Bruins Battle in Salt Lake: A Split Decision in Dual Matches

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The No. 24 UCLA Swim and Dive team recorded a split in their dual competitions on Saturday afternoon, triumphing over UC Santa Barbara while losing to Utah. The Bruins overcame UC Santa Barbara with a score of 185-103, yet succumbed to Utah 158-142 on Saturday afternoon in Salt Lake City.

In the opening event of the day, the Bruins secured first position in the 200 medley relay. The ‘A’ team composed of Fay Lustria, Eva Carlson, Emma Harvey, and Ana Jih-Schiff collaborated to clinch victory with a time of 1:40.64. Additionally, UCLA’s ‘B’ team comprising Claudia Yovanovich, Karolina Piechowicz, Angela Quan, and Gizem Guvenc secured third place in the event with a time of 1:44.66.

The Bruins’ first individual victory of the day was in the 100 back. Junior Rosie Murphy finished first with a time of 56.28, while Lustria placed third in the event at 56.78.

Eva Carlson followed Murphy’s success with her own in the 100 breast. The senior achieved first place with a time of 1:03.28. In the 200 fly, the Bruins took second and third positions in the event. Paige MacEachern finished in second with a time of 2:05.43, while Mia Chang took third at 2:06.22, placing two Bruins on the podium.

Ana Jih-Schiff added yet another dual meet podium finish to her collection for the 2024-25 season by taking third in the 50 free. The senior touched the wall in 23.59 to earn a bronze medal in the event.

Regarding the 100 free, Emma Harvey secured second place with a timing of 51.51.

Murphy then clinched first place in the 200 back, marking the Bruins’ third victory of the afternoon as she was the only swimmer to finish under 2:00, concluding at 1:59.98.

Subsequently, Jih-Schiff achieved her first victory of the afternoon in the 200 breaststroke. The senior touched the wall at 2:15.31, over six seconds ahead of the second-place swimmer from Utah. MacEachern then bagged second in the 500 free, recording a time of 5:11.36.

Later in the meet during the 100 fly, Harvey earned her third podium finish of the day by placing second in the event, with a time of 55.84. As for the 200 IM, Murphy achieved first place with a timing of 2:04.20.

Concerning the diving events, Eden Cheng finished fourth while Maya Salvitti secured fifth place in the 1-meter dive. Cheng then claimed the top position in the 3-meter competition with a score of 302.70, while Salvitti concluded in fourth at 289.65.

The Bruins ended the meet by taking second place in the 200 free relay. The team consisting of Harvey, Jih-Schiff, Guvenc, and Bennetts achieved second position with a time of 1:33.75.