Diving Wraps Up Dominant Weekend in Austin
AUSTIN, Texas – The University of Miami diving team delivered a dominant performance on the final day of the U.S. Diving Winter Nationals Sunday, capturing multiple personal and team awards at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center.
“All of our divers performed really well this weekend, and each made a big contribution to us capturing first in the women’s team title and third in the men’s team title,” head coach Randy Ableman said.
Redshirt junior Sam Dorman repeated as national champion, capturing first place alongside Olympic gold medalist David Boudia in the men’s synchronized 3-meter event (799.77) Dorman, who teamed with Darian Schmidt to capture second place in the same event (778.52), helped guide Miami to an impressive finish in the men’s team title race.
“Sam continued his progress and repeated as a nation champ,” Ableman said. “There’s not much else we can say about him at this point – he really gets better every time he gets out there, and continues to prove himself among the nation’s best divers. I’m incredibly proud of the way he competed.”
Sophomore Tanner Wilfong also played a key role in the men’s strong weekend, delivering a fifth-place finish in the platform (1223.55).
“I think Tanner really had a breakthrough meet,” Ableman said. “He opened many eyes to his talent and the progress that he’s made. We’re excited about his performance.”
Reigning ACC Women’s Diver of the Year Kara McCormack hasn’t slowed down a bit in her junior season, and her pace didn’t change any Sunday. McCormack became the first diver in program history to win the high point award as the top overall performer over the five days of competition.
“I couldn’t be more proud of her,” Ableman said. “For her to be the first diver to capture the award, with some of the special men and women we have had come through here, says a lot about Kara and the work she has put in.”
McCormack played a key role for a women’s team that earned first in the team title race. The Austin native, who was competing in front of her hometown crowd, ended her dominant weekend with an eighth-place showing in the women’s 3-meter (808.95). Teammate Thea Vock, who also impressed while competing in her first major event since surgery ended her 2012-13 season, finished in seventh (817.45).
Wendy Wyland Award winner Cheyenne Cousineau took second place in the synchronized platform event (569.61).
“As a whole, our divers outperformed my expectations, and I couldn’t be happier that our hard training has paid off,” Ableman said. “It was a great meet.”
The Miami swimming & diving team returns to the pool Sat., Jan. 18 for a tri-meet against conference foes Virginia and Virginia Tech at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center.
