March 6, 2006
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THIS WEEK — Senior diver Nancilea Underwood will try to qualify for the NCAA Championships at the NCAA Diving Qualifier. The qualifier is being hosted by The Ohio State University and all events will take place at the Bill and Mae McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion.
MEET SCHEDULE — The women’s one-meter will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, with the three-meter at 11 a.m. Saturday.
LAST COMPETITION — Underwood last competed at the Big Ten Championships on February 15-18. She placed second on the one-meter (322.75) and fourth on the three-meter (335.05). Her performance on the one-meter earned her second team all-Big Ten.
UNDERWOOD KNOWS SUCCESS — Underwood earned all-America honors by finishing second in the three-meter and third in the one-meter at last year’s NCAA Championships. She qualified by placing first in the three-meter and sixth in the one-meter at NCAA qualifying. Underwood was also honorable mention all-American at the 2003 NCAA Championships, where she placed 11th in three-meter and 24th in one-meter.
BIG TEN HONORS — Underwood earned Big Ten Diver of the Week three times this season, making it five for her career. The first weekly accolade came after winning the one-meter (307.35) and finishing second in the three-meter (261.23) in Iowa’s triangular with Wisconsin and Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Underwood earned the honor for the second week in a row last October after sweeping both the one- and three-meter events in a home dual with Minnesota. She scored a 300.90 on the one-meter and set a new pool and school record with her score of 365.78 in the three-meter. Her third honor of the season came after winning the one-meter (291.37) and three-meter (338.47) events vs Iowa State.
DIVING COACH Bob Rydze — Bob Rydze is in his 31st year as diving coach of the men and women’s teams at the University of Iowa. He is dean of Big Ten swimming and diving coaches. During his tenure with the Hawkeyes, Rydze has coached 29 all-Americans, nine Big Ten and one NCAA Champion.