Divers Try To Make NCAA's

March 10, 2008

THIS WEEK — Hawkeyes divers Michael Gilligan, Frank Van Dijkhuizen and Deidre Freeman will be competing at the NCAA Zone diving qualifier this weekend. The event will take place at the McCorkle Aquatics Pavillion on the Ohio State University campus Friday through Sunday.

COMPETING HAWKEYES — Sophomore Frank Van Dijkjuizen has earned Big Ten Diver of the Week honors three times this season as well as six first place finishes. Van Dijkhuizen also finished in fifth place in the three-meter at the Ohio State Invite. His season bests include 333.60 on the one-meter board against Western Illinois and 359.20 on the three-meter board at the Ohio State Invite.

Sophomore Michael Gilligan won the one-meter competition against Purdue and recorded 11 top five finishes. Season bests include scores of 305.25 on the one-meter board against Western Illinois, 310.35 on the three-meter board against Michigan State and 297.80 on the platform at this year’s Big Ten Championships. At last year’s diving qualifier, Gilligan placed tenth on the platform with a score of 504.55.

Sophomore Deidre Freeman enters the meet with season and career bests of 295.85 on the one-meter board at the Nebraska double dual and 287.70 on the three-meter board against Illinois. This season, Freeman has garnered seven victories and 16 top-five finishes. At last year’s diving qualifier Freeman made the finals in the one-meter competition and finished with a score of 478.90.

LAST COMPETITION — Gilligan and Van Dijkhuizen last competed at the Big Ten Championhips (Feb. 28 – Mar. 1). Van Dijkhuizen placed 12th on the one-meter board with total score of 595.65. His prelim score of 298.50 on the three-meter board did not qualify for the finals. Gilligan scored 271.05 and 255.70 in the prelims of the one-meter and three-meter competitions, respectively. He also placed 12th off the platform with a score of 576.65. Freeman last competed at the women’s Big Ten Championships (Feb. 21-23) with prelim scores of 241.00 on the one-meter board and 233.90 on the three-meter board.

DIVING COACH Bob Rydze — Bob Rydze is in his 33rd year as diving coach of the men and women’s teams at the University of Iowa. Rydze will serve as Team Leader for USA Diving at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. During his tenure with the Hawkeyes, Rydze has coached 31 all-Americans, nine Big Ten and one NCAA Champion.

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