UCLA Club Sports

LEWISVILLE, TX–On Wednesday, March 20, 2024, the Bruins touched down in Lewisville, Texas, for the competition they have spent all year working towards: the 2024 U.S. Collegiate Championship. This would be a historic competition in many ways, not the least of which was because it was the first collegiate Nationals to utilize the new scoring system. The Bruins had spent two full quarters learning and experimenting with different choreography styles and techniques, so this would be their chance to demonstrate their ability to adapt to challenges in front of a national and international audience. On top of that, as the most prestigious competition of the season, the club team trophy was on the line. UCLA Artistic Swimming had taken it home last year for the first time, so the stakes were high for a repeat performance. When they set foot in Westside Aquatic Center, the Bruins knew they would need to prove that they could face any obstacle, even the overhauling of years of developing certain skills and techniques, to win the trophy back.

 

This year's Nationals opened with the technical competitions. Rose Anderson and Nadia Grishanina were the first to enter the water in the D and C categories, respectively. Both beat every other swimmer from club teams in their categories, with Grishanina finishing in fourth, just behind swimmers from the reigning overall champions, the Ohio State University, and Anderson proudly taking home the silver medal. The A and B categories then competed simultaneously. In the B category, Katie MacDonald, Ariel Peterson, and Noela Seung all swam with strength and confidence, and Seung and MacDonald finished in 9th and 10th, respectively, earning them spots on the podium. Sophomores Brianna Holmes and Claire Kim also displayed their technical skills in the A category, a category filled with Division 1 varsity swimmers and dominated by Olympians. Kim even outswam former National Team colleagues to take 13th place.

 

The next event of the day was solo. The event opened with an important moment for the sport—an exhibition swim by the first male soloist in collegiate artistic swimming history. Every swimmer on the pool deck and every spectator in the stands came together to cheer him on, creating a cross-team unity that illustrates the power of working to achieve gender equality in a traditionally exclusive sport. Moving into the scored competition, Kim would dive in to represent the Bruins in only her third collegiate outing. She faced significant challenges, as she would be swimming a new, reworked routine; competing against Olympic swimmers from the United States and Canada; and scrutinized by a panel of technical controllers who had established themselves on this first day as particularly unforgiving. These factors, in conjunction with her ambitiously difficult routine, meant that basemarks were inevitable, and Kim did not escape unscathed. Yet her score was still a testament to her skill and artistry, as basemarks could not force her below 8th place and a spot on the podium.

 

The duet competition closed out the first day. The technical and solo event results demonstrated how strict the judges would be, so the pressure was on for the pairing of MacDonald and Seung. But the athletes were up to the challenge. After a season of learning and building strength from back-to-back swims, MacDonald and Seung were prepared. Their cleanest, most synchronized, and well-executed swim of the year was rewarded with only one basemark, an achievement that, after the day's judging, seemed nearly impossible. The duet earned 9th place, but perhaps even more impressive was that they landed a meager 3 points behind the duet of a United States National Team alumnus and an Olympian from the Ohio State University.

 

After the first day, USA Artistic Swimming released the overall standings. Despite the unsympathetic judges, their technical, solo, and duet scores landed UCLA comfortably in third, putting them in reach of the club team trophy. Yet the following two events would be the more populous, higher earning ones, and UCLA had fewer athletes and fewer routines than its club team competitors. It wasn't over yet. 

 

This year, the preliminary competition was eliminated, so Saturday would be the final day. In the early morning, Holmes joined MacDonald and Seung for trio, their penultimate swim of the season. Now aware of the technical controllers' propensity to swiftly basemark the slightest under-rotation on a spin or overextension of the gap between the legs in a split vertical, this latter goal would be the primary focus of the day. Despite the high stress they were under, being Bruins, the trio executed their swim exceptionally well. Even under harsh conditions, they still received only one basemark, a far cry from the several they received in just January of this year. Once again coming just behind top swimmers from the Ohio State University, Holmes, MacDonald, and Seung proudly accepted their 8th place ribbon.

