nebraska for the college world series if they were skilled enough.

Our own Bruin baseball team abided by the same rules as the professional league. !ey played their home games at Jackie Robinson Field, which was named a$er the legendary African-American baseball player. He was the #rst person to successfully break down the color divide in professional sports. As a student-athlete at UCLA and a Brooklyn Dodger, Robinson excelled. Consequently, it was a no-brainer to commemorate his legacy in this manner.

Playing in the Dirt

Junior right hand pitcher Gerrit Cole winds up to pitch in the UCLA vs. South Carolina in the first game of the final in the College World Series.UCLA lost the first game 7-1. Photo by Kimberly Lajcik, Daily Bruin.

As the defending national champions of 2010, the elite so!ball team entered the 2011 season determined to repeat another aggressive winning season. "ey followed through with their goals, sweeping the Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament, beating out Utah State, North Dakota State, UCF and San Diego State. With a strong start in February, the team was ready to pitch their way to victory in Las Vegas at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic. "ey unleashed their winning trifecta of strong pitchers, in#elders and out#elders to claim victories against Southern Illinois, Utah, Portland State, Utah State and Cal State Northridge, losing only to Arkansas in a close game. Competing in the Cathedral City Classic, Campbell/Cartier Classic and Long Beach Marriot Invitational, they emerged with a majority of wins, demonstrating their strength as a so!ball team, which had but one year ago brought another NCAA victory to UCLA.

A strong team of women comprised the winning so!ball team. Senior Donna Kerr

played a signi#cant role in maintaining the prestige of UCLA athletics, making a team best with 18 wins and 185 strike outs, which placed her as 38th in the nation with strike outs and 39th for fewest hits according to the UCLA Bruins website. Kerr’s experience and skill secured the status of the team. Out#elders junior Andrea Harrison, junior Katie Schroder, and sophomore B.B. Bates helped to pull the team together. “Andrea, Katie and B.B. all work very well together in the out#eld with their ability to run balls down and throw runners outs and that gives a great deal of con#dence to our pitching sta$,” explained head coach Kelly Inouye-Perez on the UCLA Bruins website. Senior second baseman GiOnna DiSalvatore and senior shortstop Monica Harrison provided a reliable in#eld for the team, using their years of experience to spearhead the o$ense.

"e 2011 season was marked by a string of victories as the highly regarded so!ball team attempted to defend their national title and display the athletic prowess of UCLA.

Stepping to the Plate

U tility player Amy Crawford takes a swing against U tah State. U CLA Softball defeated U tah St. 19-0; The pitcher threw a no-hitter!. Photo by Lexy Atmore, Daily Bruin.

Am ultimate frisbee player is about to pass the frisbee as someone playing defensive is unable to block his throw. U ltimate frisbee was one of many club sports that offered Bruins competetiveness outside the N C AA . Photo by Terence Lee

THE UNKNOWN WORLD OF

COLLEGIATE ATHLETICS: STUDENTS COMPETE IN CLUB SPORTS

The world of club sports encompassed more than 30 sports and nearly 1500 participants. The sports ranged from traditional sports such as baseball and tennis to more modern sports such as Ultimate Frisbee and kendo. Clubs practiced two to three times a week during their season, and spent many weekends competing as far as Hong Kong, France, or Turkey. Club sports were organized by students, but were administered by UCLA Recreation. This meant that things such as liability forms and reimbursements ran through

UCLA Recreation, but the organization and welfare of the sport depended entirely upon the members of the club.

