Though we’re not DiveDove, we do dabble in diving coverage, and as diving can have a major impact on the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships, we cover NCAA Zone Diving – mainly through the lens of how national diving qualifiers could impact the team points battles later this month.
2018 NCAA ZONE DIVING
- Zones A, B, D, E: Monday, March 5 – Wednesday, March 7
- Zone C: Thursday, March 8 – Saturday, March 10
- Host schools:
- Zone A: Rutgers University
- Zone B: University of Tennessee
- Zone C: Ohio State University
- Zone D: University of Minnesota
- Zone E: Northern Arizona University
- NCAA selection primer
The Virginia Cavalier women added a second diver to their NCAA roster on day 2 of the Zone A Championships, with Kylie Towbin winning on 1-meter.
Much of the finish order behind Towbin were divers already qualified through 1-meter. Rutgers Addison Walkowiak was second tonight after winning 1-meter, UVA’s Sydney Dusel was third and UMass’s Maja Boric fourth.
On the men’s side, Penn State’s Hector Garcia won for the second night in a row, taking the 1-meter title. Virginia Tech will get two more divers in with Thomas Shinholser taking 5th and Jack Gigliotti 6th.
QUALIFYING CHART
Athletes in bold have earned NCAA reimbursement.
| Priority | Finisher | Women | Men |
| 1 | 3-meter Champ | Kylie Towbin, UVA | Hector Garcia, PSU |
| 2 | 1-meter Champ | Addison Walkowiak, RUTG | Hector Garcia, PSU |
| 3 | Platform Champ | ||
| 4 | 3-meter 2nd | Addison Walkowiak, RUTG |
Jonathan Suckrow, CUD
|
| 5 | 1-meter 2nd | Ashlynn Peters, VT | Benjamin Schiesl, VT |
| 6 | Platform 2nd | ||
| 7 | 3-meter 3rd | Sydney Dusel, UVA | Bradley Buchter, NAVY |
| 8 | 1-meter 3rd | Sydney Dusel, UVA | Jonathan Suckrow, CUD |
| 9 | Platform 3rd | ||
| 10 | 3-meter 4th | Maja Boric, MASS | Ian Shelton, UVA |
| 11 | 1-meter 4th | Maja Boric, MASS | Colten Young, PRIN |
| 12 | Platform 4th | ||
| 13 | 3-meter 5th | Sine Scribbick, PRIN | Benjamin Schiesl, VT |
| 14 | 1-meter 5th | Meme Sharp, PITT | Thomas Shinholser, VT |
| 15 | Platform 5th | ||
| 16 | 3-meter 6th | Ashley Buchter, VT | — |
| 17 | 1-meter 6th | Lydia Rosenthall, PITT | Jack Gigliotti, VT |
| 18 | Platform 6th | — | — |
| 19 | 3-meter 7th | — | — |
| 20 | 1-meter 7th | — | — |
| 21 | Platform 7th | — | — |
NCAA Diving QUALIFYING PROCEDURES
There are five zone meets spread across the country that allow divers to qualify for the NCAA Championships. Based on performances at the previous NCAAs each zone earns a set number of qualifying spots.
Take a look at the qualifying spots for each zone and each event:
WOMEN
| WOMEN | ELIGIBILITY | ||
| 1m | 3m | Platform | |
| Zone A | 6 | 6 | 5 |
| Zone B | 7 | 7 | 9 |
| Zone C | 8 | 10 | 10 |
| Zone D | 11 | 9 | 9 |
| Zone E | 9 | 9 | 8 |
MEN
| MEN | ELIGIBILITY | ||
| 1m | 3m | Platform | |
| Zone A | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| Zone B | 6 | 6 | 7 |
| Zone C | 10 | 10 | 11 |
| Zone D | 9 | 8 | 6 |
| Zone E | 5 | 7 | 7 |
A priority chart determines who gets the reimbursement spots. The first priority spot is taken by the winner of each event beginning with the 3-meter champ, followed by the 1-meter champ and then the platform champ. If an athlete wins two events, they will still only take up one slot which means the NCAA will keep adding rows to this chart until the zone meet reimbursement quota is met.
According to the rules set in 2015 that allowed more divers into the meet, any diver who lands in the qualifying spots for their zone earns a spot to compete in the NCAA Championships. If the diver earns eligibility in one event, they can automatically compete in any of the other two events at NCAAs as long as they finished in the top 12 in their zone in that event.
The NCAA made a distinction between “eligible” and “reimbursed” athletes. Divers qualifying outside of the reimbursement spots will not have their travel, lodging, or meet expenses covered by the NCAA. Instead the individual school must decide if they’re willing to pay the bill themselves to give that diver an opportunity to participate in the NCAA Championships.
| REIMBURSEMENT | ||
| Women | Men | |
| Zone A | 4 | 4 |
| Zone B | 6 | 7 |
| Zone C | 10 | 10 |
| Zone D | 12 | 9 |
| Zone E | 9 | 5 |