BROOKE ATKINS
Social Media Manager
Diving season is not over quite yet.
This past weekend six Fredonia divers competed at SUNY Cortland in the NCAA region 4 meet, to move on to NCAA championships.
Representing the Blue Devils for the women were juniors Meghan Bartlett and Samantha Kowalewski and freshman Julie Coomer. For the men were senior Rafael Santiago and juniors Arron Carlson and Phil Tubbs.
Ending regular season strong, Carlson continued his successful streak and took first place in the 3-meter board that allowed him to advance to NCAA Diving Championships. Carlson described it as “a huge weight off his shoulders.”
“I felt strong coming off my SUNYAC performance, so I went in confident but also nervous,” said Carlson.
Santiago finished fourth in the 1-meter and his score on day two would determine his fate for championships.
Finishing fifth for the 1-meter board, Bartlett would have to come out strong to secure her spot.Competing in the 11-dive event, Carlson clenched first with a score of 549.45, while teammate Tubbs finished ninth at 429.35. Bartlett tallied a 422.10 and Kowalewski in 14th place at 372.85.
On day one, Carlson kept his consistency on the 3-meter and happened to pull ahead thanks to “a good set of voluntaries,” according to Carlson.
“Securing my spot on day one allowed me to relax a little bit on the second but I am looking forward to going back to practice and pushing it” said Carlson.
On the morning of the second day, this was a make it or break it for many of the swimmers.Coming out strong, Santiago began his first event by placing second which guaranteed him a spot at the NCAA championships. Carlson — who qualified himself for the national meet on day one — finished third in the 1-meter board. In the 11-dive, Santiago had a total score of 500.65, and Carlson finished at 493.85.
For the women, Bartlett finished third on the 3-meter. She was only .70 away from second place. The 11-dive total for Barlett was 444.15. Kowalewski finished ninth in the 11-dive at 409.45 and Coomer in 18th with 366.00.
Bartlett will be advancing to championships, which was secured by her third place finish on Saturday.
All of the divers’ hard work has paid off, and the reality of making nationals was just beginning to set in for Carlson.
“It has been a crazy year and getting to go back to nationals with Meghan and Rafael has left me ecstatic,” said Carlson.
Santiago, Carlson and Barlett will travel to compete in the NCAA championships from March 16-19 in Greensboro, North Carolina.