March 14, 2006
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - ARIZONA STATE diver Joona Puhakka has been named the Pac-10 Men's Diver of the Month for February, Commissioner Tom Hansen announced today.
Puhakka, a senior from Helsinki, Finland, placed in every February meet for the Sun Devils. At California, Puhakka scored 372.60 on the one-meter springboard to finish second and 304.87 on the three-meter to finish third. The following day, the senior captured first place in both events at Stanford, scoring 254.20 in the one-meter and 247.05 in the three-meter. Arizona State wrapped up its Conference season against intrastate rival Arizona, where Puhakka won the one-meter event (335.40) and placed second in the three-meter dive (343.80).
At the Pac-10 Championships in Federal Way, Wash., Puhakka was honored as the men's Pac-10 Diver of the Meet after capturing the one-meter title (417.00), as well as the three-meter (429.80). The championships marked the fourth-straight year he has won both springboard titles at the Conference Championships, making him the first Pac-10 diver ever to accomplish the feat. Overall, Puhakka has earned eight Pac-10 diving championships.
This is the third monthly honor for Puhakka and Arizona State's third Diver of the Month all-time. Puhakka is the first male diver in the Conference to win two consecutive Diver of the Month awards, as well as the first diver to win multiple awards in a season.
2005-06 PAC-10 MEN'S DIVER OF THE MONTH: Oct. - Joona Puhakka, Sr., ASU; Nov. - John Collier, Sr., ARIZ; Dec. - Sam Helvie, Fr., CAL; Jan. - Joona Puhakka, Sr., ASU; Feb. - Joona Puhakka, Sr., ASU.