FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (March 7, 2018) – On the final day of the NCAA Zone E Diving Championships, junior
Christina Torrente finally enjoyed a breakthrough at the national qualifying meet with a 17th-place platform finish on Wednesday. The tower event represented Torrente's first career final at the Zone Championships.
A three-time Zone qualifier, Torrente narrowly missed the finals placing 24th on 1-meter and 22nd on 3-meter during the first two days this week.
Torrente qualified for Wednesday's platform finals with the 16th-best preliminary score of 217.05, which was just a tenth of point off her career-best. In the finals, Torrente totaled 210.70, notching a two-round score of 417.75 placing her 17th overall.
"This week was exciting," said diving coach
Nikki Huffman. "We had five of our six divers qualify this year. I've been happy with what they've done all year long. There were a couple of performances that could've gone better the last couple of days, but this team is so great. They come together, work hard and a great group to be a part of."
The Lumberjacks' only other diver on the final day of the Zone Championships was junior
Raquel Gonzales, who finished 24th in the prelims with a score of 194.60.
NAU placed one diver in each of the three event finals this week as the season officially came to a close. The Lumberjacks return all six of their divers who dove this year, plus will add one redshirt and one signee to next year's roster.
"This is a very talented, veteran group," Huffman said. "I'm excited for next year and the eight (divers) we'll have. We're doing great things. We just have to keep it coming and hopefully get a little more at this meet."
