The NCAA Zone E Diving Championships start today, with five
Bruin hopefuls aiming to qualify for the NCAA Championships in
Athens, Ga., from March 16-18.
The qualifying event ““ held in Oklahoma City, Okla.
““ lasts for three days with only the top 11 divers continuing
to Athens for the NCAA Championships next weekend. The girls
compete today in the 1-meter event, with only the top 18 making the
finals. The 3-meter event starts Friday in the late afternoon.
The competing UCLA divers include former NCAA qualifier senior
Paige Thompson, redshirt junior Sara Clark and freshmen Marisa
Samaniego, Brittany Hill and Tess Schofield.
UCLA coach Tom Stebbins says his girls are looking more and more
comfortable after recovering from the travel and time difference.
With that comfort comes confidence.
“They were a little bit out of sorts, but they are
recovered and look very good,” Stebbins said.
“Marisa, Sara and Paige will duke it out to qualify for
the NCAA Championships. It’s great to have so many
competing.”
Samaniego has the best chance to continue, according to
Stebbins. Though only a freshman, she placed fifth on the 1-meter
at the Pac-10 Championships in Washington last month.
Thompson, competing for her final collegiate championships,
heads into the tournament coming off an incredible season. She
received the Pac-10 Diver of the Month award in December and
January, making her the first diver in the conference to receive
the honor back-to-back.
Clark, who led UCLA at the Pac-10 Championships with a
fourth-place finish on the 1-meter and 3-meter, should continue her
stellar performance this weekend.
Stebbins coached the upperclassmen in the morning three days a
week to train for the championships, followed by a separate
practice for the freshmen.
“It might add a few more hours to my week, but the
(separate practices) are really good for the freshmen,”
Stebbins said. “It’s worth it to me. They get more
attention, and the practices flow more.”
At practices, Stebbins has stressed discipline to Samaniego and
the freshmen. Their relative success shows they are building in the
right direction, though the divers have not always grasped what is
needed of them to remain even keeled, Stebbins said.
That diligence will be necessary for all the Bruins if they are
going to be successful this weekend.