Swimming & Diving

Tiger Divers Ready for Zones

March 12, 2009

COLUMBIA, Mo. - As the dual meet season and the Big 12 Championships have come to a close, the only thing left for the Tigers before NCAA Championships is the NCAA Zone Diving Championships. This year, divers from across the country will join together at the Mizzou Aquatic Center for their only opportunity to qualify for this year's NCAA's.

To qualify for Zones, men needed to score 290.00 or better on the 1-meter and platform and 310.00 or better on the 3-meter in dual competition, or 300.00 or better on the 1-meter and platform and 320.00 or better on the 3-meter during a championship meet.

For the women, a score of at least 255.00 on the 1-meter, 260.00 on the platform and 270.00 on the 3-meter in dual meets, or scores of 225.00 on the platform (five dives), 265.00 on the 1-meter and 280.00 on the 3-meter during championship meets.

Last year, the Tigers sent three divers to NCAA's. Senior Kendra Melnychuk and junior Greg DeStephen went on to earn All-America honors at the 2008 NCAA Championships, while sophomore Dante Jones would earn an NCAA bid in his inaugural collegiate season with his performance at last year's Zones.

All three Tigers will be back in action at this year's Zones, as will freshman Jordan Morcom. Melnychuk, DeStephen and Jones will be diving in all three events, while Morcom will compete on the 1-meter and 3-meter springboards.

DeStephen broke school-records in all three diving events while finishing fifth in the 1-meter and fourth on both the 3-meter and platform dives at Big 12's last month. Jones finished in sixth on both springboards and took fifth on the platform. Melnychuk medaled in all three events, taking silver on the 3-meter and bronze on the 1-meter and platform, while Morcom placed sixth on the 1-meter and fifth on the 3-meter during her first Big 12 Championships.

NCAA Zone diving begins Friday morning at 10 a.m. CT with the men's 1-meter. Stay tuned to mutigers.com for more information throughout the weekend.

ZONE DIVING SCHEDULE

Friday

  • 10:00 AM - 12:15 PM: Men's 1-Meter Diving

  • 2:30 PM - 5:00 PM: Women's 3-Meter Diving

Saturday

  • 10:00 AM - 12:15 PM: Women's 1-Meter Diving

  • 2:30 PM - 5:00 PM: Men's 3-Meter Diving

Sunday

  • 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM: Women's Platform

  • 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM: Men's Platform