March 14, 2009
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Auburn junior Dan Mazzaferro earned his spot on the 2009 Auburn NCAA roster in day two of Zone B Diving competition Saturday afternoon, placing sixth off the 3-meter springboard. Junior Kelly Marx led the men in 3-meter diving, finishing third, while freshman Anna Aguero led the women with a ninth-place finish in the 1-meter.
"It really was a stressful day," said Mazzaferro. "I really wanted to qualify today so could enjoy platform tomorrow. It was nice to get it done.
"Tomorrow I'm going to go after it and try to win it. Since every zone is going on this weekend, it's a good way to compare yourself with other divers in the nation. I think tomorrow is going to be a big day for all of us."
Hosted by the University of Tennessee, the NCAA Zone B Diving Championships is a three-day meet, bringing together the top divers from 25 colleges and universities from the southeastern United States competing for bids to the 2009 NCAA Championships.
"We were successful in securing a spot for Dan to the NCAA's," said Auburn head diving coach Jeff Shaffer. "His sixth-place finish on 3-meter ranks him as the tenth diver with platform still to go.
"Kelly and Dan both were consistent in their two lists of dives, although both could have been a little sharper on finishing some of their dives. "
Marx finished the day with a two-round total of 755.45 to place third in Saturday's 3-meter diving, posting round scores of 360.75 and 394.70. The 2008 SEC 1-meter champion earned an average round score of 65.78 to record his second top-5 finish of the event.
The Overland Park, Kan., native earned a place on Auburn's 2009 NCAA Championship squad Friday with a fourth-place finish in 1-meter diving.
Junior Dan Mazzaferro placed sixth in finals with a two-round total of 790.95 and an average round score of 60.90. The 2009 SEC Diver of the Year scored first and second round scores of 355.55 and 365.40, respectively.
Senior Scott Morgan placed 25th with 276.95 while freshman Adam Godzinski finished 28th with a 271.85.
"The main objective at the zones is to advance to the NCAA's or improve upon personal goals," said Shaffer.
"I felt we met those objectives today. Dan joins Kelly as they both have secured spots to the ncaas and Anna and Vennie both showed improvements in their 1 meter performance.
On the women's side, freshman Anna Aguero led the way in women's 1-meter competition, placing ninth after posting a total of 528.90 and a 43.18 average round score. The Moultrie, Ga., native recorded first and second round scores of 269.80 and 259.10.
"Anna put together two good lists today to advance to the top 18," said Shaffer. "Both she and Vennie were able to do that today. Really, both the girls have a chance to qualify based on their performance tomorrow. It will take a top-three or four finish, depending on who finishes ahead of them. Their destiny is in their hands."
Fellow freshman Vennie Dantin placed 18th after the afternoon finals with a 474.40 total following opening rounds of 248.15 and 226.25. The Conroe, Texas native averaged 37.71 per dive.
Alabama's Aaron Fleshner won the men's 3-meter competition, scoring 799.10, followed by Miami's Reuben Ross (773.25) and Marx.
Miami's Jenna Dreyer topped the field for the women's 1-meter, recording a 599.15, and was followed by South Carolina's Taryn Zack (569.85) and Miami's Brittany Viola (568.75).
Action in the NCAA Championship-qualifying meet continues Sunday with the men's and women's platform preliminaries at 12 p.m., at Tennessee's Allan Jones Aquatic Center.
Live scoring will be made available via www.divemeets.com.