University of Tennessee Athletics
VOL DIVERS HEAD TO NCAA ZONE QUALIFIER
March 08, 2006 | Men's Swimming & Diving
March 8, 2006
Sophomore Ryan Rincon and senior John Venditti look to qualify for nationals starting Friday in Lexington, Ky., at the NCAA Zone B Diving Qualifier.
Thirteen qualifying spots will be filled from Zone B, the most of any zone. Qualifying numbers are determined based on the previous years' results from the NCAA championships.
"I certainly like Ryan's chances of qualifying for NCAAs this year," UT diving coach Dave Parrington said. "John Venditti will probably have to dive at his absolute best to have a shot at nationals. Going out as a senior with his experience he obviously has a real shot at qualifying.
Either a top-five on either springboard or a top-three on the platform guarantees a spot at the NCAA championships. Divers earning an automatic spot on any board also qualify on other boards if they compete in those events at the zone qualifier.
"I feel like I have gotten over being in the `big show' since competing at the SECs," Rincon said. "Competing at SECs has really prepared me for the upcoming competitions. It definitely helps having competed in Lexington earlier in the season.
Springboard competition begins Friday with 3-meter at noon Eastern time followed by 1-meter at noon Saturday. Sunday concludes the event with platform competition beginning at 1 p.m.
