Four University of South Carolina divers posted strong showings in the platform competition on Friday night in a meet hosted by Georgia Tech. Competing against divers from Duke, Michigan, and the host Yellow Jackets, freshman Allyson Nied came away victorious on the night, while Mikaela Lujan, Marissa Roth and Jordan Gotro also posted strong showings at the McAuley Aquatic Center.
HEAD DIVING COACH Todd Sherritt - “All four of our divers had a strong meet. We came to Georgia Tech to get some new dives off and compete against some good teams. This was a great meet for us as we head toward the SEC Championships.” – On the performance of his four divers
“Allyson had a great day. She completed an armstand double with one twist for the first time. She was able to get it vertical, which is a great achievement. Her victory and great performances from everyone made this a great day.” – On Allyson Nied’s victory
Nied finished with a score of 245.45, edging Michigan’s Keegan McCaffrey by 9.80 points. The best of her five dives was a Forward 3 1/2 Somersault Pike that was scored an even 60.00.
Lujan finished in third place with a score of 233.75. Her best score, a 51.00, came from a Back 2 1/2 Somersault Pike.
Roth came in seventh at the event, scoring a grand total of 215.70. Her Forward 3 1/2 Somersault Pike was marked at 58.50, her best score of the night.
Gotro’s total score of 270.90 was good for fifth place on the men’s side. His best dive of the night, a Forward 3 1/2 Somersault Pike, received a score of 61.50.
Nied’s event victory is her first as a collegian.
The freshman finished just 2.30 points shy of her best platform score, which came in November, also at Georgia Tech.
The women’s program is back in action Saturday, when they face Southeastern Conference rival Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn., at 11 a.m. CT. Both full Gamecock squads are back at the Carolina Natatorium Jan. 22-23, when they host UNC Wilmington, Queens and Wingate in a quad meet.
Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech played host to exhibition platform diving Friday evening, with a field consisting of divers from Michigan, Duke, South Carolina and Tech.
Brad Homza took the top spot on the men’s side, recording a final score of 355.75 over six dives. Freshman Matt Casillas, who did not compete in the fall due to health issues, finished 2nd with a score of 311.75. Fellow freshman Nolan Mallet finished 7th with a score of 247.55.
Madison Young was the only Yellow Jacket on the women’s side, and she finished 8th with a score of 215.30 over five dives.
“It's great to have another platform competition before ACC's,” diving coach John Ames said. “Brad had some really great dives this evening, and continues to compete well. Matt had a strong first meet. He got the zone qualifying score, and that was one of the goals.”
Georgia Tech divers will compete in 1 and 3-meter dives at tomorrow’s meet against Duke, Michigan and Indiana.
