March 12, 2008
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The four-man Mizzou diving squad travels to Houston, Texas, this week to compete in the NCAA Zone D Diving Championships. The three-day meet, held in the University of Houston's Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Natatorium, begins Friday and features free admission to the public. A complete schedule is listed below.
In the Zones
The Zone Diving Championships are a must for divers hoping to make the trip to the NCAA Championships, as they represent a diver's only chance all season to qualify for the "Big Dance." The season serves as a fine tune-up and the time when collegiate divers try to score Zone qualifying marks. On the men's side, divers must earn a score of 300 on the 1-meter board and 320 points in 3-meter diving in order to qualify for Zones. This year, all four Tiger divers made the cut and punched their tickets to Houston.
Last Time Around
A pair of Tiger divers competed at the 2007 Zone Diving Meet in Austin, Texas, and each proceeded to qualify for the NCAA Championships while there. Current sophomore DeStephen took second in 1-meter diving and third on both the 3-meter board and tower to qualify at last year's meet. Senior David Boyko posted a trio of seventh-place scores to earn his bid to Nationals.
A Not So Grumpy Greg
Greg DeStephen did his native Buckeye State proud at the recent Big 12 Championships, also held at the Jamail Swimming Center in Austin. The sophomore captured silver in the 1-meter diving competition with a lifetime best score of 341.35, which currently ranks second in school history behind former Tiger All-American Evan Watters. DeStephen finished third on the 3-meter board and posted a career best 346.20 to take fourth on platform.
DeStephen Dives Right In
2007-08 was an impressive campaign for DeStephen across the board. The Columbus, Ohio, native racked up 17 wins on the season, 11 of which have come in the New Year. DeStephen earned 15 of these 17 wins in a dual setting (the other pair coming at October's Show-Me Showdown) and swept the diving events in six duals (Texas A&M, Missouri State, Penn State, Maryland, Villanova and Iowa). The sophomore sensation also never failed to finish lower than third this season.
Jones'in for a NCAA Bid
Newcomer Dante Jones looks to garner similar success in Houston as he did at conference in nearby Austin. Jones, a local product, was awarded bronze after posting a personal best score of 350.85 on the tower, which currently ranks second all-time at Mizzou. In addition to his third-place finish, Jones took fourth in both 1- and 3-meter diving.
Home Sweet Home
Jones stole the headlines in his first appearance as a Tiger on Oct. 12 at home versus national force Indiana. The Hickman grad nabbed a first-place finish by a near 14-point margin on the 1-meter board in the friendly confines of the Mizzou Aquatics Center that he had grown so accustomed to as a member of the Mizzou Diving Club. Jones would go on to compile 16 top-three showings on the year, 10 of which came at home.
Boyko Is the Man
David Boyko posted a pair of top-five finishes at this year's conference meet. He recorded a score of 279.30 in 1-meter diving and a lifetime best of 306.30 on the tower to take fifth in both events. The St. Louis native also scored a finals appearance on the 3-meter board.
Ryan Keeps on Tryin'
Sophomore Ryan Meeker did more than his fair share at Big 12s. The Kansan, who posted nine top-three dual finishes this season, qualified for finals in each of the meet's three events. Meeker finished sixth in both 3-meter and platform diving, with his score of 270.35 in the platform prelims equaling a new lifetime best.
Zone Diving Meet Schedule
FRIDAY
Men's 3-meter (10 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.)
Women's 1-meter (3 - 6 p.m.)
SATURDAY
Women's 3-meter (10 a.m. - 1 p.m.)
Men's 1-meter (3:45 - 6 p.m.)
SUNDAY
Men's Platform (10 - 11 a.m.)
Women's Platform (12:30 - 2 p.m.)