March 16, 2008
AUBURN, Ala. – Senior Stephanie England finished third on the platform to wrap up the third and final day of the NCAA Zone Diving Championships held at Auburn University. England as well as sophomore Hannah Krimm qualified for the NCAA Championships with their performances this weekend and became the first two female divers in Georgia Tech history to advance to the NCAA Championships.
England finished third on the platform today with 556.90 combined points in prelims and finals.
“All year, the focus has been on making nationals,” diving coach John Ames said. “They were very successful during the season and that may have put some added pressure on this weekend. To see them become the first female divers in school history coming out of the toughest zone in the nation says a lot for who they are and shows that they are at their best when it counts.”
Freshman Michele Bertolino also competed for the Jackets and scored 213.60 points during prelims.
The meet at Auburn’s James E. Martin Aquatics Center is one of five Zone Diving meets around the country this week. Also hosting NCAA Zone diving meets are the University at Buffalo, Ohio State University, University of Houston and the Air Force Academy.
Competing in the Zone B Championships were Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Duke, East Carolina, Florida, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Miami, North Carolina, North Carolina State, North Carolina – Wilmington, North Florida, Old Dominion, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Western Kentucky.
England and Krimm are among 12 divers from the region who will advance to the NCAA Championships, March 20-22 in Columbus, Ohio. They join Tech swimmers Agatha Kwasnik and Elizabeth Stowe who qualified with times at last month’s ACC Championships.
