Florida Gators
NCAA Zone Diving Championships
Dodson Qualifies for 2011 NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships
Sunday, March 13, 2011 | Women's Swimming & Diving
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Senior diver Monica Dodson (Franklin, Ind.) qualified for the 2011 Women's NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships after a second-place finish in the platform competition on the third and final day of the 2011 NCAA Zone B Diving Championships Sunday at the Gabrielsen Natatorium in Athens, Ga.
“Monica knew what she had to do, and she stepped up big time and got it done,” head diving coach Donnie Craine said. “I'm looking forward to seeing what she can do against some of the most best divers in the country.”
Dodson qualified automatically for the 2011 NCAA meet by taking second in the platform finals with a prelim/final combined score of 631.50. The two-time SEC Champion and record holder fell just short of first-place 2009 World Championship member Brittany Viola of Miami (656.40), while finishing just in front of 2008 Olympian Haley Ishimatsu of Duke (623.75). The lone senior on the UF women's swimming and diving team won the prelims with a score of 322.75 and has now qualified for the NCAA Championships in all four of her collegiate seasons.
Just missing the 12th and final spot in the finals of the women's platform was junior Kaylee Doback (Brandon, Fla.), who took 13th with a score of 212.05. Finishing two spots behind Doback was Danielle Risley (Jacksonville, Fla.), who finished her impressive freshman campaign with a 206.20 mark.
In men's diving, freshman Christopher Jones (Palm City, Fla.) and junior David Springfels (Bradenton, Fla.) competed for the Orange and Blue on the platform. Jones took 18th with a prelim score of 261.10, while Springfels concluded his weekend with a 21st-place score of 214.10.
For complete results from the 2011 NCAA Zone B Diving Championships, click here. Dodson will take her talents to Austin, Texas, March 17-19, as the senior tries to help the Gator women capture their second consecutive national championship. Gator fans are also encouraged to follow the swimming and diving program via Twitter or Facebook.
Divers advanced to the NCAA Championships by placing in the top three on the one-meter boards, the top four in three-meter competition and the top two on the platform. If a diver automatically qualifies in multiple events, a predetermined seeding system selects the next highest-seeded diver to advance to the NCAA meet.
Women - 2011 NCAA Championship Automatic Qualifiers
| RANK | DIVER | SCHOOL |
| 1. | Brittany Viola | Miami |
| 2. | Abby Johnston | Duke |
| 3. | Vennie Dantin | Auburn |
| 4. | Taryn Zack | South Carolina |
| 5. | Carrie Dragland | Miami |
| 6. | Monica Dodson | Florida |
| 7. | Hannah Moore* | Georgia |
| 8. | Thea Vock | Miami |
| 9. | Haley Ishimatsu | Duke |
Men - 2011 NCAA Championship Automatic Qualifiers
| RANK | DIVER | SCHOOL |
| 1. | Nick McCrory | Duke |
| 2. | Landon Marzullo | FSU |
| 3. | Dan Mazzaferro | Auburn |
| 4. | Michael Wright | Tennessee |
| 5. | Ryan Helms* | Tennessee |
| 6. | Adam Booher* | Alabama |
| 7. | Samuel Dorman* | Miami |
| 8. | Brandon Makinson | Georgia Tech |
| 9. | Michael Neubacher | FSU |
