March 25, 2008
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Mizzou divers Greg DeStephen and Dante Jones will try to duplicate fellow Tiger Kendra Melnychuk's recent success on the national stage when they compete in this week's NCAA Men's Swimming & Diving Championships. This year's championships, to be held at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, Wash., are slated to begin with Thursday's 1-meter diving competition. A complete schedule is listed below and live results will be available each day right here on mutigers.com.
Last Time Around
This will be DeStephen's second NCAA appearance in as many years. In his first championship experience, the Ohioan scored a top-20 finish on platform and a top-25 showing in 1-meter diving. Given his rookie status, Jones will be participating in his first NCAA Championships.
The All-America Dream
The only diver in the history of the Mizzou men's program to have garnered All-America honors was Evan Watters in 2006, when he finished 12th on 1-meter and 13th on tower at Nationals. A pair of Tiger women has cemented All-America status, including Kendra Melnychuk on both 3-meter and platform at last week's Women's Championships in DeStephen's hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
In the Zones
DeStephen was definitely in the zone from the get-go at the Zone D Diving Championships held earlier this month. With his gold in the first day's 3-meter diving competition, the sophomore became the first Tiger in school history to capture a title at Zones. He then followed this up with a pair of top-five finishes on 1-meter and platform. The fifth and final bid to Nationals went to Jones, who dove to a silver medal on platform in impressive fashion. The Columbia native's 611.85 points put him fewer than 10 points out of the top spot.
A Not So Grumpy Greg
Greg DeStephen did his native Buckeye State proud at the recent Big 12 Championships. 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 Similar Success
Newcomer Dante Jones looks to garner the same success on the national stage that he did at conference in 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 on 1-meter by a near 14-point margin 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.
COMPLETE CHAMPIONSHIPS DIVING SCHEDULE
Thursday - 1-meter Diving
4 p.m. - Prelims
9 p.m. - Finals
Friday - 3-meter Diving
4 p.m. - Prelims
9 p.m. - Finals
Saturday - Platform Diving
3:30 p.m. - Prelims
9 p.m. - Finals
* Consolation finals to follow each day's prelims
* All times listed in CST