UK Diving Coach Mike Lyden and seven Wildcat divers look to add to Kentucky?s collection of Southeastern Conference titles this weekend at the SEC Diving Championships at Florida?s O?Connell Center Natatorium. The event begins Friday with the women?s three-meter and men?s one-meter competitions and concludes Sunday with the platform event.
Lyden has led Kentucky to all seven of its SEC diving crowns. Kentucky has claimed an SEC title each of the past four seasons and seven of the past nine seasons. At the 2004 SEC Championships, UK?s Kari Retrum became the first Wildcat freshman to win a conference title by edging Georgia?s Emily Hunter for the women?s platform crown. Retrum is redshirting this season due to injury, though sophomore Taryn Ignacio may keep the platform title in Lexington. The Richmond, Ky., native competed in the event at the 2004 NCAA Championships and the U.S. Olympic Trials and is one of the favorites to capture the title this weekend.
Junior Jessica Thompson took sixth on the platform a year ago and, after competing in all three diving events at the NCAA championships, is prepared to place in each event this weekend. Sophomore Joey Brown recently broke Thompson?s one-meter school record and, like Thompson, is a potential point scorer for the Cats. After a much-improved sophomore season, Jillian Becker, a Bowling Green native, may also add to Kentucky?s tally in the diving events.
Senior All-American diver Mario Rodriguez placed on the platform and in the three-meter springboard event a season ago and is poised to reach greater heights this weekend. Freshman Ben Starchuk?s consistency this season may add points to Kentucky?s tally, and freshman Justin Montrie may be a factor, as well.
This weekend?s SEC diving results will be available at www.gatorzone.com.
SEC Diving Championships ? Gainesville, Fla.
Friday, Feb. 11
12 p.m. ? Women?s 3-meter and men?s 1-meter preliminaries
6 p.m. ? Men?s 1-meter final
7 p.m. – Women?s 3-meter final
Saturday, Feb. 12
12 p.m. ? Women?s 1-meter and men?s 3-meter preliminaries
6 p.m. ? Women?s 1-meter final
7 p.m. ? Men?s 3-meter final
Sunday, Feb. 13 10:30 a.m. ? Men?s and Women?s platform preliminaries
3 p.m. ? Women?s platform final
4 p.m. ? Men?s platform final
