From NYU Athletics
On Saturday, New York University's tenth-ranked women's and men's diving teams wrapped up the NCAA Division III Northeast Diving Regional Championships with a victory on the women's side and a fourth-place finish on the men's after hosting the meet at the Palladium Natatorium in Manhattan.
Issara Schmidt ended her weekend with another victory, this time in the one-meter. Totaling 425.90, Schmidt won by over four points in a field of 26 competitors.
Taking the lead early on across her 11 dives, she delivered consistently strong performances to secure her win and a ticket to the NCAA National Championships on March 15-18 in Greensboro, NC. This will be the sophomore's second year in a row competing at Nationals, where she finished sixth and earned NCAA All-America honors in the one-meter and placed 19th in the three-meter last season.
Freshman Meera Kasturi racked up the second-highest score for the Violets, finishing in 11th with 381.60. Her performance secured her the spot of first alternate for Nationals.
Seniors Grayson Kim (18th, 354.25) and Katherine Nardone (23rd, 332.20) rounded out the women's Regionals squad from NYU.
"We won't know officially until tomorrow," Head Diving Coach Todd Kolean said. "But it looks like Katherine made it to Nationals. Issara continued her winning ways to sweep both events this weekend and Meera had a great meet.
"Grayson finished her career on a high note after starting as a soccer player. She dove well at her first Regionals."
In the men's three-meter, Hunter Whitbeck was the highest-scoring Violet out of 14 total divers, placing fourth with 449.85. While he narrowly missed a spot in the Nationals program, he joins Kasturi as a first alternate.
"It was a little bit of a yay and sad day," Kolean said. "Hunter had a terrific meet today and dove his heart out. He did everything that could have been asked of him, but it looks like he's just on the outside looking in as first alternate. He's been such a great captain and one of our best divers in our storied history. I'm so proud."
Mitchell Mortenson also competed on Saturday, finishing 10th with 394.85.
"Mitchell had his best meet of the year without a doubt," Kolean commented. "I can't wait for next year."
Schmidt, and potentially Kasturi and Whitbeck, will next compete at Nationals in Greensboro while the rest of the men's and women's diving teams concluded their season on Saturday.