Bethany Haver Takes Fourth At NCAA 1-Meter Diving Championship To Earn Third Career All-America Award
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Washington & Jefferson College senior Bethany Haver (Akron, Ohio/Harvey S. Firestone) earned fourth place and a third career All-America award on Thursday night following the final round of the NCAA Division III 1-Meter Diving Championship at the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Natatorium.
Haver collected her third NCAA Division III All-America honor during her second-straight appearance at the national championships. Last year, she placed seventh in the 1-meter event with a total of 412.50 points. On Thursday, she topped that final total by nearly 20 points with 431.85.
Haver cemented her spot in fourth place with her final dive of the evening, a 50.60 point dive (Forward 1 1/2 Somersault, 1 Twist Free).
Danica Roskos of The College of New Jersey successfully defender her 1-meter title with 450.60 points. Baldwin-Wallace's Julie Pinter took second with 448.75 points, while Springfield's Jen Thompson was third (443.55).
Haver's preliminary round score of 391.50 points in the afternoon was good for the eighth and final position for the evening's finals.
Haver, who last year became the first women’s diver in Presidents’ Athletic Conference history to make a national championship appearance, had to rally for that spot. Following four dives, she was in 18th place in the 22-woman field. However, she slowly climbed her way back up the standings, starting with 45.6 points on her fifth dive and 46.2 on the ensuing dive.
She was in 11th place heading into her final dive, but recorded 42.0 points and narrowly edged out Sarah Ficarro of SUNY-Fredonia (391.35 points) for the eighth and final spot. Ithaca’s Korie Fackler was also in the running for eighth place before finishing less than two points behind Haver (389.55).
For the second-straight year, Haver is the only diver representing a college or university from Pennsylvania. Haver’s appearance marks the 13th time in the 26-year history of the NCAA Division III Championships that a Washington Jefferson College swimmer or diver is competing. The 13 different showings are the most among Presidents’ Athletic Conference schools.
Haver is the second W&J diver in history (men or women) to compete at the national championships. Pat Pyrch (1978-83) was a seven-time men’s All-American and the 1980 3-meter national champion.
On Saturday, Haver will compete in the 3-meter diving national championship. She placed fifth in last year's championship.
