THURSDAY RESULTS

CLARION'S DIVERS DOMINATE - VEST WINS - CALHOUN 2^ND ON 1 METER AT NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

                (Geneva, Ohio): Clarion University freshman diver Collin Vest (Larksville/Wyoming Valley West) won the NCAA D-II national championship in 1 meter springboard diving, edging teammate Heath Calhoun (Sr. Renfrew/Butler) on the final dive for a Golden Eagle 1 – 2 finish at the NCAA Division II National Championships hosted at the Spire Aquatic Center in Geneva, Ohio.

                After two days of the four day championship, Drury leads the men's competition with 276.5 points, Wayne State is second with 182 and Florida Southern is third with 165. Clarion is in 14^th place with 56 points.


                Under diving coach Dave Hrovat (24 years and 40 NCAA Champions), Vest is the only men's diver to win the NCAA's in his first try and the second overall including 7-time NCAA Champion Jamie Wolf who won her first title in 2004. Wolf won 7 of 8 possible championships.

                "Honestly, I'm speechless," said Hrovat. "What an amazing performance by all of our divers, but especially the battle for first between Collin and Heath. It was a great battle between two guys who are really good friends. They hugged each other when it was all over."

                Vest and Calhoun entered the final two dives actually trailing St. Cloud's Tyler Magalis. "Both Collin and Heath hit their 10^th dives and pulled right up alongside Magalis," explained Hrovat. "Collin went first in the final set of dives with an inward 2 ½ and nailed it – scoring over 70 points. Heath came up and hit a front, 2 ½ with a twist and nailed it and was also over 70 points. I had to look twice make sure I saw that Collin was a half point ahead of Heath. Then it was up to Magalis in the final dive. His dive came up a little short and the rest is history."

                Calhoun became a 5-time NCAA D-II All-American with his second place finish on Thursday night. Last year he was second on 3 meter with 558.90 points and 9th on 1 meter with 465.40 points. He was also 3rd on 3 meter in 2012 and 11th on 1 meter.

                Clarion sophomore Nick Larmon (Lemoore, Pa.) placed seventh on 1 meter, while teammate Seth Brandenburg (Sr. Canton, Oh.) was 10^th on 1 meter.

                Larmon's seventh place finish was a personal best, which also made him a 3-time All-American in his career. His first trip to nationals a year ago produced a 10th place finish on 3 meter and 16th place finish on 1 meter.

                Brandenburg finished 10^th on 1 meter scoring 450.75 points. Seth is now a 5-time All-American having placed 6th on 3 meter and 10th on 1 meter in 2012, while placing 10th on 3 meter and 12th on 1 meter in 2011.

                In women's competition, Gabriella Schaffer competed in the 100 yard butterfly on Thursday but did not qualify in the top 16 for the finals. She will compete in the 100 yard backstroke on Friday. Schaffer placed 13^th in the 100 at nationals last year with a time of 56.42. She swam a 55.90 in winning the PSAC's two weeks ago.

                Clarion's women are in 16^th place with 42 points. Drury leads with 246 point and Wayne State is second with 216. The NCAA Championship continues on Friday and finishes up on Saturday when a team champion will be crowned in both men's and women's swimming and diving.

                CLARION NOTES: Clarion diving coach Dave Hrovat notched his 40^th career individual champion with the crowning of Vest on 1 meter tonight… Hrovat, in his 24^th year at Clarion, now has 40 individual NCAA Champions and 246 All-Americans… Kristin Day leads the women in the 1 meter diving on Friday. Sarah Zerfoss and Lauren Slayton will also be competing… Day already won the 3 meter NCAA D-II National Title on Wednesday.