Hokie ClubATHENS, Ga. – The Virginia Tech diving squad made a splash at the three-day Georgia Fall Invitational that concluded Sunday evening at the Gabrielsen Natatorium. The H2Okies won five of the six events with senior Logan Shinholser sweeping the men’s events.
“I was really pleased with all the divers this weekend,” commented head diving coach Ron Piemonte. “It was a very difficult competition and everybody stepped up. We had some great performances with Logan Shinholser setting the pool record there and winning five of the six events. We basically dominated the meet and it was really exciting.”
Shinholser started the weekend off winning the 1-meter with a score of 356.70 on Friday and went on to take the 3-meter Saturday with a score of 376.45. In the final event the senior went out with a bang, as he set a Gabrielsen Natatorium record in the platform event with a score of 449.15.
The previous mark of 380.70 was set by Georgia’s Chris Colwill in 2006.
In addition to Shinholser, the Tech men went 1-and-2 in the 3-meter event. Junior Ryan Hawkins tallied a score of 357.80 to place second. He completed the weekend with a fifth-place finish in the 1-meter and a 12th-place showing on the platform.
Kyle Butts, John Trope and Logan Stevens also competed for the H2Okie men. Butts finished with three top-10 finishes, highlighted by a fifth-place finish on the platform with a score of 303.95.
Trope placed 10th in both the 1- and 3-meter events and took fourth in the platform event with a score of 312.90. Stevens’ highest finish was in the platform as well, as the freshman took 10th with a career-high 264.60.
On the women’s side, Kaylea Arnett dominated as she is still undefeated in the 3-meter event this season. The sophomore racked in a score of 358.50 to win the event on the first day. She also won the 1-meter event and took second on the platform to finish the weekend.
Kelli Stockton finished with three top-five showings. The sophomore took third in the 3-meter, fourth in the platform event and fifth in the 1-meter event.
Logan Kline and Sara Mokhtari notched top-10 showings. Kline took ninth in the 1-meter event and seventh in the 3-meter event. Mokhtari placed ninth in the platform event with a score of 209.90.
Tech competed against California, Auburn, Virginia, Penn State, Harvard, Alabama and the host Georgia and took every event except the women’s platform as Laura Ryan won the event for the Bulldogs.