Printer-Friendly Format     E-mail this article     The Irish will begin competition in the NCAA Zone C Diving meet on Friday.

 
Women's Diving Sends Trio To NCAA Zone C Competition

Irish hope to carry momentum from conference championship into this weekend's meet.

March 12, 2008

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - Three athletes on the University of Notre Dame women's diving team are set to compete in this week's NCAA Zone C Diving meet. Freshman Heidi Grossman, senior Tara Hyer, and sophomore Natalie Stitt will each have a chance to advance to the NCAA Championships while facing a stiff field of some of the nation's top divers.

Approximately 90 divers from 24 schools will compete Friday through Sunday (March 14-16) at Ohio State's McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion as part of the 2008 NCAA Zone C Diving Championships held in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State is hosting one of five zone meets taking place this weekend around the country with divers at each meet vying for the chance to compete at their respective NCAA Championships. The 2008 NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships will be held March 20-22 at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion, with the men's competition spanning from March 27-29 at Federal Way, Wash.

Live results for the meet will be available at divemeets.com. Complete stats and recap will be posted on und.com shortly after the completion of each day's competition.

"Our women have a great chance to make a run at a spot in the NCAA Championship," said Irish diving coach Caiming Xie. "They finished well at the BIG EAST Conference Championships, and after a few good weeks of practice I think they're ready for the challenge that lies ahead. We'll be counting on both the youthfulness and leadership that this group provides."

The women are fresh off their record-setting 12th consecutive BIG EAST Conference team title. Stitt was third in the 1-meter event and took home the league crown off the 3-meter board. This season marks her second trip to the post-season meet, as she was 17th off the 1-meter board during the 2007 NCAA Zone C meet.

Hyer registered a fifth-place finish in the 1-meter event while claiming third off the 3-meter board during this season's conference meet. Grossman finished eighth and fifth, respectively, in the 1- and 3-meter events at the same meet.

Admission to the event is free. Doors will open to the general public 90 minutes before the start of each session.

Friday, March 14 - 1 p.m. - 1-meter (women) / 3-meter (men)
Saturday, March 15 - 1 p.m. - 1-meter (men) / 3-meter (women)
Sunday, March 16 - 11 a.m. - platform (men) / 30 minute break / platform (women)

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