Ohio State Diving Club Wins National Title

They are the champions—again!

For the third consecutive year, the Ohio State Diving Club captured the Spring Junior Nationals Team Title in Rockville, Md., April 13-15.

“This is a significant accomplishment for us because this is the first national meet of the season,” said Head Coach Justin Sochor. “I am proud of the way our team performed in this event. I am confident about upcoming meets in this Olympic year, as we have seven divers, Estzer Pryor, Olivia Ball, David Dinsmore, Allie Alter, Andrea Acquista, Rachel Rubadue, and Samantha Bromberg, competing in the Olympic trials this summer. This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our divers.”

The Diving Club smashed the competition by scoring 243 points, with second place earning 129 points. In addition, an Ohio State Diving Club diver won a gold medal in every age bracket at the event.

To qualify for this event, divers had to place in the top six at a regional meet. The top 30 divers in each age group competed for a spot on the podium. The top 12 finishers were awarded team points, a medal and a spot on the podium.

The team wore black rubber wristbands during the meet to honor Mark Lenzi, a 1992 Olympic champion and 1996 bronze medalist who was a mentor to many of the divers. Lenzi died unexpectedly at age 43 the week of the meet.

First place winners included:

                  • Brad Weimer, 12-13 Boys 3m (Upper Arlington)
                  • Eszter Pryor, 14-15 Girls 1m (New Albany)
                  • Olivia Ball, 16-18 Girls 1m (Powell)
                  • Noah Duperre, 11 & Under Boys 1m (New Albany)
                  • David Dinsmore, 14-15 Boys 3m, 14-15 Boys 1m (New Albany)

Other top finishers for the Diving Club were:

11 & Under Girls 1m
Lauren Cheetham-Third (Powell)
Megan Burriss-Seventh  (Worthington)

11 & Under Boys 1m
Kelan Huffman-Second (Powell)
Luke Cheetham-13^th (Powell)

11 & Under Boys 3m
Noah Duperre-Second (New Albany)
Kelan Huffman-Seventh (Powell)
Luke Cheetham-14^th

11 & Under Girls 3m
Megan Burris-Ninth
Lauren Cheetham-12th
Olivia Lynch-26^th (Powell)

12-13 Girls 3m
Esther Lawrence-29^th (Sunbury)

12-13 Boys 1m
Brad Weimer-Second

14-15 Girls 1m
Ann Perrine-21^st (Powell)

14-15 Girls 3m
Eszter Pryor-Second
Ann Perrine-15th

14-15 Boys 1m
Cameron Thatcher-Fourth (Powell)

14-15 Boys 3m
Cameron Thatcher-Eighth

16-18 Girls 1m
Samantha Bromberg-Fourth (Bexley)
Rachel Rubadue-Eighth (Worthington)
Andrea Acquista-15^th (Gahanna)

16-18 Girls 3m
Olivia Ball-Third
Samantha Bromberg-Fourth
Rachel Rubadue-Seventh
Alexandra Clay-Eighth (Powell)
Andrea Acquista-12^th

16-18 Boys 1m
Hunter Atha-15^th (Worthington)
Grant Saale-24^th (Dublin)

16-18 Boys 3m
Grant Saale-Sixth
Hunter Atha-14th

In addition to the team’s success at this event, Sochor and divers Thatcher and Dinsmore were selected to represent Team USA in Dresden, Germany, for an international diving event. These divers were chosen by USA Diving based on their performance at the Junior Olympics last August.

The Ohio State Diving Club is a USA Diving, year round competitive team and part of the Buckeye Aquatic Academy in the Department of Recreational Sports, Office of Student Life, at Ohio State.