Hokie ClubANNAPOLIS, MD. – The Virginia Tech divers followed yesterday’s outstanding performance with another standout day at the NCAA Zone A Championships. Logan Shinholser and Sarah Milton both earned bids to the NCAA Championships, joining freshman Ryan Hawkins who qualified on the first day of competition.
After yesterday’s H2Okie sweep of the 1-meter springboard, Logan Shinholser and Ryan Hawkins once again sat atop the event standings in today’s 3-meter competition, as Shinholser won the event with a 790.05, followed by Ryan Hawkins in second with a score of 727.15. With the back-to-back H2Okie wins for the men, the pair has punched its ticket to the NCAA Championship in Minneapolis.
Over on the 1-meter springboard, Connecticut’s Danielle Cecco took home her second gold medal, winning the even with a score of 567.60. Tech’s Sarah Milton came in second, scoring a 507.75. Milton’s silver medal earns her a bid to the NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas, next weekend, making her Virginia Tech’s first ever female diver to make the NCAAs. Carissa Santora came in seventh, with a 466.90, followed by Sara Mokhtari in ninth (462.70).
“I’m extremely proud of the entire squad,” said diving coach Ron Piemonte. “Every single one of them has stepped up and done incredible things. I am especially proud of Sarah Milton becoming Tech’s first ever female diver to make NCAAs in her senior year. It is a storybook ending to her career.
“Logan was dominant in the 3-meter and Hawkins has stepped up and proved himself as one of the best divers in this region.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in the final event tomorrow, the platform.”
The Zone A Championships will conclude tomorrow with both the men and women competing in the platform event. Prelims will begin at 1 p.m. followed immediately by the final round.