Completed Event: Swimming and Diving versus Big 12 Duals on January 16, 2026 , , 5th, 781 points
Final
Swimming and Diving
Big 12 Duals
5th, 781 points
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Iowa State University Athletics
Nicholson Paces Cyclones at Tennessee Diving Invite
01.03.2011 | Swimming and Diving
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Redshirt freshman Jessica Nicholson stepped up for the Cyclone divers on day one of the Tennessee Diving Invitational, earning a 12th place finish on 3-meter with a score of 237.35.
“She did a fantastic job,” diving coach Jeff Warrick said. “That was a huge deal for her to make finals.”
Nicholson earned her way into the 12-diver final with a score of 262.80, good enough for 12th place. The key to the Des Moines native's career-best round was the big scores she put up on her third and fourth dives. Nicholson collected 48.60 on her inward 2 ½ somersault tuck and 50.40 on her back 2 ½ somersault tuck to propel her into the top ten and into the finals.
“She hit her personal best at a meet with seven judges, which really means something,” Warrick noted. “It means a lot to her to hit her best score with so many judges onboard.”
The status of Nicholson was unknown going into today's competition, as a case of food poisoning hit both Nicholson and junior Jenn Botsch, who sat out the meet. While Nicholson competed, Warrick believed that it had an effect on her later on during the meet.
“She really did not have the energy needed in finals,” Warrick said. “In a contest like this with NCAA qualifiers and NCAA finalist, you can't afford to miss a dive.”
Some of the strength to Nicholson's prelims score would also be credited to her second dive on her list, a forward 3 ½ somersault pike. Nicholson just added the dive to her list over the break from competition and it scored her 39.20 points.
“This was the first time she had done it in competition,” Warrick noted. “I was surprised that she hit it well in prelims because she had not done the dive that often. In finals, though, she missed her hurdle. That dive is going to come around with more practice.”
Four other Cyclones competed in the event. Justine Anders was next in line for the Cyclones, finishing 31st with a score of 198.60. Abby Christensen was right behind her in 33rd at 197.75. Sarah Nelson had a couple of costly dives on her list which dropped her to 35th (193.65). Marley Dobyns returned to competition after missing almost two months due to injury, finishing 41st with 156.85.
The Cyclones are back in action tomorrow with 1-meter diving. Prelims begin at 11 a.m. with finals following immediately afterwards.
“She did a fantastic job,” diving coach Jeff Warrick said. “That was a huge deal for her to make finals.”
Nicholson earned her way into the 12-diver final with a score of 262.80, good enough for 12th place. The key to the Des Moines native's career-best round was the big scores she put up on her third and fourth dives. Nicholson collected 48.60 on her inward 2 ½ somersault tuck and 50.40 on her back 2 ½ somersault tuck to propel her into the top ten and into the finals.
“She hit her personal best at a meet with seven judges, which really means something,” Warrick noted. “It means a lot to her to hit her best score with so many judges onboard.”
The status of Nicholson was unknown going into today's competition, as a case of food poisoning hit both Nicholson and junior Jenn Botsch, who sat out the meet. While Nicholson competed, Warrick believed that it had an effect on her later on during the meet.
“She really did not have the energy needed in finals,” Warrick said. “In a contest like this with NCAA qualifiers and NCAA finalist, you can't afford to miss a dive.”
Some of the strength to Nicholson's prelims score would also be credited to her second dive on her list, a forward 3 ½ somersault pike. Nicholson just added the dive to her list over the break from competition and it scored her 39.20 points.
“This was the first time she had done it in competition,” Warrick noted. “I was surprised that she hit it well in prelims because she had not done the dive that often. In finals, though, she missed her hurdle. That dive is going to come around with more practice.”
Four other Cyclones competed in the event. Justine Anders was next in line for the Cyclones, finishing 31st with a score of 198.60. Abby Christensen was right behind her in 33rd at 197.75. Sarah Nelson had a couple of costly dives on her list which dropped her to 35th (193.65). Marley Dobyns returned to competition after missing almost two months due to injury, finishing 41st with 156.85.
The Cyclones are back in action tomorrow with 1-meter diving. Prelims begin at 11 a.m. with finals following immediately afterwards.
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