Vock, McCormack Named All-Americans on Day Two
March 16, 2012
AUBURN, Ala. – After swimmer Kelsi Hall took home special accolades on Day One, the Miami Hurricanes’ diving duo of Thea Vock and Kara McCormack added their names to the list of All-Americans crowned on Day Two of the NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships hosted by Auburn University.
Vock and McCormack, who finished in ninth and thirteenth place respectively in Friday’s three-meter diving event, ended up with two of the best scores of the 40 divers who qualified nationwide.
“I’m very proud of them. Thea had her best competition she’s ever had, even though she got ninth place,” Head Coach Randy Abelman said. “Kara’s just a freshman and this was her best event as well.”
The two performances were special in very different ways. Vock, a sophomore, has been battling a torn labrum and is scheduled for shoulder surgery in April. Fighting through the pain, the Clermont, Fla. native managed one of the best performances of her career.
“I couldn’t be more proud of her, because I feel like she easily could have packed it in this year. Her shoulder is really bad, which makes it nearly impossible to dive,” Abelman said. “It might take close to six months or more for her to get fully healthy after surgery, but hopefully she’ll be better than ever next season.”
Also on the biggest stage of her young career, McCormack shined once again. Though she’s in her first year of collegiate diving, her head coach sees no limit for his star freshman down the line in Coral Gables.
“She’s got a big upside, and this is just going to be a building block. She knows she can do it,” Abelman said. “She’s just scratched the surface now. This is the beginning of a very bright future for her.”
McCormack and Vock add their names to a long list of All-Americans under Coach Abelman, now in his 22nd year at the helm of the program. For the Hurricanes’ head coach, however, Friday’s tremendous accomplishments could be summed up easily:
“It was just a great day for us. I’m really proud of the way they competed out there.”
