Nov. 20, 2011
ATLANTA - Auburn senior divers Vennie Dantin and Anna Aguero finished first and second, respectively, in the platform final as Auburn's divers wrapped up the Georgia Tech Invitational on Sunday afternoon.
"It was a good day for us," Auburn diving coach Jeff Shaffer said. "The weekend overall was a good experience for us. It showed us where our strengths and weaknesses are right now. Now we need to have the ability to regroup and refocus."
Dantin scored a 285.30 (five dives) to take the win, earning her second victory in three events this weekend. She also won the 1-meter event Friday and finished second on the 3-meter board Saturday. Aguero, meanwhile, finished second to her teammate with a score of 277.25. It was the first platform meet for the Tigers this season.
Freshman Cinzia Calabretta finished 10th with a score of 226.05 in her first collegiate platform meet, and fellow freshman Shanna Schuelein took 13th place with a 216.40. Dantin, Aguero and Calabretta's scores all met the NCAA Zone qualifying standard.
"Vennie and Anna both missed an inward 3 ½, but their take-offs were good," Shaffer said. "Cinzia did a good job, made her zone score. This was Shanna's first tower meet in probably a couple of years; the dives she did, she did really well."
Sophomore John Santeiu finished third in the men's platform final with a six-dive total of 370.45, a very strong performance in his first tower meet of the year. Senior Adam Godzinski was 11th with a 275.55, and freshman Michael Beran took 15th place with a 260.80.
"John was third on tower, and he probably would have been second with a better entry on his last dive," Shaffer said. "But it was a good day for him."
The divers, along with the rest of the squad, will have the majority of this week off for Thanksgiving before re-convening Friday to begin preparations for their next meet. Auburn closes out the fall season Dec. 2-4 at the Georgia Fall Invitational in Athens, Ga.; in addition, selected swimmers will compete at the USA Swimming Winter National Championships in Atlanta that same weekend.