SAN ANTONIO, Texas, February 28. THE NAIA Championships opened the college championship season on the final day of February with diving competition.
On the women's side, Asbury and California Baptist tied for first with 29 points each, while Biola held third with 26 points. Simon Fraser, on the strength of a national one-meter title, sat in fourth with 20 points, while Illinois Tech (14) and Lindenwood (9) rounded out the rest of the team scoring.
For the men, Lindenwood's triple threat on the three-meter secured enough points to put the squad in first with 42 points, ahead of California Baptist's 36 points. Meanwhile, Illinois Tech owned third after the first day with 17 points.
Women's One-meter diving
Laura Sherer of Simon Fraser easily claimed the NAIA one-meter national title with a stellar run of dives for 435.05 points to finish well ahead of the most exciting battle for second place. Asbury's Ashley Poore edged California Baptist's Megan Vogeli by a slim .10 points to finish second with a 377.90 tally against Vogeli's total of 377.80 points.
Men's Three-meter diving
California Baptist's Ben Wahlman fought off a stern challenge from Illinois Tech's Brandon Toro to capture the NAIA three-meter crown with 483.90 points, while placed second with 473.35 points and Wahlman's teammate Jeff Couto took third with 422.75 points.
Meanwhile, Lindenwood's trio of Tom Lucido (4th/416.15), John Toczek (5th/391.35) and Derik Scott (6th/382.00) accumulated enough nickel-and-dime points to leave Lindenwood in the lead after day one.