Illinois (7-4, 0-4) competed in its final events of the season at the College Swimming & Diving Association of America National Invitational and NCAA Diving Zones.
Making a splash at NCAA Diving Zones
The dive team competed at the NCAA Zone C Diving championships, starting March 9.
In the one-meter dive, junior Matilda Garcia performed best for the team, placing 27th (237.10). Garcia’s highest-scoring dive — and her most difficult— was her forward 2 1/2 somersault pike (48.10).
In a forward 2 1/2 somersault pike, the diver begins facing the pool and rotates 2 1/2 times in a pike position — like somebody stretching and touching their toes — before entering the water headfirst.
Get The Daily Illini in your inbox!
Following her, freshman Amelia Semple finished 29th with a score of 234.45. Semple performed an inward 1 1/2 somersault pike for a score of 45.60.
Inward dives consist of the diver initially facing away from the pool and rotating toward the board.
Semple carried her success into the three-meter dive, finishing first for the Illini and 28th in the competition (253.10).
For this event, Semple’s best dive was her backward 2 1/2 somersault tuck, scoring 50.40. Essentially, for a backward somersault tuck, picture Semple facing away from the pool and rotating away from the board with her knees tucked to her chest.
To wrap up the Diving Zones, junior Bethany Mercer placed 21st in the platform dive (192.05). Mercer’s inward 2 1/2 somersault pike from the 10-meter platform was her highest-scoring dive (44.80).
The last lap
Over the course of three days, the Illini began and ended in seventh place, finishing with 330 points. Illinois competed against 45 other teams at the CSCAA National Invitational.
In the 50-yard butterfly, junior Martina Cibulkova swam the Illini’s fourth-best time in program history and finished 16th in the event (24.79).
Sophomore Chloe Diner qualified for the A final. Diner swam a 2:00.12 in the final 200-yard IM, finishing fifth. Alongside Diner, senior Sara Jass finished first in the event’s B final, taking 11th overall (2:00.52).
In the 400-yard IM — which Jass holds the Illinois record for — she placed fourth with a time of 4:12.40.
Diner also placed fourth in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:00.64) and seventh in the 100-yard IM (55.83). With Diner, Jass ended in 10th place for the 100-yard IM (56.87).
Meanwhile, sophomore Sophia Paduano finished fifth in the 50-yard backstroke (25.01).
Teammates Cibulkova, Jass, Diner and junior Maggie Adler finished in sixth for the 400 freestyle relay (3:22.17).
Up next
The Illini will return in the fall for the 2026-27 season. Jass graduates this spring, but Illinois maintains a strong team with Diner and Cibulkova entering their junior and senior seasons, respectively.
