1999- Maglasang begins her career in the pool
2/9/2021 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swim and Dive
by Madelyn Brauer
GoSlugs.com interviewed women's swim team alum and four-year All-American Andrea Maglasang. A Hawaii native by way of Rancho Cucamonga, Maglasang spent many childhood weekends at competitive swim meets, and knew she wanted to continue her career at the collegiate level. After touring a few campuses in Southern California she decided that continuing her education and swimming at UC Santa Cruz was the best fit. "I'm glad I went to Santa Cruz," she said. "I think the experience and just their community culture is so unique, it definitely fills a special place in my heart."
Maglasang arrived on the pool deck her freshman year accompanied by a strong leadership class of championship-tested upperclassmen (like Allie Powers, Lexa Dillon, Christine Caurant, Nicole Mena, Jenny Koval, Emily Dashiell) and first-year coach Kim Musch. She recalled the welcoming nature of the coaching staff and teammates, expressing her gratitude for Kim's coaching tactics.
"He was the right coach for me at the time."
She made the NCAA Championships that first year in Spring 1999, and then again for four consecutive years. The concept of a national championship tradition was not new to the freshman, as Andrea had already competed on similar platforms prior to UCSC and it was reflected in her top 12 placements. Although the All-American competed in almost all of the events, she felt strongest in the 200 butterfly, 200 backstroke, and probably equally rated would be the 100 fly, 100 back, and both the 200 and 400 Individual Medleys. Coach Musch recognized her versatility and allowed her to help out wherever the team needed her.
"I think one year I did the 500 Free, but I just didn't consistently do the same event at nationals," she recalled. "Kim kinda gave me the option because he knew I could perform well in a few."
2000 was a special year for the Banana Slugs swim team, finishing 11th in the nation. Maglasang remembered competing in the championship meet in Atlanta her sophomore year, recalling "that was probably my best 100 fly time, which was very exciting for me. Yeah, just looking back at my time in Santa Cruz we had a lot of good times".
The Championships had preliminaries in the morning, so to make the final round, a swimmer had to swim the even twice a day (except for the 1650 Freestyle). She credited the team's success to the crack of dawn practices and team comradery that fostered a fun yet competitive atmosphere. Two of her records from 2000 (200 Butterfly and part of the 400 Medley relay) still stand as UCSC records. Her junior year in 2001, she placed 2nd in the 200 Fly (the school's highest-ever placing at the time) and 7th in the 100 Fly at Nationals.
In 2002, Maglasang found herself as a senior after telling herself each year that this might be her last one. "[Coach Kim] saw that I was always on the fence about it, and I think he knew if he put down an ultimatum 'okay you have to', I probably would have been like "forget it". But each year she decided to keep swimming, and each year she helped the Banana Slugs reach the NCAA Championships.
"I think being able to make her own decisions helped," recalled Musch. "She was great to have on the team."
1999-00 women's swim team in their natural environment
Maglasang made All-America every year, overall earning a commendation in 22 total events in her four trips to Nationals, and graduating with six school records in total not including her relay legs.
After graduating college, Maglasang spent some more time in the water, but this time surfing in Hawaii. She eventually worked there for the Governor of Hawaii in communications, graduated from law school, and now works a federal job for the Navy.
"It's been really good and allows me to have a work-life balance that I like, so I can't really can't complain." Although she has a daughter- and another one on the way- Andrea and her husband still enjoy staying active and have competed in triathlons together, with her frequently finishing 1st in the swimming section.
Maglasang concluded that the relationships that she built on and off the pool deck are as meaningful as the many trophies she received while at UC Santa Cruz. Maglasang still remains friends with her old teammates and often looks back on the memorable years that they spent together.
"I just remember the long drives in those vans down to Long Beach (site of the annual Pacific Collegiate Swim and Dive Conference Championships)," she said. "Our bonds are really built when we show up for those early morning practices- not just show up but bring that energy. We had a camping trip we took every year, we would do thanksgiving dinner, we would have a welcoming thing for freshmen. You form really close bonds. "
