While spring break is in full effect for college students around the country, Texas A&M men’s and women’s diving continued its road to NCAA Championships with a trip to Houston to compete in the NCAA Zone D Championships from March 11-13.
Junior Allen Bottego got things going on Day 1, finishing seventh in 3-meter prelims with a score of 767.40. Right behind him, senior Victor Povzner punched his ticket into the postseason with an eighth-place finish on a score of 765.25. Senior Takuto Endo also secured a spot in NCAA Championships after finishing top-12 with 713.80.
Sophomore Joslyn Oakley’s seventh-place score of 581.60 in 1-meter prelims, marking back-to-back appearances in NCAA Championships.
On Day 2, the big three of Povzner, Endo and Bottego dominated 1m prelims, with Povzner headlining the No. 1 spot with a score of 380.55. Endo grabbed fourth with 360.60 and Bottego scored sixth with 346.30
In finals, Endo joined in on the postseason hype, grabbing fifth with a score of 710.70 in 1m finals. Povzner and Bottego added a second event for NCAA Championships after 3m finals, as the senior finished second with 757.30 and the junior notched ninth with 677.10.
In a crowd of returning divers to the postseason, senior Mayson Richards will make her NCAA Championships debut after securing the last qualifying spot, placing ninth in 3m with a score of 629.50.
Tacking on another event for the postseason, Oakley’s score of 641.40 in 3m finals secured a top-five finish.
Closing out strong on Day 3, junior Rhett Hensley made it six divers headed to NCAA Championships as he dived into second on platform finals with a score of 767.00.
Endo tacked on a third event to his postseason as he placed ninth in platform finals with 632.50.
Wrapping up the season, the diving team will join the swim team from March 27-30 for NCAA Championships in Indianapolis.
