HENRIETTA, NY – The University of Rochester women's swimming and diving team was represented by two divers on day one of the NCAA Division III Region 4 Diving Championships at RIT's Judson Pool, with both individuals ranking in the top half of the field on the 1-meter diving board.
 
Sophomore Kaela Springer placed seventh with a score of 408.25 points, while junior Julia Sides ended in 12th with a score of 372.70 points. Both are competing in their second straight NCAA Diving Regional. Overall, 28 women were entered in the 1-meter competition on Friday.
 
On the afternoon, Springer averaged a 5.92 score from the judges panel, equaling an average round score of 37.11 points. The sophomore saw her forward two and a half somersault pike score 46.80 points, highest of the day. Springer's top judged dive was the forward one and a half somersault twist which had counting scores of 7.0, 6.5 and 6.5, netting a 44.00-point total to her cumulative score. Additionally, Springer's inward dive pike and back one and a half somersault half twist each scored three 6.5 counting scores from the judges.
 
For Sides, the junior started out strong, counting 6.5 or better scores on three of her first four dives. She received five 7.0 scores (3 counted) on her back dive, while also receiving one 7.0 and two 6.5's on the inward dive pike. Sides added a flourish to finish, scoring 41.40 points, her top score of the day on her back somersault one and a half twist dive.
 
The two Yellowjacket divers are back in action on Saturday, competing on the 3-meter board, with the event officially starting at noon.
 
Region four has been allocated seven spots to the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships next month in Indianapolis, Indiana.