SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – For the first time since the 2006 season, the Mount Holyoke College diving team will be represented at the NCAA Division III Men's and Women's Swimming & Diving National Championships. Sophomore Samantha Nemivant will represent the Lyons after an outstanding showing at the Regional Championships. This year's Nationals will be hosted at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis by Franklin College and the Indiana Sports Corporation from March 21-24.
Action on the 1-meter board will begin on Thursday, March 22nd, continuing on Saturday, March 24th with the 3-meter event.
A sophomore out of Scottsdale, Ariz., Nemivant will be one of 29 female divers to compete in both the 1 and 3-meter diving events, becoming the first Lyon since 2006's Lauren Griffin to appear at Nationals. She seeks to become the first All-American in diving for MHC since the 2003 season when Elena Giordano '03 garnered Honorable Mention All-America off of both boards. Giordano also earned Honorable Mention All-America on the 1-meter during the 2002 season.
Nemivant, who is one of nine NEWMAC divers competiting, secured her position at this year's Nationals after having an outstanding effort at the 2018 NCAA Division III Northeast/North Regional Championships. During that event, she finished sixth on the 3-meter board with a score of 427.90 points, following it up with a seventh-place mark on the 1-meter of 404.80 points. National qualifiers out of the region were selected by alternating between the highest finisher on day one and the highest finisher on day two, considering that divers already invited will be skipped. This assured equal consideration was given to both boards.
The former Notre Dame Prep standout is coming off a 2017-18 season in which she recorded nine first-place finishes combined. Additionally, she finished no less than third during the regular season off either board over nine meets. At the NEWMAC Championship, Nemivant was ninth off the 3-meter (441.35), taking seventh in the 1-meter (432.00) the following day. For the season, she recorded seven NCAA Qualifying marks, including four off the 1-meter.
Highlighting Nemivant's season was a sweep of the boards against Westfield State, in which she recorded an NCAA qualifying mark of 257.50 to win the 1-meter, followed by a first-place score of 250.35 on the 3-meter. Nemivant also broke her own school record in the 3-meter event this season, posting 476.20 points to finish third at the 2018 Seven Sisters Championships.
The top eight finishers in the finals of each event earn All-American status. Those who finish between 9th and 16th are Honorable Mention All-Americans.
For more on the 2018 NCAA Division III Swimming & Diving Championships, check out the links below.
Schedule:
Thursday, March 22, 2018 – Video | Live Results
10:00 AM EDT: One-meter diving – Trials (event begins approx. 1:00 PM EDT)
6:00 PM EDT: One-meter diving – Finals
Saturday, March 24, 2018 – Video | Live Results
10:00 AM EDT: Three-meter diving – Trials (event begins approx. 1:00 PM EDT)
6:00 PM EDT: Three-meter diving – Finals
Additional Links & Resources:
