UCLA Snares Eight Signees

LOS ANGELES, California, November 17. CYNDI Gallagher and UCLA announced the signing of eight student-athletes to National Letters of Intent. The class features athletes from across the country with swimmers hailing from Arizona, Hawaii, Washington, Georgia and California. The class includes Brittany Beauchan, Emily Bibb, Lauren Hall, Carly Lyons, Danielle Milligan, Chelsea Pike, Alexandra Sullivan and Samantha Vanden Berge

"We are really excited about our incoming freshmen class," said Gallagher. "We have 10 (8 signed) student-athletes that show a lot of passion for swimming and an enthusiasm for our program. We know they will represent UCLA with Bruin Pride."

Beauchan set the Hawaii State record in winning the 100 Breaststroke at the 2006 State meet and also swam legs on the winning 200 Free and 200 Medley Relay teams, helping her school to the State Title. She was also an Olympic Trials qualifier in the 100 Breaststroke.

"Brittany is a very fast breaststroker with a lot of potential, similar to Keiko Price," said Gallagher.

Bibb was the 2006 CIF Champion in the 100 and 200 Freestyles and anchored her school's 400 Medley Relay to victory, while leading the team to a CIF title.

"Emily has shown a lot of improvement since last summer and I believe can be one of UCLA's all time greats in the 200 Freestyle," said Gallagher.

Hall won the Washington State 200 IM as a freshman, sophomore and junior. She led her team to the 2005 State Title last year with an IM win, and was also fourth in the 100 Freestyle. She had placed 2nd and 3rd the previous two years in the 100 Backstroke. Hall was second at the 2006 Junior Nationals in the IM and is an excellent student, maintaining a 3.9 GPA. She was also an Olympic Trials qualifier in the 200 and 400 IM.

Lyons is a National qualifier in the 100 Backstroke and is member of the National Honors Society.

Milligan was the 2005 Arizona HS Swimmer of the Year after being named a 2005-06 NISCA All-American in both the 200 IM and 500 Freestyle. She was the Arizona State Champion in the 200 IM in 2004 and 2005. She has also been named the La Jolla Rough Water Swim Champion in the 17-18 year old division. Milligan was also an Olympic Trials qualifier in the 400 IM, an has been a National qualifier in the 200 and 400 IM, 400, 800 and 1500 Freestyle.

Pike previously attended Westlake HS in Austin, TX, and is a fast improving middle distance freestyler.

Sullivan finished 6th at CIF in the 100 and 200 meter Freestyle events in 2006. She is a talented 100-200 freestyler that can also swim the 50 Free, 500 Free and 100 Butterfly.

Vanden Berge is a versatile swimmer that was the 2006 CIF 500 Freestyle champion and runner-up in the 200 IM. She also anchored the 400 Free Relay to the CIF title and led her team to a second-place CIF team finish. Vanden Berge was also an Olympic Trials qualifier in the 400 IM, 200, 400 and 800 Freestyle. She was the high point swimmer at Junior Nationals in the Summer of 2007.

"Samantha is an extremely versatile swimmer and will immediately help in replacing the loss of Pac-10 Champion and NCAA All-American, Katie Nelson to graduation next season," said Gallagher.

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