March 12, 2011
ATHENS, Ga. - Senior Dan Mazzaferro and junior Vennie Dantin each earned invitation to the 2011 NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships following their performances at the Zone B Diving Championships held Thursday through Saturday at the Gabrielsen Natatorium in Athens, Ga.
Mazzaferro punched his ticket Friday with a second-place finish off the men's three-meter springboard, while Dantin advanced Thursday with a second-place finish on the women's three-meter.
During Saturday's platform diving session, Mazzaferro placed second with a 12-dive total of 863.00. Freshman John Santeiu IV narrowly missed qualification, placing fourth with a 713.10. Sophomore Thad Ellis placed ninth with 636.60 points followed by junior Adam Godzinski with 633.20.
"Dan (Mazzaferro) used today to get ready for NCAA's," said Auburn head diving coach Jeff Shaffer. "John (Santeiu IV) barely missed making it to nationals his freshman year. He had a tremendous year. Adam (Godzinski) hit a personal best today. Thad (Ellis) was a little off on his first list but fought hard and finished solid."
Junior Anna Aguero also barely missed the cut, finishing the Zone B Championships one spot shy of qualifying for nationals. The Moultrie, Ga., native placed fourth in women's platform with a 12-dive total of 603.75.
"Anna (Aguero) dove her heart out today," said Shaffer. "I know she's very dissapointed. All three contests she was just one place out of qualifying. She was just a few points away. I can't stress enough how proud I am of her effort and how she stepped up today."
Dantin placed fifth off the platform with a 581.70.
Mazzaferro and Dantin will compliment an Auburn squad of 11 women and 14 men heading to their respective NCAA Championships.
The Zone B Championships were one of five Zone diving meets taking place across the country this week. The events served as qualifiers for the upcoming men's and women's NCAA Championships. The women will compete March 17-19 in Austin, Texas, while the men are scheduled for March 24-26 in Minneapolis, Minn.
Zone B qualified nine divers from each the men's and women's fields. Divers who advanced from Zones will compete in all three events at the NCAA Championships.
Divers Advancing From Zone B
Men: N. McCrory (Duke), L. Mazullo (Florida State), D. Mazzferro (Auburn), M. Wright (Tennessee), R. Helms (Tennessee), A. Booher (Alabama), S. Dorman (Miami), B. Makinson (Georgia Tech), M. Neubacher (Florida State)
Women: B. Viola (Miami), A. Johnston (Duke), V. Dantin (Auburn), T. Zack (South Carolina), C. Dragland (Miami), M. Dodson (Florida), H. Moore (Georgia), T. Vock (Miami), H. Ishimatsu (Duke)