Diving Wraps Up Day 2 at Zone ‘D’ Regional

BATON ROUGE — The LSU Diving team wrapped up the second day of competition at the NCAA Diving Zone ‘D’ Regional without an additional NCAA Championship berth, but left itself with a solid opportunity to qualify for the NCAA Championships in the final day of competition.

Sophomore Daniel Helm punched out a one-meter sixth place finish with a 12-line total of 676.25. Helm posted a preliminary round score of 327.35 and a final round score of 348.90.

Senior Matt Vieke ended his one-meter run in eighth place with a 12-dve mark of 653.50. Vieke cranked out a preliminary round total of 318.05 and a find round score of 335.45.

“We had some strong showings on the one’s meter,” Diving Coach Doug Shaffer said. “Daniel Helm stepped up and put himself in position where if some things work through, he could qualify for the national championships. In addition to that, he has another chance to qualify in the platform event tomorrow. The meet is not over yet.”

On the women’s side, both freshman Alex Bettridge and junior Elle Schmidt finished in the top-18 on the three-meter after solid preliminary rounds.

Bettridge, who qualified for the NCAA Championships yesterday after a fourth place finish on the one-meter, posted a 12-line total of 585.05 in a 10th place showing. She produced a first round total of 296.35 and a final round score of 288.70.

Schmidt completed her run in 14th place, which marked the first time in her career where she qualified for the final round of a Zone Championship, with a 12-dive total of 563.80. She notched a preliminary total of 285.95 a final round mark of 277.85.

Sophomores Sean McKinney (275.50) and Kevin Leong (241.60) finished in 19th and 27th, respectively.

Both the men and the women will hit the platform for a final shot at qualifying for the NCAA Championships tomorrow.

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