Diving Wraps Up Successful Fall Season
Dec. 21, 2016
COLUMBIA, S.C. ââ’¬” The University of South Carolina men’s and women’s diving program concluded its fall season this past weekend at the Auburn Diving Invitational and the USA Diving Winter National Championships.
Allyson Nied represented Carolina at the Winter National Championships in Columbus, Ohio, while the rest of the squad made its way to Auburn, Ala.
Julia Vincent took first place in both the 1-meter and 3-meter dives. She posted scores of 315.70 (1-meter) and 368.20 (3-meter) to lead the Gamecocks.
“This was definitely the toughest competition Julia has faced yet,” said head diving coach Todd Sherritt. “She was going head-to-head with Elizabeth Cui from LSU on both boards. Julia prevailed by performing her reverse 2 ½ for eights on the 3-meter to take the win.”
Mikaela Lujan followed Vincent with a fourth-place finish in the 1-meter with a score of 287.00 and took eighth place in the 3-meter after scoring 256.90. Marissa Roth finished fifth in the 3-meter with a mark of 292.50 and 11th in the platform after posting a score of 201.20.
For the men, Jordan Gotro took fourth in both the 1-meter and 3-meter dives. He posted scores of 317.50 (1-meter) and 371.25 (3-meter).
“Jordan had a steady performance to finish fourth on both boards,” said Sherritt. “He continues to put together list after list that keeps him in the hunt for the championships. He faced his toughest competition yet with LSU, Alabama, Auburn and FSU in attendance. He has a pretty good picture of what needs to be done at the SEC Championships.”
Nied finished the Winter National Championships in eleventh place with a score of 674.95.
“Allyson did a great job,” said Sherritt. “She was able to get into the top 12 in the country for the second time. That was our goal. She completed an inward 3 ½ for the first time off the 10-meter, which we had to get off before the conference championships. I am really happy with the way things have turned out. It’s a great way to close out this year.”
The Gamecocks will be back in action Jan. 6 at 4 p.m. as they host SEC foe Tennessee in a dual meet.
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