MSU Sends Six Divers to NCAA Zone C Diving Regionals
3/9/2011 12:00:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
March 9, 2011
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State swimming & diving program will send six divers to the NCAA Zone C Diving Regionals this weekend in Columbus, Ohio on the campus of Ohio State. Action begins in the McCorkle Aquatics Pavilion on Thursday, March 10 with the men's 1-meter and women's 3-meter. On Friday, March 11 action continues with the men competing on the 3-meter while the women are on the 1-meter. On Saturday, March 12 the women kick-off the 10-meter platform followed by the men on the 10-meter platform.
The women are sending five Spartans to compete for one of 10 allotted regional positions in the NCAA Championships while MSU sends one male diver to compete for one of seven positions.
Representing the women will be juniors Ashley Borgman, Sarah Clay, Jordan Jackson and Brooke Sauchak and freshman Cristee Cordes. The lone male diver is senior Ivan Zalessov.
Borgman, Clay, Cordes, Jackson and Sauchak will all compete on Thursday on the 3-meter springboard before the complete group dives from the 1-meter springboard on Friday.
For Zalessov, he will first compete on the 1-meter on Thursday before diving on the 3-meter on Friday and the 10-meter platform on Saturday.
This marks the fourth time Zalessov has qualified for the regionals as he previously dove at the event in 2007, 2008 and 2010. The Okemos, Mich., native is the current school record holder on both the 1-meter and the 3-meter. Zalessov's career-bests include a 411.70 on the 3-meter against Southern Illinois in November and a 392.32 on senior day against Michigan to conclude the regular season.
Clay leads the women as this will mark her third-straight appearance as she previously qualified in 2009 and 2010. The Fishers, Ind., native led the team on the season on the 3-meter springboard with a season-best mark of 353.78 recorded against Bowling Green on Feb. 4. On the 1-meter, Clay was second on the team with a top score of 326.78, also recorded against the Falcons.
Jackson returns to the regionals for the first time since 2009 as she took a redshirt in 2010. A native of Flushing, Mich., Jackson's season bests include a 321.00 on the 1-meter against Grand Valley State and a 316.40 as her top 3-meter score occurred two weekends ago at the Big Ten Championships.
Borgman is MSU's final returning qualifier as she is participating for the second-straight season. Borgman's top mark this season on the 1-meter occurred against Bowling Green when she totaled a score of 306.82. The Zeeland, Mich., native also set her 3-meter season best against the Falcons when she posted a mark of 298.95.
Sauchak and Cordes are both making their first appearances at the regionals this weekend. For Sauchak, her top mark of the season on the 3-meter occurred against Ball State when she totaled a score of 288.60. On the 1-meter, the Okemos, Mich., native's season high was posted against Grand Valley when she recorded a 229.28 mark.
Cordes, in her first season with MSU, ranks fourth on the team in the 3-meter with a score of 307.88 which was notched against Bowling Green. The Comstock Park, Mich., native enters the weekend with a season-high of 273.52 on the 1-meter which was also achieved against BGSU.
For additional meet information, click here.
The women's NCAA Championships begins on Friday, March 18 and runs through Sunday, March 20 in Austin, Texas. The men travel to Minneapolis, Minn., from Friday, March 25 to Sunday, March 27 for their NCAA Championships.
Players Mentioned
