Diving hasn’t been one of the strengths for Florida’s No.1 men’s (8-0, 5-0 Southeastern Conference) or No. 8 women’s (5-3, 3-2 SEC) swimming and diving teams in recent years.
But the Gators will have a chance to qualify a diver for the NCAA Championships at today’s Zone ‘B’ Diving Regional Championships in Greensboro, N.C., for the first time since Michael Lewark competed for the men in 2012 and Monica Dodson was part of the 2011 women’s national championship.
Redshirt senior Chris Jones’ return has helped the men’s diving effort in the second half of the season. Jones finished a team best on the platform and 1-meter springboard at SECs in February; however, none of Florida’s men made an event final.
But the women’s team has had more success. Sophomore Kahlia Warner qualified for finals on the 1- and 3-meter springboards at SECs, coming in fifth on the latter event, and has been a consistent point scorer all season.
“Our confidence level is high,” diving coach Donnie Craine said. “Now it is just a matter of going into this meet and competing to the best of their abilities.
“One of the things that I encourage them to thing about is diving for themselves, because there are not team points for this event.”
Florida’s roster boasts six divers — three on each side — heading into the regional championships with a field of nearly 70 divers — around 40 athletes for the women and about 30 divers for the men.
They will all be competing for a little more than a handful of spots. Only seven male divers and nine female divers will advance to the national championship meet.
“This is an opportunity for the divers to get to the NCAA Championships,” Craine said. “It is a very competitive competition.”
If the Gators can qualify a diver, he or she will join either the 14 swimmers on the women’s team in Minneapolis, Minn., on March 20-22, or the men’s team a week later in Austin, Texas.
Both squads have qualified all five relays, but the men’s NCAA Championships meet list of invited swimmers won’t be released until March 19. The most swimmers a team can qualify is 17.
Follow Logan McGuire on Twitter @loganjmcguire
