Rutgers diving continues to make waves at the NCAA Zone A Championships, showcasing their prowess with another standout performance on day three. The Scarlet Knights have secured two NCAA qualifiers, maintaining their dominance on the leaderboards for the third consecutive day. Competing on the platform, Sephora Ford and Bailee Sturgill shone brightly, claiming first and second place respectively, and both punched their tickets to the NCAA Championships.
Rutgers will be well-represented at the NCAA Championships, with two divers competing in each of the three events. Bailee Sturgill is set to showcase her versatility, competing across 1M, 3M, and Platform events. Katerina Hoffman will join her on 1M and 3M, while Sephora Ford will focus on the Platform.
Sephora Ford's victory on the platform at NCAA Zones comes on the heels of her podium finish at the Big Ten Championships. She impressed with a prelim score of 294.80 and a finals score of 256.30, culminating in a commanding 551.10 overall to claim the top spot.
Bailee Sturgill continued her consistent form with a second-place finish, adding to her third-place finish on 1M and fourth on 3M earlier in the competition. Her prelim score of 266.90 and finals score of 260.15 brought her to a solid 527.05 overall.
Gianna Lawrence also represented Rutgers, finishing 13th overall. She posted a prelim score of 183.60 and improved to 212.40 in the finals, totaling 396.00.
The Scarlet Knights are set to compete on the Platform at the NCAA Championships on Saturday, March 21, in Atlanta. This marks the fifth consecutive year Rutgers will have a diver at the NCAAs, a testament to their growing legacy in collegiate diving.