Vazquez Bas, Isenhour Have Strong Showing on Second Day of Invitational
Athens, Ga. – South Carolina’s divers completed competition on the second day of the Georgia Diving Invitational with two divers in the final rounds including a second place finish for senior Manny Vazquez Bas.
Graduate Josie Matalone and sophomore Blair Isenhour represented the Gamecocks in the women’s platform event. Matalone, who is in her first competition after returning from injury in September, competed on the platform event for the first time as a Gamecock. The Fayetteville, Ark., native earned a 183.20 which was good for 28th place.
Isenhour had a career day on the platforms, setting a new personal best score of 224.75 in the finals to place eighth overall. Her eighth place finish was also a collegiate best, out-placing her personal best platform finish of ninth place that she achieved at last year’s Tennessee Diving Invitational.
On the men’s 3-meter springboard, Vazquez Bas and freshman Charley Bayer represented the squad. Bayer scored a 296.65 which landed him in 18th place. Vazquez Bas placed third in the preliminary rounds with a score of 343.80 which earned him a trip to the finals.
The San Juan, Puerto Rico, native brought the heat in the final round, bumping his score up to 375.30 to take home second place. He came out firing in the finals with his forward three and a half somersault pike that earned him 68.20 points. Vazquez Bas wrapped up the competition even stronger that he started it with a forward two and a half somersault two twist pike that picked him up 73.10 points. The senior had an average round score of 62.55 and was just 6.2 points behind the first place finisher.
Competition at the Georgia Diving Invitational will conclude tomorrow with the women’s 1-meter and the men’s platform events. Preliminary rounds will begin at 11 a.m. and live results will be available here.
For all the latest South Carolina swimming and diving information, continue to follow GamecocksOnline.com or the team on social media (@GamecockSwim).
Results
Women’s Platform
Prelims
10 – Isenhour – 213.70
28 – Matalone – 183.20
Finals
8 – Isenhour – 224.75
Men’s 3-meter
Prelims
3 – Vazquez Bas – 343.80
18 – Bayer – 296.65
Finals
2 – Vazquez Bas – 375.30
