Feb. 28, 2013
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Two Kentucky divers were honored by the Southeastern Conference for their performances in the 2012-13 season the conference announced Thursday afternoon. Junior Greg Ferrucci was named Men’s Second Team All-SEC and freshman Rebecca Hamperian appeared on the Women’s All-Freshman Team.
Ferrucci earns the Second Team All-SEC honor for the second time in his career. The junior appeared on the second team last season as a sophomore and also received SEC All-Freshman year honors in his rookie campaign as well.
“It’s not really surprising,” said Kentucky head coach Gary Conelly. “Greg had a phenomenal meet at the SECs on both boards and potentially could have won the tower. He’s had a really strong junior year and it’s well deserved.”
In 2013, Ferrucci has continued to add to his legacy as one of the most decorated and prolific divers in Kentucky history. Already the men’s record holder on the 1-meter and 3-meter springboards heading into his junior season, he now holds the platform record after his performance at the 2013 SEC Swimming and Diving Championships at College Station, Texas. Dealing with ligament damage in his thumb, Ferrucci still managed to break the UK platform record with a 435.50 in the preliminary rounds and finished eighth in the finals to score points for the men’s team.
On the season, Ferrucci won seven individual events and was named SEC Male Diver of the Week twice.
The swimming and diving program hopes that Hamperian follows in Ferrucci’s path, and after her appearance on the 2013 SEC Women’s All-Freshman Team, it appears she is already off to a good start.
“The thing that I think is a little surprising,” said Conelly, “For the people who don’t know her, is Rebecca is clearly one of the top if not the top SEC freshman divers.”
She proved that to be the case all season long.
Hamperian finished the regular season with six individual victories and carried that momentum straight into the SEC Championships. There, Hamperian earned an eighth-place score of 283.85 to score for Kentucky. She also finished 11th in the 3-meter event with a final tally of 299.35. She also earned SEC Female Freshman of the Week in early November.
With the swimming teams in a rebuilding phase, the diving program has brought stability to Kentucky all season long. The honors bestowed upon Ferrucci and Hamperian are reflections of the hard work that diving coach Ted Hautau has invested into the program.
“I think Ted’s in the process of establishing a pretty good dynasty on both the men’s and the women’s side,” said Conelly. “That’s pretty exciting. It’s nice to have a core of divers that we can build the swim team around because we sort of are on the rebuilding stage. It’s great that we have that much depth on the diving side to help us weather the storm.”
