CLEMSON, SC – The Clemson women’s diving team defeated both College of Charleston and Western Kentucky at McHugh Natatorium on Saturday. Five Tigers recorded qualifying scores for NCAA Zones while three qualified for the first time while the team improved to 7-1 in dual meets this season.
“Words cannot describe how elated I am with our progress as a team,” said Clemson Head Coach Leslie Hasselbach Adams. “Our ladies were true Tiger competitors today. We were able to qualify three more ladies to the NCAA Zone Diving Championship meet.”
Megan Helwagen was one of the three to qualify after recording a one-meter, season-high score of 271.20 to take first in that event. The others to qualify were Tiger freshmen Sarah Braun and Danielle Reitsma.
Reitsma recorded a platform score of 229.50 to finish first overall in the event in her first collegiate meet. She also finished third in the three-meter event narrowly missing qualifying in that event with a 278.45 mark.
Braun recorded a 226.15 in the platform as well to finish second, her career-high score in that event. She also recorded a career-high in the one-meter event scoring a 264.30, just missing an NCAA Zones qualifying score of 265.00.
“Hooray for Megan Helwagen, Sarah Braun, and our newest Tiger, Danielle Reitsma for all making their zone qualifying scores,” Adams said. “I asked the team to be their best, have no regrets, and be a competitor. They all accomplished what they set out to do and for that, I am one proud coach.”
Emily Howard and Chelsea Uranaka each recorded zone qualifying scores as well but both had previously qualified. Howard totaled a season-high score of 292.15 to take first in the three-meter event. Uranaka came in just behind her in second after recording a score of 290.75.
The Tigers as a team had a diver finish first in each event, including taking the top-six spots in the three-meter event. Clemson also finished with four of the top-five divers in each of the one-meter and platform events.
Today’s meet featured the first platform competition in the history of McHugh Natatorium with Clemson taking seven of the top-eight spots at their home pool. Ironically, the winner of that event, Reitsma, was also competing in her collegiate meet.
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