Four-time All-American Bethany Haver Takes Eighth At NCAA 3-Meter Finals
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Washington & Jefferson College senior Bethany Haver (Akron, Ohio/Harvey S. Firestone) concluded her record-breaking diving career Saturday night with an eighth-place finish at the 2012 NCAA Division III 3-Meter Diving National Championship at the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Natatorium.
Haver earned NCAA All-America honors for the fourth time in her career as she qualified for the national championship finals on both the 1- and 3-meter boards during her junior and senior seasons.
In the finals, Haver posted 442.15 points and was just over six points out of fifth place. On the final dive of her career (Back 1 1/2 Somersault 1 1/2 Twist Free), she collected 52.80 points, including a score of 8.5 by one of the judges.
During Saturday’s afternoon 3-meter preliminary round, Haver compiled 445.30 points and placed fourth in the 22-diver field. The top eight finishers advanced to the finals and earned All-America status.
The final standings were decided by a combination of five dives from the preliminary round and six finals dives. Ruth Hahn of Trinity (Texas) was the national champion after compiling 481.00 points. SUNY-Fredonia’s Sarah Ficarro placed second with 467.65 points, while defending champion Danica Roskos of The College of New Jersey was third (467.10).
Haver, who became the first female diver in Presidents’ Athletic Conference history to compete at a NCAA Championship last year, started Saturday’s 3-meter competition with a 50.4-point opening dive (Forward 2 1/2 Somersault Pike). She also racked up 50.4 points on her sixth dive (Back 1 1/2 Somersault 1 1/2 Twist Free).
On Thursday, Haver collected her third NCAA All-America award after placing fourth on the 1-meter board. She was eighth following the 1-meter preliminaries. Last year, she earned fifth place at three meters and seventh place at one meter during the national championship event at the University of Tennessee.
Haver is coached by Head Swimming & Diving Coach Mike Orstein and Diving Coach Vic Galati. Haver’s four NCAA All-America awards are the most by a W&J diver in school history and the highest number by a Presidents’ swimming & diving student-athlete since Kaitlyn Orstein ’08 claimed 14 All-America awards and eight national titles from 2005-2008.
