Photo courtesy Northern Arizona Athletics
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — BYU men’s and women’s diving concluded its season with competition at the 2024 NCAA Zone E Diving Championships March 9 and 11-13 at Wall Aquatic Center.
Russell Haws, Chase Hindmarsh and Mickey Strauss worked together to post a winning 336.25 in the March 9 team event. The Cougar win came over UNLV (332.30), Arizona State (269.75) and Denver (254.75).
Both Strauss and Haws went on to the men’s 3-meter final on March 11. Strauss compiled 329.20 points in the preliminary then finished 10th at 671.55. Haws took 18th overall with 616.80 points.
Hindmarsh represented the BYU men in finals during each of the meet’s last two days. The senior from Tomball, Texas finished 13th in the 1-meter championship at 572.80 after a preliminary score of 297.80. Hindmarsh added an 18th-place spot in the platform final with 500.90 points.
BYU women’s diving began the meet with a third-place finish in the team event on March 9. Brooklyn Larson, Sophia DeBergh and Alexia Jackson combined to score 273.55 points and edge Denver for the podium spot.
Jackson rode a 265.60 in the 1-meter preliminary to the championship round where she finished 14th with a score of 522.30. The sophomore from Mesa, Arizona added a second trip to the championship round in as many days with a spot in the 3-meter final on March 12. There, Jackson took 10th at 561.40 following a preliminary score of 264.45.
The 2024 NCAA Zone E Diving Championships were comprised of 129 divers from 25 teams representing five different conferences. Four other Zone Championships were held simultaneously across the country. Divers at each competed for a spot at the NCAA Division I Men’s or Women’s Swim and Dive Championships.
Despite falling short of qualifying a diver for either national meet, BYU head diving coach Tyce Routson came away pleased with the season.
“Every dive counts when you’re facing this many good divers and competing to qualify for nationals,” Routson said. “We started off a little slow then picked it up for a comeback but were just too late to pull a qualifying spot. I’m proud of our fight and all we did this season.”