By: Bridgewater State University Athletics
NEW LONDON, Conn. -- Two members of the Bridgewater State University women's swimming & diving team took part in the second day of the NCAA Division III Region Three Diving Championships Saturday.
Competing on the 3-meter board, senior Cailey Simard (Haverhill, Mass.) placed 12th out of 27 divers with 406.65 points while sophomore Gianna Varady (Highland Park, N.J.) was 25th with 321.85 points.
The two-day event was held at the Lott Natatorium, hosted by Connecticut College.
On the opening day Friday, Simard qualified for the NCAA Championships, to be held at Indiana University Indianapolis March 18-21.
Simard, making her fourth straight appearance in the regionals, had an 11-dive score of 436.00 points on the one-meter board in Friday's competition.
She will now take part in the nationals for the second year in a row. Last March, Simard traveled to Greensboro, N.C., and competed on the 1- and 3-meter boards.
Simard's highest-scoring dive today was a back 1 1/2 somersault 2 1/2 twist free (2.48 DD) on her 11th and final dive for which she earned an impressive 54.60 points. A forward 2 1/2 somersault pike (2.4 DD) that Simard attempted for her seventh dive scored a 45.60. She also recorded 44.40 points on her fifth dive (back 1 12 somersault 1 1/2 twist free, 2.4 DD) and 40.25 points on her ninth dive (reverse 1 1/2 somersault pike, 2.3 DD).
Varady, a transfer from Norwich University, concluded her strong first season with the Bears by making it to the regionals for the first time. Her top performance this afternoon was on the 11th and final dive, a back 1 1/2 somersault 1 1/2 twist free (2.4 DD), which resulted in a score of 36.00 points. Varady also notched 34.20 points on her second dive, a back dive pike (1.8 DD), and 34.20 points on her third dive, a reverse dive pike (1.9 DD).
The top four finishers on the 3-meter board earned a trip to the nationals.
MIT junior Fiora Beratahani (San Jose, Calif.) finished first with a score of 435.90.
Amherst College senior Donna Zhang (Winchester, Mass.) was second with 463.30 points and her teammate, freshman Brooke Ronan (Louisville, Ky.) was third with 460.90 points.
The fourth spot was earned by New York University's Isabella Reyes (Miami, Fla.) with 449.10 points.