Lady Vols Sign Two Divers

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee, November 25. LADY Vol Head Diving Coach Dave Parrington announced the signing of two divers to national letters of intent this week. Jodie McGroarty hails from Sheffield, England, and represented Great Britain in a number of European competitions. Jill Pierce, a local product of Knoxville, has been a member of the Tennessee Dive Club of Knoxville for five years. Both will join the Lady Vols for the 2007-08 season.

McGroarty has been competing for Great Britain in international competitions since 2003. In 2006, she was the National Age Group Champion in the one-meter, three-meter and three-meter synchronized diving. The same year she placed second in the three-meter synchronized diving and fourth from the three-meter board at the Senior Nationals. McGroarty, originally from Zimbabwe, finished in third place in the synchronized diving event at the 2006 World Junior Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In 2005, McGroarty placed second from the one-meter board at Senior Nationals. She competed at the European Juniors competition in Germany in 2004 and was fourth overall.

"We will be getting a very exciting talent," Parrington said. "I'm really excited about the potential that she brings. She's an extremely talented springboard diver with international experience, which will carry over very well into the collegiate ranks. Her type of personality and character will mix well with the rest of the members of the team and I look forward to great things from her."

Pierce is an All-American hailing from Knoxville's South Doyle High School. She was named the Tennessee State Diver of the Year for the 2004-05 season and was the diving state champion in 2004 and 2005. In 2002, she competed in both the spring and summer sessions of national competition.

"Jill has spent her life learning to dive and competing here at the UT Student Aquatic Center as part of the club program," Parrington said. "She will bring depth and add an enormous amount of determination and a fantastic attitude that will affect the rest of the team."

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