Courtesy: LSU Athletics
BATON ROUGE – After sweeping the diving events in last weekend’s dual meet against Navy and Uconn, LSU divers Juan Celaya-Hernandez and Lizzie Cui have earned SEC diving honors. Celaya-Hernandez has been named the Male Diver of the week, while Cui was named the Female Diver of the Week.
Celaya-Hernandez, a junior from Mexico, took home gold in both springboard events. On one-meter, Celaya-Hernandez scored a 405.70, winning the event by 32.20 points. On three-meter, Celaya-Hernandez dove to a score of 471.35, coming within 12 points of his school record and setting a new Navy pool record. Both scores also shattered the NCAA Zones Qualifying Standards.
Cui, a senior from Auckland, New Zealand, overpowered by winning both the one-meter and three-meter springboard events. On three-meter, Cui 336.80, winning the event by 33.10 points. Cui also scored a 322.10 on one-meter, winning by a staggering 68.10 points.
Cui set new Navy pool records and qualified for NCAA Zones on both springboards.
This is the first time this season that both have earned SEC honors. For Celaya-Hernandez, this is the sixth time he’s earned SEC Male Diver of the Week, while this is Cui’s fourth time earning SEC Female Diver of the Week.
“I’m very happy for this start to the season,” said diving head coach Doug Shaffer. “I don’t always know how we will perform this early in the season. Juan and Lizzie competed very well and by setting pool, have left an LSU mark at Navy.”
Both Cui and Celaya-Hernandez will compete in the next dual meet against Florida on Thursday at 4:00 p.m. CT in the LSU Natatorium. For fans looking to attend, admission is free and fans will receive free pizza, team photos, and koozies.