The Arizona State dive team will look to keep their momentum rolling as they head to Minneapolis, Minn., for the NCAA Zone E Diving Championships starting Friday.
Zone meets are major meets in the diving season and ASU coach Mark Bradshaw feels his team is performing its best at the most opportune time.
“This is our season,” Bradshaw said. “It’s what we have been training all season for. I think we’re peaking at the right time. Everyone is doing very well.”
Sophomore Riley McCormick and Junior Constantin Blaha are both coming off of victories in the Pac-10 championships and are hoping to continue their success this weekend.
ASU junior Cameron Bradshaw, who finished fourth in the 3-meter at the Pac-10 championships, also has high expectations heading into the meet.
Bradshaw will be on the hunt to qualify for the national championships, competing in both the one-meter and three-meter dives, where he placed seventh and eighth a year ago, respectively.
“I expect to qualify this year,” Bradshaw said. “I’m training and competing a lot better than last year. I am really excited for the meet because it is a really nice facility.”
While Bradshaw is expecting good results, he also understands the importance of keeping a level head.
“I need to keep my same mindset and same routine,” Bradshaw said. “I also need to try not to overkill with my eagerness to make it to the [national championships].”
Junior Elina Eggers, along with McCormick, will look to grab another a Zone E title.
Eggers, who will also compete in the 1- and 3-meter events, is the defending 10-meter platform champion.
McCormick also won the 10-meter platform last season and went on to place second in the NCAA in that event. McCormick will also compete in the 3-meter dive and the 1-meter event, an event in which the sophomore finished second at the Pac-10 championships.
The Sun Devils will have tough competition. Zone E consists of 35 schools from 11 states in the West region including Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada and New Mexico.
The stiff competition is not the only thing that makes these meets more challenging.
“These meets are a little more difficult because there is more pressure as it is a qualifying event,” Mark Bradshaw said.
USC junior Harrison Jones will be among those competing against the Sun Devils at the meet.
Jones, a former All-American, won the Pac-10 championship in the one-meter for the second straight year as he edged out McCormick.
Zone meets are significant because the winners of each event receive an automatic bid to the national championships and despite the impressive competition, Mark Bradshaw is confident in his team.
“I think all of our guys have a legitimate shot of making it to the national championships,” Bradshaw said.
Reach the reporter at william.boor@asu.edu
