Katerina Hoffman Wins NCAA Zone 1M Diving, Baillee Sturgill Third

Monday, March 9

Annapolis, Md.

All Day

Rutgers University

NCAA Zone A Championships

Katerina Hoffman Wins NCAA Zone 1M Diving, Baillee Sturgill Third

Mar 09 | Women's Swimming & Diving

Finals Results

Both Head to NCAA Championships

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Competing at the NCAA Zone A Diving Championships hosted by Navy, Rutgers saw two divers finish among the top-3 on the leaderboard. Katerina Hoffman took the event tile and Bailee Sturgill finished third as both punched their tickets to compete at the NCAA Championships later this month, with the one-meter diving event held on Thursday, March 19. Both sophomores qualify for the NCAA Championships in the event for the second straight year.

In the format of the NCAA Zone diving, preliminary scores are combined with final scores to reach the overall total, with the top 18 of the 86 divers qualifying for finals. For NCAA qualification, Zone A had six available spots on the 1-Meter, with Scarlet Knight divers grabbing two of them.

Hoffman had an overall score of 581.60. She scored 285.5 in the prelims, standing in second place after that round. In the finals, she posted a 296.1 to move into first place and take the event crown.

Sturgill scored a 566.75 combined. She posted a 270.0 in the preliminary round to stand sixth and qualify for finals. In the finals, she scored a 296.75, a new collegiate best for her and the ninth best score in program history.

Sephora Ford scored a 261.1 in the prelims, placing 10^th to make the finals. In the final, she scored a 263.55 and finished 10^th overall at 524.65. Madilyn Varnum also competed for RU, scoring a 218.85 in preliminary action.

The NCAA Zone A Diving Championships continue on Tuesday with the 3-Meter. 70 divers are entered in the competition. Rutgers will be represented by Sephora Ford, Katerina Hoffman, Bailee Sturgill, Gianna Lawrence and Madilyn Varnum. Prelims are at 10:30 am and 2:45 pm, with finals at 5:15 pm.