Five Gophers Named Finalists for CSCAA 100 Greatest Swimmers & Divers List

Courtesy: Minnesota Athletics

MINNEAPOLIS – Five Minnesota Gopher greats have been named finalists for the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America’s (CSCAA) centennial list of the 100 Greatest Swimmers & Divers, as was announced by the CSCAA Monday morning.

On the men’s side, Minnesota diver PJ Bogart and swimmer Steve Jackman headlined the list, while divers Kelci Bryant, Yu Zhou and current Gophers redshirt-fifth year diver Sarah Bacon are representing the Maroon and Gold from the women’s. Combined, the fivesome have obtained 18 individual NCAA titles, led by Jackman (7) and Bacon (4) on either side. Bogart (3), Bryant (2) and Zhou (2) comprised the remaining seven titles.

Bacon is coming off of a 2020-21 season that saw her secure two more NCAA titles on the one and three-meter springboard events, en route to being named the CSCAA Women’s DI Diver of the Year, Big Ten Women’s Diver of the Year, Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year and the HONDA Sport Award Winner for Swimming & Diving. She also has eight All-American honors, two Big Ten individual titles, an NCAA Championship (1m) and Big Ten (3m) record, a 2021 FINA Diving World Cup Silver Medal (3m) and a pair of top-three performances at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Diving Team Trials to her name over her exceptional career.

Zhou graduated from Minnesota in 2017 with a plethora of honors to her name. The Wuhan, China native secured two NCAA titles over her three-season career with the Gophers, as well as seven Big Ten titles, a perfect three Big Ten Diver of the Year nods, the 2015 CSCAA Women’s DI Diver of the Year award, seven All-America honors and a program record on the platform.

Bryant competed for the Maroon and Gold from 2009-11, winning a pair of NCAA titles and a pair of runner-up finishes to complete her two seasons with the Gophers having never finished below second at the NCAA Championships. In that same span, she claimed a perfect four individual Big Ten titles, en route to being named the 2011 CSCAA Women’s DI Diver of the Year and Big Ten Women’s Diver of the Year twice (2010, ’11). Bryant competed for the U.S. at both the 2008 Beijing and the 2012 London Olympics, earning a silver medal during the latter on the synchronized three-meter (synch. Abby Johnston).

With a program record seven NCAA titles to his name, Jackman left a legacy that has yet to be matched since his graduation in 1963. In his three seasons with the Gophers, Jackman nabbed eight Big Ten titles and 11 All-American honors to go along with his program leading seven NCAA titles, and was dubbed the “Fastest Man in the World” in 1963.

Bogart took home three NCAA titles on the diving boards over his time as a Minnesota Gopher, graduating the University in 1996. In all of his four seasons, Bogart secured All-American honors in all three diving events for a perfect career total of 12. In that same span, Bogart brought home eight Big Ten titles, sweeping the three events in 1995 and earning the title of Big Ten Diver of the Year in every season he competed.

There were 973 finalists named to the CSCAA’s prestigious list, and the decision of narrowing those student-athletes to 100 men and women will now fall to a Blue Ribbon Panel of voters who were selected earlier this month. In addition to this list, the CSCAA will also be releasing a centennial list for the 100 Great and Pioneering Coaches, 100 Alumni of Impact, and Centennial MVPs for every team, the finalists to which have yet to be announced.