 

Then, it was finally time for the last event: the team competition. Grishanina and Peterson dove in to join the trio for their only routine of the meet, and after strong performances in their technical categories the day before, they were hoping to keep the momentum going. A long two hours in the practice pool saw the Bruins receiving every last bit of coaching from their incredible, dedicated coaching team. When it was time, they then lined up behind Stanford University's top varsity team, once again a team consisting of National Team and Olympic athletes. The Bruins shook out their nerves as Stanford received their score: only one basemark. With so many members of their team, each one individually capable of basemarking an entire hybrid, this was a nearly unbelievable accomplishment. 

 

Grishanina, Holmes, MacDonald, Peterson, and Seung then dove in for their final team swim of the season. They were ready. The first double-lift went off flawlessly, with Holmes spiraling through the air in a backflip followed by Seung showing off her remarkable flexibility and balance with a high and sustained heel-stretch. The team then proceeded to execute the rest of their routine, emphasizing every wall on every turn and always watching each other to maintain their tight patterns. After three and a half minutes, the last minute and a half a marathon of back-to-back hybrids with seldom more than 8 counts of breathing time between them, the Bruins hit their final positions. Filled with relief at completing their difficult routine, they exited the water, cautiously optimistic. Each swimmer had done her part to avoid the avoidable basemarks, and it was in the judges' hands now. 

 

As they waited to receive their scores, the Bruins smiled at the camera relaying the competition to their families back home. Several long minutes went by as the judges turned in scores and the technical controllers reviewed the elements. Then finally, the announcer read the scores. Declared difficulty: 33.980. Actual difficulty: 33.980. For the first time at the competition, and for some the first time all year, the Bruins had done the seemingly impossible. They had sustained zero basemarks. 

 

Earning a total score of 173.3933, the team finished in 6th, overtaking varsity teams like Texas Woman's University, Wheaton College, and even both of the Ohio State University's teams. But no achievement would make them more proud than the work they had done all year culminating in a basemark-free routine. 

 

The 2024 Collegiate Championships turned out to be an incredible success for UCLA Artistic Swimming. Even though the judges were difficult to please, the Bruins had some of the cleanest swims on both days of competition. At the ceremony following the team event, each swimmer walked away with multiple awards, including an academic achievement award for junior Ariel Peterson. For the overall high point award, the Bruins came in 6th, just behind the well-funded, well-resourced varsity teams. This would mean that their determination, high scores, clean swims, and passion for the sport, despite its changes almost beyond recognition, placed them on top of the other clubs. For the second year in a row and only its third competition season ever, UCLA Artistic Swimming took home the club team trophy. 

 

The Bruins would like to extend congratulations to the University of the Incarnate Word, who secured their first-ever high point win of the competition. They also want to recognize the University of California, Berkeley's Artistic Swimming team in their first year of competition, congratulate Cal's athletes on their success despite their lack of support from their university, and thank them for cheering on every Bruin's routines. It is really special to have a sister school to face the competition with.

 

The Bruins would also like to thank their amazing volunteer coaches who drive long hours and expend so much energy on helping them succeed. It means the world to have them believe in the athletes and this project, and the athletes are incredibly grateful.

 

Finally, the Bruins want to recognize senior Noela Seung, who received a nomination for Athlete of the Year this season. Noela is the heart and soul of UCLA Artistic Swimming, having swam on the inaugural team and remaining dedicated to its growth and success ever since. She is vital to this team, and though the athletes are excited for her to embark on the next phase of her life when she graduates, it will be an incomparable loss for the team. The Bruins want to ensure she is recognized for the beautiful person that she is, for her contributions to this team, and for the way she has changed their lives. 

 

Anyone who wishes to support the Bruins and see them perform their historic, high-scoring routines will get the chance at their upcoming spring show, with a date to be announced.