The 2015 CAA Men’s and Women's Diving Championships concluded on Sunday night at the University of Delaware’s Rawstrom Natatorium, while James Madison’s Taryn McLaughlin and Drexel’s David Sanchez headlined Day 2 with strong performances on both diving boards.
This year’s Diving Championship was held separately from the Swimming Championship, although the two are still considered one single event. Now that the Diving Championship has wrapped up, the Swimming Championship begins on Wednesday, February 25 and continues through Saturday, February 28 in Richmond, Va.
Women’s 1-Meter Finals
Impressively, McLaughlin took care of business for the second straight day and successfully defended both of her diving titles from one year ago. After she won the 3-Meter board on Saturday, the Dukes’ stellar redshirt sophomore made it a true sweep by winning the 1-Meter tonight with a score of 320.25. For her efforts and for the second consecutive season, she was named the Women’s Most Outstanding Diver of the Meet.
McLaughlin, who’s now made a good case to be named the CAA Women’s Diver of the Year for the second time in as many years, is the first league female diver to repeat as champion on both the 1 and 3-Meter board since former Drexel standout Kate Hynes won both boards for a ridiculous four straight years from 2006-09.
Also impressing in the first final dive event of Day 2 was Blue Hens junior Kristina Congdon, who placed second with a score of 297.15. Following Congdon was a pair of Dukes, sophomore Olivia Lehman (290.00) and junior Carly Alexander (286.40), rounding out the top four spots for the event. JMU diving coach Becky Benson was tabbed Women’s Diving Coach of the Year for the third straight season.
Men’s 3-Meter Finals
On the men’s side, Sanchez battled through to the end and grabbed the top spot with a solid 373.35 score. Just one night earlier, the junior placed second on the 1-Meter by just 2.2 points. Plus, at last year’s championship, he finished second on both boards.
On Sunday, however, Sanchez won his first CAA diving title since 2013, when he also won the 3-Meter en route to being named CAA Diver and Rookie Diver of the Year. For his efforts over the weekend, Sanchez was named Men’s Most Outstanding Diver of the Meet.
The UNCW Seahawks capped off an impressive weekend Sunday evening as well when sophomores Nathan Lane (356.80) and Giovanni Villanueva (330.00) finished second and third, respectively. Villanueva edged Sanchez nearly 24 hours earlier in the 1-Meter to claim his first ever CAA diving title. UNCW diving coach Beau Bunn was honored following the event as the 2015 Men’s Diving Coach of the Year.
Day 2 Women's 1-Meter Results
1. Taryn McLaughlin, James Madison (320.25)
2. Kristina Congdon, Delaware (297.15)
3. Olivia Lehman, James Madison (290.00)
4. Carly Alexander, James Madison (286.40)
5. Lyndsey Dickson, Towson (283.50)
6. Hannah Ostrem, Towson (280.00)
7. Caitlin Stockwell, Delaware (278.35)
8. Natalee Szopo, Towson (272.40)
Day 2 Men's 3-Meter Results
1. David Sanchez, Drexel (373.35)
2. Nathan Lane, UNCW (356.80)
3. Giovanni Villanueva, UNCW (330.00)
4. Devin Hall, Delaware (322.95)
5. Patrick McCann, Delaware (318.60)
6. Colin Hall, Delaware (300.50)
7. Chase Seymour, UNCW (265.25)
8. Simon Carne, Drexel (233.75)
2015 Diving Championship Award Winners
Women's Diving Coach of the Year: Becky Benson, James Madison
Women's Most Outstanding Diver of the Meet: Taryn McLaughlin, James Madison
Men's Diving Coach of the Year: Beau Bunn, UNCW
Men's Most Outstanding Diver of the Meet: David Sanchez, Drexel
