Miami Diver Reuben Ross Collects ACC Honor

April 1, 2009

Greensboro, N.C. – University of Miami junior Reuben Ross was tabbed Wednesday as the 2009 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Male Diver of the Year, as released by the conference office in Greensboro, N.C. In the process, Ross becomes the first-ever repeat recipient of the award on the men’s side.

Ross earned his second consecutive ACC Diver of the Year honor after posting three All-America finishes at last weekend’s NCAA Championships in College Station, Texas. The Regina, Saskatchewan (Canada) native was a unanimous selection after he finished third on the platform as well as seventh on both the 1-meter and 3-meter boards. At the 2009 ACC Championships, Ross earned first place on both the 1m and 3m boards, as well as a runner-up finish on the platform. The Hurricane diver earns Miami’s fourth Diver of the Year accolade in the fifth year of the award.

The 2008 Summer Olympian–diving for Canada, finishes his storied 2008-09 season as the ACC Men’s Diver of the Year, as well as the Most Outstanding Diver on the men’s side of this year’s ACC Swimming & Diving Championships.

He left this year’s platform championships as just the fifth diver in Miami’s storied history of men’s diving to earn All-American honors in all three diving events (1-meter, 3-meter and platform) at the NCAA Championships. Only Miguel Velazquez (2004), Tyce Routson (1996, ’97, 2000), Chris Mantilla (1996, ’97, ’98) and Bryan Gillooly (1996, ’97) had accomplished that task before. He earned his highest finish on the platform (third) at the NCAA’s in his career, collecting a finals score of 452.75.

Georgia Tech’s Gal Nevo was named Swimmer of the Year, while teammate Nigel Plummer picked up Freshman of the Year accolades. This year’s Coach of the Year award went to Virginia’s Mark Bernardino.

For more information on the ACC, please locate your internet browser to www.theACC.com. Once there, you will find a complete release on this year’s awards recipients.