Winter break was a mixed bag for the UCLA diving team, as junior Annika Lenz and freshman Éloïse Bélanger competed at their respective countries’ winter national championships with varied results.
The USA Diving Winter National Championships took place at the IUPUI Natatorium in Indianapolis, where Lenz competed in the platform dive on Dec. 17 and the 3-meter dive on Dec. 18. Lenz, who has already qualified for NCAA Zones in the 1-meter and platform dive, traveled to the meet in an attempt to achieve a Zone score in the 3-meter dive. She failed to do so, however, placing 20th in the platform dive and 31st in the 3-meter.
“Sadly, I did not have the best meet,” Lenz said. “It was after finals so I think I was just exhausted but … I got the qualifying score on platform.”
Although the UCLA junior struggled over the break, she has already qualified for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in the platform and synchronized 3-meter dives.
Further north, the Canadian Winter Senior National Championship occurred at the Shaw Centre in Saskatoon, Canada, with Bélanger participating in the 1-meter dive, the platform dive and the 3-meter dive.
Bélanger, an international student from Montreal dove in the Bruins’ final meet of the year after missing the first five meets due to an NCAA eligibility review.
The UCLA freshman proved to be one of the best divers in Canada, posting NCAA Zone qualifying scores in all three diving events. She finished second in the 1-meter dive, seventh in the platform dive and fourth in the 3-meter dive.
For both divers, the championships served as practice meets to help prepare them for the rigors of the second half of the season and for the level of competition that they’ll face at the 2016 NCAA Zone Diving Championship.
Compiled by Brent Troop, Bruin Sports contributor.