Diving Club Results at Olympic Trials

After capturing its third consecutive national title in three years, seven members of the Ohio State Diving Club (OSDC) headed to the USA Olympic Team trials in Seattle on June 17. The team earned the most overall team points of any American team at the Olympic Trials. Team members returned to Columbus with two second place awards, a seventh place, eighth place, and several additional top 30 awards, with one diver qualifying for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

Allie Alter, an 18-year-old from New Albany, OH, and Andrea Acquista, a 17-year-old native of Gahanna, OH, finished second in the synchronized women’s platform event. However, because the United States had not previously earned a spot in meets leading up to the Olympic Trials Dive Meet, Alter and Acquista will not be going to London.

Eszter Pryor, age 14 from New Albany, OH, and Rachel Rubadue, age 15 from Worthington, OH, competed in the synchronized women’s 3m springboard event and finished in seventh place. Unfortunately, only the top two divers qualify for London.   

Samantha Bromberg, a 16-year-old from Bexley, OH, captured eighth place in the senior women’s platform event. In this same event, Pryor and Rubadue placed 29^th and 30^th, respectively.

Rubadue and Olivia Ball, a 16-year-old native of Powell, OH, competed in the senior women’s 3m springboard. Rubadue placed 28^th and Ball was ranked 30^th.

“I have been pleased with the relentless hard work by our team this year, and was extremely proud to have so many divers qualify for the Olympic trials,” said Head Coach Justin Sochor.

Although none of the OSDC junior members qualified for this Olympics, one member of the OSDC senior team is heading to the 2012 summer games in London, England. Former Ohio State varsity diver Katie Bell took second place in the senior women 10m platform event. Bell is coached by Vince Panzano, and like the other members of the Ohio State Diving Club, she learned and trained diving from a young age in Columbus.

“We are proud of all of our athletes who participate with the diving club and students who train at The Ohio State University’s facilities,” said Sochor. “We wish Katie the best on her Olympic journey.”

Congratulations to all Ohio State divers on their success. Next stop for the team will be the USA Diving Junior and Senior National Championships in Greensboro, NC, in August.