March 12, 2003

Columbia, S.C. – The South Carolina men’s and women’s divers head to Auburn, Ala. this weekend for the NCAA B Zone Regional Competition. The competition begins on March 14 through March 16 and will feature top teams from throughout the Southeast. Fresh off a strong performance at the SEC Championships, which included a three-meter championship for sophomore Tracey Richardson, Carolina looks to qualify its divers for both the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships.

“I think the meet our team had at the SEC Championships helped and it was good for them to get a chance to diver at Auburn in the same pool they will compete in this weekend,” said USC head diving coach Todd Sherritt. “It’s about the same meet as far as competition with SEC schools as well as Florida State and Miami. I think our team is ready to put it together when they get there. My expectations and goals are to get three girls and two guys to the NCAA Championships, and I think that is extremely feasible.”

On the women’s side, South Carolina brings in three of the top divers in the SEC including SEC Champion Tracey Richardson. Richardson and sophomores Lauren King and Allison Brennan all qualified at the SEC Championships for the three-meter finals with Richardson taking the title with a score of 523.55. King finished sixth with a score of 489.65 with Brennan placing eight at 465.45. King and Brennan also qualified for the finals on the one-meter board with King in fourth place (287.60) and Brennan placing fifth (279.20).

Sophomore Andy Bradley leads the men’s squad and looks to qualify for the NCAA Championships for a second straight year. As a freshman at BYU, Bradley earned honorable mention All-American honors with a 16th place finish on the one-meter board. Bradley had two fourth place finishes at the SEC Championships this year. Joining Bradley is sophomore Dean Emmerton who placed 11th(one-meter) and 12th (three-meter) at the SEC Championships and freshman Ian Balman.

Eight divers that reach the final in each the one-meter and three-meter competitions qualify for the NCAA Championships. Once qualified on one board a diver is qualified for the entire event, and does not need to qualify again on another board. The NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships will be held in Auburn, Ala. from March 20-23 with the NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships March 27-29 in Austin, Texas.