University of Tennessee Athletics
Helms Advances at USA Diving Winter Nationals
February 04, 2010 | Men's Swimming & Diving
Feb. 4, 2010
Drew Rutherford
UTsports.com
Tennessee diver Ryan Helms advanced to the three-meter springboard finals Thursday at the USA Diving Winter Nationals in Columbus, Ohio.
Helms advanced behind an eighth-place mark of 395.60 at Ohio State's McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion. Junior Michael Wright placed 17th with a 322.00 score but does not advance.
"Ryan missed his fourth dive, but I thought everything else was very solid," diving coach Dave Parrington said. "Mike did a decent job today. This was his first time competing at the senior nationals on the three-meter so it was good experience for him."
Both Helms and Wright made it through the preliminary round earlier Thursday afternoon. Helms earned eighth place in the first round of diving with a 375.20 score and Wright moved on with a 364.25 12th place mark.
The championship round of the three-meter springboard occurs Saturday. Neither UT diver will compete Friday.
Helms makes his second appearance in the three-meter championship round at a USA Diving senior nationals' event. His first came at the AT&T USA Diving National Championships in August 2009.
In addition to the three-meter finals, Helms competes Saturday with partner Aaron Fleshner of Alabama in the synchronized three-meter springboard.
Wright next competes Monday in the one-meter preliminary.
Schedule of events, live results and video are available at DiveMeets.com.
Players Mentioned
