Aug. 11, 2011

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – South Carolina senior diver Courtney Forcucci advanced to the finals of the women’s one-meter springboard diving competition finishing fifth overall at the 2011 AT&T National Diving Championships, being held this week at the Spieker Aquatics Center and Dirks Pool on the campus of UCLA.

In an extremely strong field, it was Forcucci’s first-ever finals in the one-meter competition at nationals. She advanced to the final round after finishing sixth in the semifinals earlier in the day after posting a total score of 256.10. She began her semifinal competition with an inward 1 1/2 somersault pike, earning her top score of the round with a 58.80. She followed with a forward 2 1/2 somersault pike (46.80), a forward 1 1/2 somersault 1 twist free (49.50), a back 1 1/2 somersault pike (50.60) and finished with a reverse 1 1/2 somersault pike (50.40).

Forcucci collected a finals score of 239.35, beginning the round with an inward 1 1/2 somersault pike and a score of 48.00. She continued with a forward 2 1/2 somersault pike (46.80), a forward 1 1/2 somersault 1 twist free (49.50), a back 1 1/2 somersault pike (49.45), finishing with a reverse 1 1/2 somersault pike and a score of 45.60.

Amanda Burke won the event with a finals score of 270.10.

Forcucci along with former South Carolina diver AllisonRylan Ridenour will compete in the men’s three-meter springboard, also on Friday.