Schultz, Verzyl Named to USA Diving High Performance Squad
Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina graduate diver Brooke Schultz and freshman Sophie Verzyl have been named to USA Diving’s High Performance Squad, the organization announced Tuesday. Schultz is in Tier 2 of the squad while Verzyl is in Tier 3 Senior.
The group is compromised of 97 divers with 20 in Tier One, 10 in Tier Two, 31 in Tier Three Senior and 36 Tier Three Juniors. Schultz and Verzyl find themselves on a list of the elite, surrounded by members of the 2020 U. S. Olympic Team and members of the 2021 FINA Diving World Cup team.
According to USA Diving, the High Performance Squad is compromised of divers who “most exhibit the potential, skill, and determination to become future U. S. Olympic Team members.” The list does not automatically qualify any divers for international teams.
Verzyl competed in her first international competition for Team USA in October 2021. She was selected to compete in the UANA Junior Pan American Championships in the 1-meter dive event where she earned a bronze medal with a score of 369.70.
The Columbia, S.C., native earned two SEC Diver of the Week honors during her freshman campaign and had eight first-place finishes during the regular season, including a sweep of the springboards at the Tennessee Invitaitonal in November. Verzyl achieved NCAA Zone qualifying scores in all 16 of her competitions throughout the regular season.
Schultz is no stranger to international competition. She swept the springboards at the 2017 Junior Pan American Championships and earned a silver medal in the 3-meter dive at the 2017 World University Games. In 2018, she was named a member of the World Cup team and earned a bronze medal at the Bolanzo FINA Grand Prix.
The Fayetteville, Ark., native placed second in the 1-meter dive at the 2021 USA Diving Winter Nationals, earning a spot on the FINA World Championships team in Budapest, Hungary, in June 2022.
Since joining the Gamecocks in January, Schultz earned two SEC Diver of the Week honors and was named SEC Diver of the Meet following her sweep of the springboards at the 2022 SEC Championships.
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