INDIANAPOLIS, IN – University of Rochester sophomore diver Kaela Springer began her career at the NCAA Division III Championships on Thursday afternoon, placing 23rd on the 1-meter diving board at the IU Natatorium.
 
The 1-meter women's competition was part of day two of the four-day NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships this week.
 
Springer's score for the 1-meter preliminary round was 374.95 points, placing her 23rd among the 29-diver field at the national championships.
 
The sophomore recorded an average dive score of 5.44 throughout the afternoon and ended up with three dives that scored 40 or more points.
 
Springer's top scoring dive was her forward double somersault pike that netted 42.55 points to her score. She received 6.0 or better from all seven judges, counting two 6.0's and a 6.5.
 
Additionally, the Yellowjacket diver scored 41.80 points on the forward one and a half somersault twist. On that dive, she counted two 6.5 scores and added a 6.0, again receiving above 6.0 from each of the seven judges.
 
The third 40-plus point scoring dive was Springer's inward one and a half somersault pike. The 6.0 and two 5.5 scoring judges marks gave her a total of 40.80 points for the round with her 2.4 degree of difficulty.
 
Springer ended just 18 points behind 16th place during the prelims, with that 16th place finisher or higher earning All-American status.
 
After a day off on Friday, Springer finishes up her inaugural NCAA Division III Championships appearance on Saturday when she competes in the 3-meter diving competition, starting at 12:45 pm.