Badgers’ divers set for NCAA Zone Championships
March 04, 2018 | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving
Wisconsin sending seven to meet with hopes of qualifying for national championships
MADISON, Wis. – Seven Wisconsin divers are in Minneapolis this week, preparing for competition in the NCAA Zone D Championships. Here are five things to know for the competition that runs Monday through Wednesday.
LOOKING BACK
Last year's NCAA Zone D meet was highlighted by Ashley Peterson's NCAA championships qualifying performance on the 10-meter platform. She scored a total of 507.80 points.
The Badgers will be without the graduated Peterson this time around, but will have four returning Zone qualifiers: Alex Hafey and Hazel Hertting on the women's side and Andrew Pearce and Kevin Pomeroy in the men's competition.
TOUGH COMPETITION
Pomeroy qualified for the finals on both the 3-meter springboard and 10-meter platform at last month's Big Ten championships. It's not that only Pomeroy performed well — it's that the Big Ten is the deepest, most talented diving conference in the country.
However, the Zone meet will be no walk in the park. Just ask Wisconsin diving coach Anton Slobounov. "Our zone is extremely deep, and you have to earn your spot to make the (NCAA) meet out of this group of talented divers," he said.
Slobounov believes the Badgers will have no issue facing this level of competition — after all, they've been doing it all year.
"We're battle-tested," he said. "Even during our regular season, we compete against the best diving programs in the country — and there is a reason for that. When it comes to this point in the season, we've already seen it all. We've competed against Olympians. We've competed against the best.
"My expectation is that they continue to focus on what they need to do."
POMEROY PACES THE MEN
Pomeroy leads the way for the Badgers on the men's side.
He stood out at the Big Ten championships, competing in all three diving events and scoring a 367.05 to qualify for the 3-meter final.
"Kevin is coming off of an outstanding Big Ten championships, making two finals," Slobounov said. "He has a very strong opportunity to make the national meet."
He will look to improve on his performance at last year's Zone meet, in which he finished 23rd on the 1-meter board (267.10), 17th on the 3-meter (660.55) and 11th on platform (595.30).
DOUBLE TROUBLE
On the women's side, Hafey and Hertting pace Wisconsin.
The duo continued to progress at the Big Ten championships. Hertting scored a 262.65 on the 1-meter, good for 21st place, and Hafey finished 24th in the same event (251.40).
"They're upperclassmen, so we expect them to make an impact," Slobounov said. "We're hoping that they can put together two lists and be relevant, and hopefully punch their tickets to the NCAA championships."
Hertting made some noise at last year's Zone meet, taking 18th on the 1-meter (527.10) and placing 10th on the 3-meter (613.60) after making the final. Hafey placed 23rd on the 1-meter (254.40), 35th on the 3-meter (242.35) and 24th on platform (164.85).
FIRST TIMERS
Three Badgers will make their NCAA Zone debuts this week, including two freshmen.
Matt Aronson, a junior, had a stellar performance in the 3-meter vs. Georgia earlier this year, scoring 331.95 and securing his place at the Zone meet.
"Matt has had a great year," Slobounov said. "The way he started, especially, deservedly punched his ticket to the Zone meet."
Brayden Schachle and Paige Richardson are making their Zone meet debut as freshmen, and will look to continue their first-year success. Richardson will focus her attention on the women's 10-meter platform competition.
"If she does things the way she should, and the way she does in practice, she should be relevant," Slobounov said. "We're really excited to see how she performs."
As for the team as a whole, Slobounov is ready to see his divers make a splash.
"I feel really good about this weekend," he said. "This should be a great Zone for us, so long as the team stays in the moment and takes advantage of this great opportunity.
"I'm really happy with the number of divers we have this year at the Zone meet. There are always things you can improve upon, but we've had a very good year, the team has worked very hard. So, I'm excited to see the fruits of their labor come to fruition."
Players Mentioned
