Aug. 16, 2009

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Two new athletes for the South Carolina diving team will arrive on campus this week on a high note after strong showings at the AT&T National Diving Championships over the weekend. Courtney Forcucci and Rylan Ridenour both advanced to event finals at the USA Diving event.

Forcucci, a transfer from the University of Houston, finished 11th in the women’s 3-meter springboard event, posting a score of 245.60 (five dives). The native of Fort Mill, S.C., qualified sixth in the semifinals with a score of 270.35.

“This is Courtney’s first Senior Nationals where she has made the finals,” South Carolina head diving coach Todd Sherritt said. “She has worked incredibly hard this summer, and it has really paid off. She will be a tremendous asset on our team this year.”

Ridenour, who will join the men’s team this fall as a freshman, competed in the 3-meter springboard and advanced to the finals in the event where he finished 12th with a score of 312.60. He also competed with a club teammate in the 3-meter synchronized and finished eighth in the preliminaries.

Assistant coach Allison Brennan also competed in the event, finishing 19th in preliminaries of the 3-meter competition.

South Carolina kicks off its 2009-10 swimming and diving season on Friday, Oct. 9., as Kentucky visits Columbia for an SEC dual meet.