Ross and Viola Named 2008 ACC Divers of the Year
April 2, 2008
GREENSBORO, N.C. – For the third time in the last four years, the University of Miami diving program swept the Atlantic Coast Conference’s diving awards with sophomores Reuben Ross and Brittany Viola taking home the Men’s and Women’s ACC Diver of the Year honors as announced by the league office Wednesday.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
Both divers won their first NCAA titles at their respective championships over the last two weeks, with Ross winning the men’s three-meter springboard in <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Federal Way, Wash. this past weekend after Viola claimed the women’s platform title two weeks ago in Columbus, Ohio. Both championships were the first collegiate titles won by Ross and Viola.
The accolades continue to pile up for head diving coach Randy Ableman and the Miami diving program. Going back to 2005, UM has taken seven of the league’s eight diving honors, sweeping the men’s and women’s diver of the year honors in 2005 (Jenna Dreyer, Miguel Velazquez) and 2006 (Heather Bounds/Melanie Rinaldi, Derek Starks) before Dreyer won the women’s award again last season.
Viola, a unanimous choice by the league’s head coaches, also shared 2008 NCAA Diver of the Year with two other divers — OhioState’s Chelsea Davis and Hawaii’s Emma Friesen. The sophomore became just the third women’s diver in school history to win an NCAA title, scoring a 362.60 on the platform, the highest-scoring point total at the NCAA Championships since Indiana’s Cassandra Cardinell won the title with a mark of 501.45 in 2005.
The Orlando, Fla., product was also named ACC Most Valuable Diver at the 2008 ACC Championship as she made a sweep of all three diving events (one-meter, three-meter and platform). In addition, she earned a spot in the league’s record book as the first ACC platform diving champion.
Ross scored a 466.80 in the three-meter NCAA finals, beating out eventually NCAA Diver of the Year Chris Colwill of Georgia by 6.35 points for the championship. The title for Ross was Miami’s 22nd men’s diving title all-time and the first since Imre Lengyel won the men’s 10-meter platform in 2002. Ross’ win also marked the first for UM in the men’s three-meter springboard since Tyce Routson came away with the title in 1997.
With his win three-meter title, the Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada product also became just the second diver in ACC history to capture a national championship.
Over the last two weeks, Ross and Viola have combined to earn All-American status on five occasions, with Ross reaching the final eight in the one-meter, three-meter and platform and Viola in the one-meter and platform.
Viola’s ACC Diver of the Year honor this season follows up on her 2007 ACC Freshman of Year honor a season ago.
Florida State’s Terry Horner was the men’s winner a year ago.
2008 ACC Swimming & Diving Awards
Women
Swimmer of the Year: Jessica Botzum, Virginia Tech
Diver of the Year: Brittany Viola, Miami (unanimous choice)
Freshman of the Year: Elizabeth Shaw, Virginia(unanimous choice)
Coach of the Year: Mark Bernardino, Virginia
Men
Swimmer of the Year: Matthew McLean, Virginia
Diver of the Year: Reuben Ross, Miami
Freshman of the Year: Matthew McLean, Virginia
Coach of the Year: Mark Bernardino, Virginia
