March 13, 2004

Annapolis, Md. - George Mason divers posted solid marks on the final day of the NCAA Men's and Women's Zone A Diving Championships held Saturday, Mar. 13, at Lejeune Hall on the Naval Academy's campus.

Sophomore John Appleman (Fairfax, VA/Robinson Secondary) placed 17th in the men's one-meter springboard (487.50) and finished seventh in the platform diving discipline with a score of 259.50. Pittsburgh's Dennis Nemtsanow captured the NCAA automatic qualification with his total of 608.40 in the one-meter, while Kevin Teague of Navy posted 471.15 in the platform to earn his trip to Nationals.

The winners of each of the platform and one- and three-meter events advanced to the NCAA Championship, Mar. 25-27 in East Meadow, NY, as well as the second-place finisher on the three-meter board. Rounding out the list of men's divers advancing to Nationals are Marc Gastaldo of Penn State (first place three-meter) and Anthony Perry of Drexel (second place three-meter).

Among the Patriot contingent of women divers, senior Jamie Downing (Midlothian, VA/Clover Hills) ranked eighth in the 3-meter springboard with a score of 407.35. Ashley Craw (Sr.; Nashville, TN/Father Ryan) was close behind in the 11th spot (402.30), while freshman Colleen Flack (Longhorne, PA/Council Rock) finished 17th (368.85). Flack posted a 283.25 in the platform event, placing her sixth.

Penn State's Lisa Silvestri won both the one and three-meter (502.75) events to headline the list of zone qualifiers for the March 18-20 NCAA Women's Championship in College Station, Texas. Meaning both the second and third-place finisher in the three-meter advance to Nationals. Placing second in the 3-meter was Allison Riccobono of Penn State along with teammate Maggie O'Brien who was third. Adela Gavozdea of Northeastern won the platform competition (380.60) to receive the fourth and final invitation.