Club sports were a way for some students to stay in shape as well as a way to keep up with a sport they had been doing for many years. Eric Daudernarde, an Economics/International Area Studies and Music History major, president of the Taekwondo Club said “I have been doing martial arts since I was six years old. When I came to UCLA, I had never done Olympic style Taekwondo, but when

I found out there was a team here I joined right away.” His motivation to stay on the team, however, came from the exhilaration of doing a martial art and fighting opponents. For others, it was all about self-improvement and athleticism. Doing a sport did not come with its difficulties however–it required these student athletes to make time for another activity in the day. On the flip side, Daudernarde said “Being in matches where someone is trying to kick your head in and knock you out, and then the next day you’re in class thinking

Third-year mechanical engineering student Yu Hsiao does the cycling portion of the Iron Bruin competition. Members trained on a weekly basis to be on top of their game during the competition. Photo by Terence Lee

The UCLA Taekwondo Club Sport Team is a member of UCLA Club Sports, a UCLA organization supporting sports organizations under the direct supervision of students in association with Recreation Staff. UCLA Taekwondo, lead by students since 2005, has inspired athletic, scholastic, competitive, and social growth in its members since its inception in 2005. It accepts and encourages ALL skill levels from absolute beginners to experienced Taekwondo athletes interested in Olympic or World Taekwondo (WTF) approved Taekwondo competition.

The UCLA Triathlon Team is an official club sport of the University of California, Los Angeles. We welcome athletes at all levels from beginner to elite, and help them reach their multisport goals. Although the team is student-run, you do not have to be a student to join. We encourage participation from both undergraduate and graduate students, staff, faculty, alumni, and other members of the community.

‘Wow, this is easy compared to what I just experienced.’ It’s experiences like that that make students feel better about their studies.” The world of sports and academics seemed like they were disconnected, but participants in club sports had to find that fine line of balance between the two.

For fourth-year Cognitive Science student Guy Rodgers, a big factor in competing in club fencing was the camaraderie. A single fencing match involved two opponents on a strip attempting to get successful touches with their blades on the opponent’s armor with electronic scoring equipment. Rodgers said “Fencing is definitely more of an individual sport. You only ever have any one person on the team fencing at one point. However, there is this real sense of camaraderie and family in the fencing club.” Even though a team may have traveled and competed in a tournament together, there was no one else on the strip besides the competitor and

the opponent. On the other hand, since the world of fencing is so small, everyone gets to know each other well and fast. Despite the fact that the competition was individual, practices were essential to camaraderie. The team executed drills together, and held practice bouts in order to hone their skills.

Another aspect of club sports that attracted members was the competition. For clubs, weekdays were spent practicing their skills in order to improve for the big competitions on the weekend. One of the highlights for the fencing club was that it hosted one of the largest tournaments in Southern California annually. Rodgers said this was both one of the most exciting and challenging times every year. It was a challenge in terms of administration and organization, but exciting to meet other fencers and improve his skills. Rodgers said “We had a couple hundred fencers in Pauley Pavilion, and we have people doing different events all day long, Most of the big

schools from Southern California such as USC, UCSD, UCSB, and even as far away as Arizona State came.” Although planning and organizing the tournament was rewarding, Rodgers said there was nothing that could replace the adrenaline rush of getting a blade in your hand and bouting an opponent.

Whether it was fencing or taekwondo, or any other club sport there were many aspects of club sports that drew participants to sacrifice their time, energy, and body. Motivations ranged from continuing something they had done their whole lives, or the camaraderie that came with blood, sweat, and tears, or even the thrill and excitement of competition. Despite the fact that these 1500 men and women did not compete in the NCAA, their lives stood as a testament to being student athletes.

“The UCLA Fencing Club was created as a platform for teaching those who wished to learn about the sport, and as a platform for experienced fencers to come together to fence both each other and other schools. As one of the premier fencing clubs in Southern California, our teams represent UCLA in collegiate competitions across the nation, and we promote our club members to participate in local individual tournaments, where our fencers consistently earn top finishing places.”

