Katie Rapp

Women's Swimming & Diving February 26, 2021 Katie Rapp, NAU Athletic Communications

NAU Cemented First and Second Place on 1-Meter Springboard on Day Two of WAC Championships

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (February 26, 2021) – On the second day of the Western Athletic Conference Diving Championships, Northern Arizona again had two divers place as the top two finalists. With the Lumberjacks going first, second, and fifth in the finals of the 1-meter boards, NAU extended its lead by over 80 points to a total of 693.

Three of the four Lumberjack divers today moved onto the finals round of the 1-meter. Northern Arizona again outnumbered the other Western Athletic Conference student athletes in the finals. Against the other schools, both New Mexico State and Idaho each had two divers place within the top-eight and Grand Canyon entered into the night with one.

Beginning in the preliminary round of the 1-meter, the Lumberjacks went first, second and third. Earning her second first-place finish in the prelims, freshman Victoria Knapp led the 'Jacks with 276.70 points.

Knapp clinched her second gold medal tonight on the 1-meter. Topping the competition, Knapp recorded a 1-meter finals score of 273.45.

"Victoria winning again is awesome," head diving coach Nikki Huffman said. "I don't think we've ever had a freshman win both boards. That's huge, especially with her having NCAA qualifying scores again. She will be invited to zones."

Diving for the first time since January, Jenny Cheetham took on her best event, today, pushing through prior injuries relating to the senior taking a pause on her career. In the prelims, Cheetham placed second with a tally of 254.10.

Cheetham again pushed through the challenge of diving later on in the day. Receiving a silver medal, Cheetham would finish her career with a second-place finish in the WAC Conference Championships, recording her last collegiate diving score of 264.25.

"Jennifer Cheetham, after such limited training and being banged up all year long did great," Huffman said. "I'm so, so proud of her. I can't even ask for how much she fought and competed. It shows what a great person she is and wants to still be a huge part of what we're doing."

Finishing in third on the 1-meter, Emily Luberto scored 242.05 points. Luberto would later finish her day in fifth, tallying a finals score of 237.60.

Junior Aly Jones secured a first-place finish in the 1-meter consolation bracket after placing 14th in the preliminary round. With an initial score of 201.90, Jones improved her score by more than 45 points in the consols, finishing her day with a tally of 248.60 and the top score amongst her other competitors.

"Emily and Aly both still had great performances with finishing in fifth place and ninth place," Huffman said. "I'm really proud of everybody and we're doing a great thing."

Northern Arizona will look forward to the last day of the WAC Championships tomorrow on the platforms. With their current lead, the Lumberjacks look solid in clinching their eighth straight conference title.

2021 WAC Championships Team Scores after Day 2 of Diving

Northern Arizona: 693
New Mexico State: 608
Northern Colorado: 504.5
Grand Canyon: 488.5
Cal Baptist: 398
Idaho: 387
Dixie State: 250
Seattle U: 165

Women's 1M Finals
1. Victoria Knapp (Northern Arizona University) 273.45
2. Jennifer Cheetham (Northern Arizona University) 264.25
3. Elizabeth Mcknight (Grand Canyon University) 255.00
4. Hailey Faith (University of Idaho) 241.65
5. Emily Luberto (Northern Arizona University) 237.60
6. Italia Ane Aranzabal Del Pozo (New Mexico State University) 236.05
7. Emily Mack (University of Idaho) 232.40
8. Taylor Jackson (New Mexico State University) 211.65

Women's 1M Prelims
1. Victoria Knapp (Northern Arizona University) 276.70
2. Jennifer Cheetham (Northern Arizona University) 254.10
3. Emily Luberto (Northern Arizona University) 242.05
4. Elizabeth Mcknight (Grand Canyon University) 241.20
5. Italia Ane Aranzabal Del Pozo (New Mexico State University) 232.55
6. Taylor Jackson (New Mexico State University) 227.10
7. Hailey Faith (University of Idaho) 224.35
8. Emily Mack (University of Idaho) 222.70
9. Madison Liu (California Baptist University) 215.35
10. Kiree Lowe (California Baptist University) 214.35
11. Tasmin Stewart (Grand Canyon University) 210.00
12. Tori Sayers (University of Northern Colorado) 209.00
13. Allison Shimp (University of Idaho) 204.30
14. Alyssa Jones (Northern Arizona University) 201.90
15. Lillian Choi (California Baptist University) 173.50
16. Erica Farris (University of Northern Colorado) 164.10
17. Irelyne Mcgee (University of Idaho) 159.70

Women's 1M Consolation Finals
1. Alyssa Jones (Northern Arizona University) 248.60
2. Kiree Lowe (California Baptist University) 232.80
3. Tasmin Stewart (Grand Canyon University) 216.30
4. Allison Shimp (University of Idaho) 213.85
5. Madison Liu (California Baptist University) 200.85
6. Tori Sayers (University of Northern Colorado) 195.30
7. Erica Farris (University of Northern Colorado) 187.30
8. Lillian Choi (California Baptist University) 159.75

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