Sophomore diver Monica Dodson knew this weekend was going to be a challenge. With the pressure to qualify for the NCAA Championship on her shoulders, she succeeded in achieving a goal she and her teammates trained for all season.
Ten UF divers headed to the NCAA Zone B Diving Championships in Knoxville, Tenn., this weekend. Four Gators men and six women competed for a spot among the 35 and 41 spots available, respectively, for the NCAA Championships.
Dodson placed ninth in the 3-meter dive, 13th in the 1-meter and second in the 10-meter platform competition, qualifying for the NCAAs. Dodson will compete at the Championships next week with the hope of besting her eighth-place finish in the platform last year.
"If I dive the way I know I can, then I know that I could do better (than last year)," Dodson said. "Qualifying is rewarding and a great accomplishment."
Junior Kara Salamone also qualified for the NCAA tournament with a fourth-place finish on the 3-meter board. She also placed fifth in the 1-meter dive and seventh in the platform.
No divers from the men's side qualified this weekend.
The UF women will compete in the NCAA Championships from March 19-21, and the men will compete from March 26-28.
