March 15, 2003
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- Arizona State qualified two divers to the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships as action concluded this afternoon at the Zone E Diving Championships at the Oklahoma City Community College Pool. Freshman Joona Puhakka will join the men's squad while sophomore Trisha Tumlinson will go with the women to their respective national championship meets.
Puhakka, who won both the 1-meter and 3-meter events this weekend, qualified as the No. 1 diver out of Zone E. Sophomore Thomas McCrummen finished the weekend in ninth position in a zone that sends seven qualifiers to the national championships. He will serve as the second alternate. In this afternoon's final event, Puhakka finished fifth on the platform (426.55) and McCrummen finished seventh (376.55).
Sun Devil sophomore Trisha Tumlinson finished the zone meet in fifth place overall on the women's side to lock up an NCAA berth. Earlier in the weekend, Tumlinson finished third on the 1-meter and sixth on the 3-meter while she notched a third place finish in Saturday's platform event (420.40). ASU junior Jessica Stenson earned 12th place in the platform competition with a 334.85.
Tumlinson will join the ASU women's contingent of seven swimmers when they travel to the NCAA Women's Swimming & Diving Championships March 20-22 in Auburn, Ala. Puhakka will travel with the seven qualified ASU men's swimmers to Austin, Texas, March 27-29 for their national meet.