Nov. 22, 2011

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina senior Courtney Forcucci and junior Rylan Ridenour have been named the SEC Divers of the Week, the league announced Tuesday.

Forcucci received Female Diver of the week honors after leading the Gamecock women to a third-place finish at the Nike Cup Invitational. The Fort Mill, S.C., native won the one-meter springboard with a score of 313.95. Her mark of 325.4 in the preliminaries is a career best and is the top score in the conference. Forcucci also placed second on the three-meter springboard with a score of 340.3.

Ridenour, a native Lebanon, Ind., helped lead the Carolina men to a fourth-place showing at the Nike Cup Invitational to earn Male Diver of the Week honors. He finished second on the three-meter springboard with a season-high score of 404.6, which is the second-best mark in the SEC. Ridenour was also second in the one-meter competition with a score of 360.5.

Forcucci wins the award for the third time this season, while Ridenour earns the honor for the second time.

The Gamecocks will return to action on January 14 in a home dual meet with Duke. The meet is slated to begin at 2 p.m. at the Blatt P.E. Center/Carolina Natatorium.