Two Advance to Finals to Conclude NCAA Zones
March 09, 2016 06:27 PM | Men's Swimming & Diving
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Two West Virginia University divers advanced to the finals on the third and final day of competition at the NCAA Zone A Diving Championships in Annapolis, Maryland, on Wednesday.
To highlight the third day of competition for West Virginia, sophomore Michael Proietto and freshman Julia Calcut advanced to the finals for the second day in a row, both on platform.
“Tower day is always interesting,” said WVU diving coach Mike Grapner. “I truly believe success on tower comes down to attitude and how you approach it. The ladies did a great job. All week I kept telling them to do their best and learn what zones is all about. They were having fun and just out there to dive. Today on tower Julia made the most of it and was able to come back for finals.”
Proietto advanced to the finals on platform after placing 11th in the preliminary round with a score of 278.05. He finished 12th in the finals, scoring 241.50 and with a combined score of 519.55.
For the Mountaineer women, Calcut placed 12th in the finals on tower, scoring 385.85.
Also for the WVU men, sophomore Alex Obendorf placed 16th overall with a 254.25, while Austin Smith was 17th (253.20), Emmott Blitch 18th (220.80) and Logan McHenry 21st (218.05).
“The attitude on the men's side was different. They are all very talented divers, and I was hopeful for a better result today. It’s very difficult to put yourself into the competition when you’re not able to have a tower to train on but that's why it's so important to keep a positive attitude and apply yourself to the basics.
“Looking at the big picture I'm thrilled with the progress of such a young team. They have all made a lot of improvements this year. I'm also very thankful for the leadership and guidance of senior Lindsay Schmidt. She set the bar very high for the team this year and I'll miss having her on the boards next season.”
The final day of the NCAA Zone Diving Championships marks the end of the season for the WVU divers. The WVU swimming and diving team’s season concludes at the NCAA Championships, where senior Andrew Marsh has qualified to compete at the national event for the second consecutive year. The men’s championships are set for March 23-26 in Atlanta.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUSwimDive on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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