Alabama Earns SEC Diving Accolades
2/21/2009 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Feb. 21, 2009
AUBURN, Ala. - The University of Alabama was rewarded for an outstanding showing in the diving event at the 2009 Southeastern Conference Swimming and Diving Championships held this week at the James E. Martin Aquatic Center.
The Crimson Tide came away with four conference honors, including the women's and men's SEC Diver of the Year accolades, the women's SEC Freshman Diver of the Year and the women's SEC Diving Coach of the Year. The SEC honors are decided by a vote of the conference's coaches.
"We had a great championship and our divers were a big part of that," Alabama head swimming and diving coach Eric McIlquham said. "They came away with some big points and some big performances. Pat has done a great job of getting them ready to compete at the highest level."
Freshman Carrie Dragland doubled up on the conference hardware when she was named the women's Diver and Freshman Diver of the Year. She won the SEC three-meter title and was second off the platform behind teammate Elizabeth Hughes. Dragland also finished seventh off the one-meter board.
Junior Aaron Fleshner, who won the one-meter board and finished third on both the three-meter board and the platform, was named the men's Diver of the Year.
Pat Greenwell was named the women's SEC Diving Coach of the Year, marking the sixth time he has been named the league's best. His total includes two honors on the women's side (2009 and 2004) and four men's honors (1997, 1995, 1991 and 1990).
Alabama's women had multiple scorers in all three diving events. Hughes won the platform while sophomore Lauren Dunn took ninth off the three-meter, 13th off the one-meter and 15th off the platform. Sophomore Olivia Covey took 13th off the platform and 16th off the one-meter.
In addition to Fleshner's run, sophomore Adam Booher reached the championship finals of the three-meter and platform events, taking fourth and seventh respectively, as well as scoring off the one-meter board.
The Crimson Tide divers will head to the NCAA Zone B Championships March 13-15 in Knoxville, Tenn. to try and qualify for the NCAA Championships.
Players Mentioned
