March 26, 2011
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Freshman diver Greg Ferrucci withdrew from the platform diving competition Saturday due to a quad injury he suffered on Thursday’s one-meter board. Saturday was the final day of competition in the 2011 men’s NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships held at the University Aquatic Center in Minneapolis.
“Greg’s leg was still strained to the point that he could not squat or jump today so we had to keep him out of the competition,” UK diving coach Ted Hautau said. “It was unfortunate timing to have an injury at the start of the NCAA’s, but it happens. Diving as well as he did against a very strong field, I think he will come away from this with a lot of confidence for next season. He impressed me with how much he progressed and how well he competed not only as a freshman but also as someone who had been out of the sport for three years. He had a very successful season.”
Competing on the one-meter board, where he holds the third-best score in UK history, Ferrucci injured his leg on his third dive. The Southeastern Conference Freshman Diver of the Year continued to fight through the injury and finished the competition with a score of 264.65 to finish in 33rd.
The Huntersville, N.C., native finished his rookie campaign with the Wildcats with numerous accolades. In addition to being named the SEC Freshman Diver of the Year and holding the third-best score in UK history on the one-meter board, Ferrucci also holds the second-best score in UK history on the three-meter board and the platform.
The swimming and diving championships mark the end of the 2010-11 season for the Kentucky men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams. The women’s team finished its season at 9-5 and the men’s team finished at 4-10 on the season.
Senior women’s diver Lisa Faulkner earned All-American honors on the platform and All-American honorable mention honors on the one- and three-meter boards. Senior swimmer Chatham Penrod earned All-American honorable mention honors in the women’s 100 backstroke with a 16th-place finish.
For all Kentucky swimming and diving news go to UKathletics.com.
