ATHENS, Ga. — LSU diver Brian Gemberling claimed fifth-place out of 41 competitors in the men’s three-meter springboard to lead the Tigers during the opening session of the Georgia Diving Invitational and Shootout Sunday.
Gemberling tallied 343.50 points in the final round after qualifying with a score of 350.90 in the prelims. With his performance, the sophomore earned a spot in the evening “shootout,” a special exhibition where the top six divers in the event went head-to-head in an elimination format, and he captured runner-up honors behind Auburn’s Kelly Marx.
Freshman Rebecca St. Germain also reached the finals on Day 1, placing 12th in the women’s one-meter (245.90). The San Antonio, Texas, native was fourth in the prelims with her 270.85 mark. Fellow Lady Tiger Elle Schmidt just missed the finals, taking 14th with a total of 248.25.
Moreover, sophomore Matt Vieke finished 20th in the men’s three-meter with a score of 275.95, and freshman Jesse Lyman posted a mark of 203.10 to place 37th.
“It was a great day for us,” LSU diving coach Doug Shaffer said. “Obviously when you compete in a competition with 41 men and 48 women, it’s a whole different environment. I was very pleased with some good individual performances.
“Brian finished in the top-five in the three-meter and was second in the shootout, and Becca dove very well in the prelims. Elle was just shy of qualifying for the finals.”
Tennessee’s Ryan Helms won the men’s three-meter (394.05), while Florida’s Kara Salamone took the women’s one-meter crown with a 285.70 mark.
The men and women will switch springboards for Monday’s action, which will begin at approximately 10 a.m. (CST).