Tennessee Diving Invitational Day One
Gators Conclude Day One Of Tennessee Diving Invitational
Kara Salamone (Hollywood, Fla.) and Anthony Lewark (Davie, Fla.) led the Gator divers on the first day of the Tennessee Diving Invite in Knoxville Saturday. Salamone recorded Florida’s highest finish, a second place, 316.05-point effort on the three-meter board, while Lewark rallied for seventh (314.70) in the men’s one-meter competition.
Following a break for finals and the holidays, the sixth-ranked Florida women and seventh-ranked UF men swung back into action at the Tennessee Diving Invite, opening the spring portion of the 2008-09 schedule with the men competing on the one-meter board and the women on the three-meter board at the Allan Jones Aquatic Center.
Lewark improved his ninth place one-meter prelims finish (292.85) to record a season-best mark (314.70) in finals. Lewark was UF’s only representation in the 12-man final showdown. Senior Aaron Leech (Newark, Del) (245.15) and sophomore Grayson Patten (West Palm Beach, Fla.) (237.90) finished 26th and 30th, respectively in the preliminary round.
On the women’s side of the board, Salamone improved her three-meter 310.80 prelims performance to 316.05 to improve from third to second overall in finals at the conclusion of the day’s events.
Sophomore Monica Dodson (Franklin, Ind.), senior Jeana Bartell (Boca Raton, Fla.) and freshman Kaylee Doback (Brandon, Fla.) joined Salamone, advancing to the final round following prelims. Dodson finished seventh (284.60), while Bartell (284.60) and Doback (280.00) finished eighth and ninth, respectively. Dodson hit a season-best score of 300.40 to advance to the final round.
Senior Whitney Stern (Safety Harbor, Fla.) finished 22nd in preliminaries out of the 52-woman field with a score of 233.75. The three-day diving invitational continues Sunday with preliminaries at 11 a.m., while finals are slated to begin at 6 p.m.
AUBURN'S KELLY MARX TAKES FOURTH PLACE AT TENNESSEE DIVING INVITATIONAL
Auburn junior Kelly Marx finished in fourth place in the men’s 1-meter competition at the Tennessee Diving Invitational Saturday, leading a group of eight Tigers competing in the three-day event.
Marx took fourth place in the men’s 1-meter springboard with a score of 331.80, topping his preliminary score of 328.70. Alabama’s Aaron Fleshner won the event with a score of 371.40.
Also making the finals was Dan Mazzaferro, finishing ninth with a score of 293.50. Mazzaferro earned his way into the finals after finishing third in the prelims with a score of 341.45.
Also competing in the event were senior Scott Morgan (23rd, 250.00) and freshman Adam Godzinski (29th, 238.05).
Although none made it to finals, two of Auburn’s freshmen came close to advancing in the women’s 3-meter springboard. Vanessa Dantin led the way by finishing 14th in prelims with a score of 253.95, while teammate Anna Aguero finished right behind her in 15th with a score of 252.35.
Also diving were fellow freshmen Laura Mulqueen (38th, 200.65) and Mary Catherine Cochran (39th, 198.20).
Drexel’s Kate Hynes won the event, taking first place with a score of 316.55.
McGroarty leads Lady Vols on Day 1 of 2009 Tennessee Diving Invitational
Freshman Jodie McGroarty nearly made it the finals in the 3-meter competition to leady the Lady Vol divers on day one of the 2009 Tennessee Invitational at the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center.
McGroarty tied for 14th in the 53-person field in the 3-meter prelims with a score of 253.95, just missing the 12-person cut for the finals. Freshman Gabrielle Trudeau finished 20th with a score of 241.50, senior Staley McCartney was 22nd with a score of 233.00 and sophomore Jill Pierce placed 42nd with a score of 192.60.
“I’m disappointed in how we performed today, but there are some definite positives we can take,” Diving coach Dave Parrington said. “Jodie really didn’t dive that well and she nearly made the finals. Gabbie did some great things and just needed to finish better, while Staley started out slow and had to play catch-up. I think Jill will do better over the next couple of days. We’ve been training really hard, but so has everybody else.”
Drexel senior Kate Hynes won the 3-meter championship by scoring 316.55 in the finals to edge Kara Salamone of Florida by half a point.
Competition continues tomorrow with the women’s 1-meter and men’s 3-meter prelims at noon with the finals following directly after.
WRIGHT STANDS OUT FOR VOLS ON DAY ONE OF TENNESSEE DIVING INVITE
The pool deck at the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center was crowded Saturday as the Tennessee Diving Invitational began its first day of competition. Coaches, athletes and spectators representing 17 different universities watched as some of the nation’s top divers battled in the one-meter event.
Nine of the twelve divers that made it through the men’s one-meter preliminaries into the finals were from Southeastern Conference schools; three of the nine were Volunteers. Freshman-sensation Ryan Helms finished second in the prelims behind Alabama’s Aaron Fleshner. Junior college transfer Michael Wright finished sixth and the Vols’ lone returning letterman Michael Muscari placed eighth.
“Overall, I am really pleased with the men’s team performance,” UT diving coach Dave Parrington said. “I was happy with Muscari’s prelims and Brent Sterling is so close to breaking out.”
In the one-meter finals, Helms continued to battle for the top spot with Fleshner while Wright steadily climbed the leader board. After six rounds, Fleshner, with a career best score of 371.40, proved to be too much for the rest of the field. Helms finished second at 354.15 and Wright placed third with his best one-meter performance as a Vol at 342.45. Muscari finished 11th with a score of 267.90.
“Mike Wright really opened some eyes today," Parrington said. "He is starting to buy in to what we have been working on. Ryan (Helms) had some great dives today. I love his composure and he is just a freshman. I am happy with where he is right now.”
Tigers Divers Complete First Day at Tennessee Invite
Diving Coach Leslie Hasselbach took her group of five divers to compete in the Tennessee Diving Invite, a three-day diving competition held at the University of Tennessee. On day one, the men competed on the one-meter event, while the women took part in the three-meter event.
The field includes more than 100 men's and women's divers from schools all over the country. Competing universities include Alabama, Auburn, Carnegie Melon, Clemson, Drexel, Florida, Georgia, Louisville, LSU, Navy, Nebraska, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Penn State, Rider, SMU and Tennessee. The 17 schools make up the nation's largest collegiate diving invitational of the season.
David Giambra placed 21st overall with a 259.20, while Ryan McDaniel placed 33rd, notching a 228.30.
For the women, Brooke George was the Tigers' high-scorer in the three-meter, placing 33rd with a 211.55. Senior Ali Zacker placed 44th with a 191.60, while freshman Cassie Self finished 45th, with a 191.30.
Mustang Divers Perform At Tennessee Diving Invitational
SMU swimming and diving recently sent divers from the men's and women's programs to compete in the Tennessee Diving Invitational held in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, January 3 at the Allan Jones Aquatic Center.
For the women, sophomore Audra Egenolf, junior Britney Yancey, and freshman Kelly Dietz competed in the three-meter springboard event. Egenolf successfully made it into the top five by posting a performance that earned her a score of 304.5 and a fifth place finish, while Yancey earned a sixth place final with a score of 291.25.
Sophomore Matthew Culbertson also had a successful outing for the men on Saturday in the one-meter springboard event. The Andrews, Texas native placed in the top ten with a score of 286.40 which was good for tenth place.
The Mustangs will be back in action Sunday in Knoxville, Tenn. with the men competing in the three-meter and the women competing in the one-meter springboard events. Prelims will start at noon with finals to follow.
