CLARION, Pa. --- Five Golden Eagle divers – two men and three women – recorded their first NCAA qualifying marks of the season on Friday night, as Clarion swimming & diving programs opened the 2023-24 campaign with the Don Leas Diving Invitational in Tippin Natatorium.
 
It was an opportunity for the Golden Eagles to shine in front of their home fans, and shine they did. Reigning Division II Women's Diver of the Year Luna Castellanos hit six-dive marks in the both the Women's 3-Meter and 1-Meter Dives, winning the former event and coming in second in the former only to Sahnnon Parrau of Division I Towson. Castellanos won the 3-Meter six-dive program with a score of 293.70, and posted a mark of 257.25 in the 1-Meter six-dive event.
 
Joining Castellanos in hitting NCAA qualifying marks were Alexa Gonczi and Colleen Hudson. Gonczi – a Second Team All-American herself in 2023 – cleared the scoring standard in the 3-Meter six-dive event, scoring a 269.60 to just clear the necessary score. Hudson, meanwhile, beat the mark in the 3-Meter 11-dive event, scoring 423.85 to take third. Castellanos won the 11-dive event with a score of 486.20 while Gonczi placed second in 453.35.
 
Katie Madigan nearly made it four Golden Eagles to hit a qualifying mark. She came up just one point shy in the 1-Meter dive.  
 
On the men's side, a pair of 2023 All-Americans – Zach Schering and Jack Beattie – took the first set toward earning spots in Geneva, Ohio later this season. Both more than cleared the mark in the 1-Meter six-dive event as they finished in the top two spots in the field. Schering scored a 342.10 to pace the field of nine competitors while Beattie was just behind him, scoring a 290.30.
 
In the 3-Meter six-dive event, Schering cleared the mark again, scoring a 306.20 to pace the field. Michael Flamm came up short by less than two points, scoring a 293.20 to take second in the field.