Kolod Posts Highest NCAA Championship Diving Finish in UVa History
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March 29, 2013
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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.—Sophomore JB Kolod posted the highest NCAA finish in UVa diving history as the Cavalier men’s swimming and diving team finished action on the second day of the NCAA Championships Friday (March 29) at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis, Ind. After two days, the Cavaliers have 13 points and sit in 27th place.
On the 3-meter springboards, Kolod finished 12th with 357.25 points to earn honorable mention All-America honors. The 12th-place mark is the best finish in Cavalier men’s diving history and Kolod becomes the second Cavalier men’s diver to earn All-America distinction. Briggy Imbriglia (Class of 2012) finished 13th in platform diving at the 2012 national meet. Kolod earned 371.15 points in the prelims (11th place) to move on to the consolation final.
“It’s an awesome way to finish what has been a great year,” Kolod said. “I definitely could have done better yesterday (on the 1-meter boards) and I still have a lot more potential on the 3-meter and on the platform tomorrow, so I’m going to leave this meet a lot hungrier for next year. I’ve seen what kind of dives make the top eight and that will be a goal of mine for the future. I was more relaxed today, had a lot of fun and just enjoyed the moment.”
“I was really proud of how JB dove today,” UVa diving coach Rich MacDonald said. “Yesterday, he looked like the second-year diver he is, but today he looked like a veteran. He has worked so hard all year and it was great for him to put it altogether on the biggest stage.
“I know it was really important to him to put some points on the board for Virginia. He’s a special athlete and UVa is blessed to have him representing us. I look forward to seeing what he can accomplish tomorrow.”
The 800 free relay team of freshman Nick Alexiou, junior Parker Camp, senior Tom Barrett and junior Jonathan Buerger placed 13th in a time of 6:23.79 to earn honorable mention All-America honors. It is the 14th consecutive year the Cavaliers have earned All-America distinction in the event.
In the morning prelims, sophomore David Ingraham placed 18th in the 400 IM in a time of 3:46.36, while junior Brad Phillips was 21st in 3:46.78.
Junior Jack Murfee was 19th in the 100 back in a time of 46.76, just off his school-record time of 46.69. Freshman Luke Papendick was 26th in 47.14, while senior Matt Murray was 28th in 47.34.
The 200 medley relay team of Murfee, junior Taylor Grey, Murray and sophomore Charlie Rommel placed 20th in a time of 1:26.89, the fifth-fastest mark in school history.
In the 200 free, Alexiou (1:35.73) and Barrett (1:36.04) placed 27th and 29th, respectively. Grey was 34th in the 100 breast in a time of 54.22.
The meet concludes Saturday (March 30) with the 1,650 free, 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly, platform diving and 400 free relay events being contested.