March 8, 2000
TEMPE, Ariz. - The Arizona State men's and women's diving teams will have their sights set on NCAA Championship births when they compete in the Zone E Championships March 10-11 in Federal Way, Wash. Tempe, Ariz. The Arizona State men's and women's diving teams will have their sights set on NCAA Championship births when they compete in the Zone E Championships March 10-11 in Federal Way, Wash.
The Format: The NCAA Zone E Championships commence Friday with the women's one-meter and men's three-meter competitions. On Saturday the women will dive from the three-meter springboard and the men will be on the one-meter, while both sexes will also hold competitions on the platform. Divers needed to record qualifying scores in dual meet or invitational competition in order to participate in the Zone E Championships. It was only necessary to register a qualifying mark in one discipline to gain entry into all three events at this weekend's Zone Championships. The top eight women and top five men overall finishers will advance to the upcoming NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships where they willcompete against qualifiers from other Zones, scoring is wighted towards the springboard events.
Scouting the Sun Devil Women: Four Arizona State women will participate in the Zone E's, including senior Katrina Pfeuffer, a 1997 All-American who holds ASU's best scores this year in all three events. At the Pac-10 Diving Championships in Los Angeles Feb. 24-26 Pfeuffer placed seventh, fourth and fifth in the one-meter, three-meter and platform, respectively. The squad is bolstered by junior Trish Malatesta, who achieved Honorable Mention All-America status last season as a platform artist. She notched a third place finish in the event at the Pac-10's. Meanwhile senior Mandy Contreras and junior Natalie Burgess will be focused on a first ever NCAA Championship appearance.
Scouting the Sun Devil Men: Junior Marc Briggs had a memorable Pac-10 meet, becoming ASU's first conference diving champion since 1983 with his victory in the three-meter competition. The Madera, Calif., native also placed second in both one-meter and platform action, and owns the Devils' top scores this season in all three events. His mark of 632.25 on the three-meter board against Texas wasnearly 150 points higher than the necessary qualifying score. Senior Allan Sonkin also added to Arizona State's point total by finishing fourth in both the one and three-meter events. He earned his first ever NCAA Championship appearance last season after a strong showing at the Zone E competition in Tempe. The duo will be joined in Federal Way by freshman teammate Gregg Helland.
Diving Coach Mark Bradshaw on the NCAA Zone E Championships: "My goal all year has been to qualify at least two men and two women for Nationals. This meet is all or nothing. This is going to be a really competitive meet, but I think we're up to the challenge."
On the Horizon: ASU women divers who finish amongst the top eight this weekend will join the Devils' swimming contingent at the NCAA Championships Mar. 16-18 in Indianapolis, Ind. Diving and swimming points will be combined to determine each school's national placement. The same scenario will hold true for the men's NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships, Mar. 23-25 in Minneapolis, Minn.