In addition to USC, UCLA plays schools throughout the west, competing in the Pacific Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (PAC-8). The PAC-8 is comprised of those PAC-10 Universities with Ice Hockey programs; Arizona State, Stanford, California Berkeley, UCLA, Southern California, Oregon, Washington and Washington State. Coaches--Ron Horowitz, Dylan Ramos, Jason Kitay. Players-- Andy Holton, Neal Parsons, Ashton Christian, Alexander Horowitz, Jonathan Lee, Al Ricciardelli, David Carlton, Brad Kay, Zach Tolstyka, Nick Panzica, Mike Madatovian, Michael Carder, David Rahbari, Wesley Montalvo, Andrew Darrin, Daniel Vaynter, Charlie Linehan, Omar Sandhu, Jay Singh, Jay Boffa, and Zack Tenney

CLUB SPORTS

UCLA DRAGON BOAT

Eric Kwok, third-year civil engineering;

David Leung, fi fth-year applied mathematics; and Vivian Kwan, fi rst

year chemistry.

Photo by Tung X. Dao.

Each stroke matched the beat of the drums. Each splash was made with rhythmic purpose. 20 people on the water paddled in perfect synchronization. !e UCLA Dragon Boat Team paddled to what was one of their most successful years as a club sport. !e sport was similar to rowing, with 20 people sitting in a long boat—ten on each side—along with a drummer and a steersman. Over Veterans Day weekend, the team drove all the way up to Oakland, California to compete in the annual California Dragon Boat Association College Championship. For many of the 13 "rst-years on the team, it was their "rst dragon boat race ever, and the drive alone was enough to make it one of their most memorable experiences

so far in college. First-year chemistry student Vivian Kwan said, “!e Norcal race was amazing; it de"nitely felt like teamwork was a huge part of it. We had lots of team bonding, especially at pregame where the whole team slept over together.” UCLA claimed "rst with a time of 1:50.82, 0.68 seconds faster than second-place rival Cal, and brought home an elaborate dragon-shaped trophy that stood almost three feet tall. Some of the veteran paddlers stumbled o# the boat, "ghting back tears. Fi$h-year applied mathematics student David Leung, who won his "rst race ever, could not hold his tears in. He ran down, high-"ving the team with tears streaming from his eyesin what he thought was his last race ever.

One of the most dedicated

of UCLA’s club sports teams, dragon boat became not just a sport, but a lifestyle for many of its members. !ey attended two weekly land practices at Drake Stadium consisting of conditioning and endurance training, a weekly pool practice at Sunset Recreation Center to work on paddling technique, and boat practice on the water at Long Beach every Saturday and Sunday. On days with no o%cial practice, the team members“attend the gym religiously,” as the captain described it. Eric Kwok, a third-year civil engineering student, said “most members follow a two-day gym routine and go to pool practice for technique work on Wednesdays or Fridays.”But the members enjoyed the hard work and the rewards that come with it.

Kwan, who was from the Bay area, said “Dboat is kind of like my family here in Socal. I know I can depend on them for anything.”

UCLA had a prestigious NCAA program with 22 Division I teams. However, not all the students were able to be accepted by those sports or had the time to commit, and not all the sports o#ered covered the even wider range of athletics students liked to participate in. !at was where club sports came in—student-organized and still competitive between colleges. UCLA Dragon Boat was one of those. “!is year’s group is especially hard-working. We’ve never had so many people show up to practice all of the time. I’m really proud of these guys.” said Leung, who as land coach led practices at Drake.

!ere were just three races a year: Norcal” in November, Tempe a$er spring break, and Baby Long Beach in May, but it took dedicated hard work the entire year to prepare for each of them. !e newbies on the team were just beginning to experience the repetitive daily work put in, but were inspired by the six-year veterans, . Soon work became fun and workouts became socials, as dragon boat became an integrated part of their lives. As Kwan put it, “When I tried out, I was like whatever, and didn’t even expect to make the team, but now, I care so much and I’m really glad I came to UCLA and joined this team.”

GLIDING TOWARDS VICTORY

Members of DragonBoat practice during the weekends at Marina del Rey to prep for upcoming competitions. DragonBoat members worked hard to compete for the three races that took place each school year. Photo by Alan Wong.