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
Four Cyclones to Compete at Zone Diving Championships
03.09.2011 | Swimming and Diving
AMES, Iowa – Four Iowa State divers will travel to Austin, Texas Friday-Sunday for the NCAA Zone 'D' Diving Championships at the Texas Swimming Center. Jenn Botsch, Abby Christensen, Lauren Naeve and Sarah Nelson will be competing to earn one of 11 bids to the NCAA Championships the following week.
“I am happy with their effort, their commitment and their work ethic during the season,” diving coach Jeff Warrick said. “I feel we could have performed better but that is part of the process. They are working on it, I am working on it and we are adjusting things to make that happen. It is about consistency. We are real close but we miss a dive here or there and it takes you out of the contest.”
The format is similar to other meets during the season with six-dive lists in each round of the 1-meter and 3-meter events and five-dive lists on platform. However, the scores from the preliminary round are carried over to the finals, creating a final score composed of either 12 or 10 dives. This format emphasizes the importance of staying consistent.
“It is huge not to miss dives,” Warrick commented. “They will take the top-18 in the springboard events and top-12 on platform but you might as well assume that you are in finals from dive one. It counts, it carries over and if it comes down to a few points, it will make a difference. Every dive counts right from the beginning.”
Nelson will be looking to be a contender to make the national meet on all three boards. Nelson was the top Cyclone on all three boards at the Big 12 Championships, finishing 11th on platform, 12th on 3-meter and 14th on 1-meter. Nelson leads the Cyclones this season on 1-meter and platform and is second on 3-meter.
“Sarah has improved the most on 3-meter,” Warrick observed. “She has always been a pretty strong 1-meter and platform diver and she did well in those events. To do what she did at the Big 12 meet on 3-meter was a big deal. I hope to see little bits of improvement from her in the meet and she can do some really good things.”
This weekend could serve as the last meet of Christensen's career. The senior finished 16th on both 1-meter and platform at the conference championships and ranks third on the team on 1-meter and platform.
“What I want is for her to go out with a big bang,” Warrick said. “We have yet to see who will qualify but I want her to show what she can do. She showed that on platform at the conference meet and hopefully she can do that this week at the conference meet on all the boards. Hopefully she will have a lot of fun and just be consistent.”
Botsch leads the Cyclones on 3-meter this season and is fifth on the squad on platform. Warrick talked about the importance of Botsch getting into the right mindset going into the meet.
“She has done a good job when she was not in the right mindset but got things turned around,” Warrick noted. “I think she is going to do really well on 3-meter. She did really well on platform at conference and that was exciting. She knows what she needs to do and hopefully she is starting on getting into that correct mindset right now.”
The Cyclones add a unique twist to the meet with Naeve diving. The junior from Ames has been out of competition since December after suffering an injury at Iowa. Naeve has been practicing for a few weeks now and though this will be her first competition in three months, Warrick thinks that she will be ready to go and contend for the Cyclones.
“I am happy that she getting back into it and that she is excited to get back into it,” Warrick stated. “I am excited to have her back as well. I know what she can do even with being out three months. She is doing well with limited practice so far. Our expectations are for her to go in there and have a lot of fun, she has nothing to lose. On the other hand, I would not be surprised if she did really well. We will see where it falls. She has not been in the competitive side much so we will see how she reacts there.”
The competition on Friday starts on 3-meter at 3:30 p.m. CST. Saturday will feature 1-meter action beginning at 10 a.m. CST. The events will conclude Sunday with platform diving, beginning at 11 a.m. CST.
“I am happy with their effort, their commitment and their work ethic during the season,” diving coach Jeff Warrick said. “I feel we could have performed better but that is part of the process. They are working on it, I am working on it and we are adjusting things to make that happen. It is about consistency. We are real close but we miss a dive here or there and it takes you out of the contest.”
The format is similar to other meets during the season with six-dive lists in each round of the 1-meter and 3-meter events and five-dive lists on platform. However, the scores from the preliminary round are carried over to the finals, creating a final score composed of either 12 or 10 dives. This format emphasizes the importance of staying consistent.
“It is huge not to miss dives,” Warrick commented. “They will take the top-18 in the springboard events and top-12 on platform but you might as well assume that you are in finals from dive one. It counts, it carries over and if it comes down to a few points, it will make a difference. Every dive counts right from the beginning.”
Nelson will be looking to be a contender to make the national meet on all three boards. Nelson was the top Cyclone on all three boards at the Big 12 Championships, finishing 11th on platform, 12th on 3-meter and 14th on 1-meter. Nelson leads the Cyclones this season on 1-meter and platform and is second on 3-meter.
“Sarah has improved the most on 3-meter,” Warrick observed. “She has always been a pretty strong 1-meter and platform diver and she did well in those events. To do what she did at the Big 12 meet on 3-meter was a big deal. I hope to see little bits of improvement from her in the meet and she can do some really good things.”
This weekend could serve as the last meet of Christensen's career. The senior finished 16th on both 1-meter and platform at the conference championships and ranks third on the team on 1-meter and platform.
“What I want is for her to go out with a big bang,” Warrick said. “We have yet to see who will qualify but I want her to show what she can do. She showed that on platform at the conference meet and hopefully she can do that this week at the conference meet on all the boards. Hopefully she will have a lot of fun and just be consistent.”
Botsch leads the Cyclones on 3-meter this season and is fifth on the squad on platform. Warrick talked about the importance of Botsch getting into the right mindset going into the meet.
“She has done a good job when she was not in the right mindset but got things turned around,” Warrick noted. “I think she is going to do really well on 3-meter. She did really well on platform at conference and that was exciting. She knows what she needs to do and hopefully she is starting on getting into that correct mindset right now.”
The Cyclones add a unique twist to the meet with Naeve diving. The junior from Ames has been out of competition since December after suffering an injury at Iowa. Naeve has been practicing for a few weeks now and though this will be her first competition in three months, Warrick thinks that she will be ready to go and contend for the Cyclones.
“I am happy that she getting back into it and that she is excited to get back into it,” Warrick stated. “I am excited to have her back as well. I know what she can do even with being out three months. She is doing well with limited practice so far. Our expectations are for her to go in there and have a lot of fun, she has nothing to lose. On the other hand, I would not be surprised if she did really well. We will see where it falls. She has not been in the competitive side much so we will see how she reacts there.”
The competition on Friday starts on 3-meter at 3:30 p.m. CST. Saturday will feature 1-meter action beginning at 10 a.m. CST. The events will conclude Sunday with platform diving, beginning at 11 a.m. CST.
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