The University of Evansville diving team has experienced many firsts this season like a first-year coach and first records broken since the 1995-96 season. Now three divers will get to experience their first NCAA Zone C Diving Championships March 12-14 at Purdue University.
“I think it’s really awesome that three have made it this year,” said Evansville diving coach Eric Blevins. “They have all worked really hard this year. I’m just happy that they are going to get to experience the next level where they are going to be competing at a much higher level than they have in the past, so it will be very rewarding for them.”
Juniors Andy Balczo and Jennifer Childers and freshman Sadie Wells are all very excited for the experience.
“It means that all the hard work I have done this year is actually going toward something, and it’s not going to waste,” Balczo said. “I’m very excited, and there are going to be Olympians there, so it’s going to be a really good show.”
With Missouri Valley Conference and Mid-American Conference championships finally both over, the divers could concentrate strictly on their dives for zones. Wells said that they have been practicing like they normally have through the regular season, but that things have picked up a little as the competition draws near.
To qualify for zones, divers must reach certain point totals in at least one board in meets during the regular season. For men, they must reach 300 on the one meter and 320 on the three meter while women must total over 265 on one meter and 280 on three meter. Balczo and Wells both reach their marks early in the fall, so plans were made. However, Childers didn’t qualify until the last home meet in January, so her spring break plans had to be altered.
“I was supposed to go on a trip with some of my friends from high school, but obviously plans changed a bit,” Childers said. “But it is all worth it.”
At zones, each diver has a chance to compete in three events with one meter, three meter and platform. Although Evansville doesn’t have a platform, Wells’ experience from high school will give her a chance to compete on the board. Practice time on the platform has been limited, as Wells did get to go to Southern Illinois for a little practice time, but she will mostly get practice when she gets to Purdue the days before she performs the event.
With all three divers returning next year, zones will be greatly used as a learning experience.
“I want them to see what is out there and the upper-level competition,” Blevins said. “Our zone is typically the hardest zone. We have Olympians in our zone and most of the time a national champion comes out of our zone, so they will be competing against people like that. I want them to see what they are doing. What is good is that they will see that they can compete with them. I think it is going to be a great motivational factor the next couple of years.”
The weekend will include live video streaming of the events. Just click on the day to watch those day's events.
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