University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
NCAA Zone A Diving Meet
Divers Conclude NCAA Zones Tuesday
03/10/2015 | Women's Swimming & Diving
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Richmond diving sophomore Irina Chiulli (Westwood, Massachusetts) and freshman Laura Rokop (Carmel, Indiana) completed the second and final day of the 2015 NCAA Zones after the 1m springboard event Tuesday in Buffalo, New York. Just 18 of the 57 divers will compete in the platform diving events Wednesday to conclude the overall meet, but RIchmond has finished its participation in Buffalo.
Chiulli finished 25th, with a score of 229.80, nearly seven points better than her score in last year's 1m at the Zones meet.
Rokop was 46th, with a score of 206.70 in the hotly contested event.
Neither was able to make the 18-diver cut to the finals, concluding their season.
"While today was not our best day, it was a great learning opportunity for us as we look forward to next season,” said Richmond diving coach Sean Letsinger.
Just two weeks ago, Chiulli won the gold medal in the 3m at the Atlantic 10 Championships, the first A-10 gold won by a Spider. She was selected as the Most Outstanding Diver at the meet, also a first for a UR student-athlete.
“This meet is always challenging for the athletes because it is so soon after their conference championships which leaves all of them mentally and physically exhausted from the start,” added Letsinger. “This is something that all of the competitors face, and we need to do a better job preparing mentally and physically during the year so that we can capitalize on this opportunity."
The Spider diving program was comprised of a freshman and two sophomores. The three divers, along with 18 UR swimmers, won their fifth-consecutive Atlantic 10 Championship in late February in Geneva, Ohio. Richmond has won 13 of the last 14 A-10 Swimming & Diving Championship meets.
Players Mentioned
