Feb. 1, 2011

By Wes Todd
Assistant Media Relations Director

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina junior Courtney Forcucci was named the SEC Female Diver of the Week as the Southeastern Conference announced its weekly awards Tuesday.

Forcucci, a native of Fort Mill, S.C., was a major deciding factor in Saturday’s 158-142 win over Alabama, posting wins on both the 1- and 3-meter boards to provide big points for Carolina. She opened the meet with a win on the 1-meter board, scoring a career-best 311.05 to outpace the field. She was equally impressive on the 3-meter board, scoring a 330.05 to pick up another win, her fifth dual-meet victory on the 3-meter board this season.

In addition, Forcucci advanced to the quarterfinals at the USA Diving Winter Nationals on the 3-meter board, finishing in 9th place in the preliminary round with a 5-dive total of 249.95. Then on Monday, she was the top scorer in the 1-meter preliminary, posting a 254.75 to advance to the women’s 1-meter semifinals. The meet continues through the rest of the week in Iowa City, Iowa.

It was Forcucci’s second weekly honor of the year and the 10th different weekly honor bestowed on a Gamecock swimmer or diver this season. Forcucci and Tennessee men’s diver Michael Wright prevented a Florida sweep of the SEC’s weekly awards. The Gators had the men’s and women’s swimmers of the week (Conor Dwyer and Elizabeth Beisel) and the men’s and women’s freshmen of the week (Marcin Cieslak and Hilda Luthersdottir).

The Gamecock divers will compete at the SEC Diving Championships Feb. 11-13 in Gainesville, Fla., and the swimmers will travel to Florida the next week for the SEC Swimming Championships, set for Feb. 16-19.