Haver Takes Seventh At 1-Meter; Becomes Two-Time All-American
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Washington & Jefferson College junior Bethany Haver (Akron, Ohio/Harvey S. Firestone) capped a historic week at the 2011 NCAA Division III Diving Championships by placing seventh in the 1-meter event Friday night at the University of Tennessee Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center.
Haver earned her second NCAA First Team All-America citation of the week after placing fifth in the 3-meter event on Wednesday. Both national championship events featured 22 divers. She is the first woman in Presidents' Athletic Conference history to compete at the diving national championship.
"Honestly, my goal was to make it into the top 16 heading into the week," said Haver. "Once I got here, I knew I had a chance to compete, but I really didn't contemplate making it to the (championship) finals. It has been awesome."
The afternoon trials consisted of 11 dives and Haver was third after the session with 413.20 points behind The College of New Jersey's Danica Roskos (474.75) and Baldwin-Wallace's Julie Pinter (434.10).
The top eight finishers advanced to the evening's final round. The five required dives from the afternoon counted towards their evening total and six optionals decided the championship.
Roskos held on to her lead and won the title with a NCAA Division III record 515.90 points. Hayley Emerick of Trinity (Texas) was second (458.50) followed by St. Thomas' (Minn.) Jennifer Easton (438.30), Pinter (433.15), Springfield's duo of Courtney Keefe (416.95) and Jen Thompson (413.80), Haver (412.50) and SUNY-Brockport's Maria Quagliana (407.40).
"At the start of the week, people would come up to me and ask what school I was from," added Haver. "Towards the end, they started noticing and recognizing Washington & Jefferson College. It's been a great experience and I am taking a lot away from the week. I already feel the drive to up my list at the beginning of next season and get back to this level."
Haver’s appearances marked the 12th time in the 25-year history of the NCAA Division III Swimming & Diving Championships in which a Washington & Jefferson College student-athlete competed. She is the second diver in school history to earn an All-America award, joining men's diver Pat Pyrch (1978-83), a seven-time men’s All-American and the 1980 3-meter national champion.
Haver, a five-time PAC Champion and two-time PAC Diver of the Year, is coached by W&J Head Swimming & Diving Coach Mike Orstein and Head Diving Coach Vic Galati. Galati is the 2011 PAC Men's and Women's Diving Coach of the Year.
