Spring Break
The Daily OrangeMcKenna shifts focus to 3-meter board after qualifying in 1-meter
By Jackie Friedman
Posted: 10/21/05, 2:28 AM EST Section: Sports
Even though diving season began just last Friday, SU's Tory McKenna has already qualified for the Big East Championships.
With her victory on the 1-meter board in the season opener against Colgate Oct. 14, McKenna met the standards to qualify for the conference meet in February.
McKenna and her swimming and diving teammates travel to West Point this Friday to compete in the Army Invitational.
Diving coach Jeff Keck explained that qualifications were established for entrance into the conference championship in order to assure that all athletes participating could contend for success. The competition standards include a specific score and degree of difficulty (DD).
"You have to do certain dives to get to that high a DD and you have to be proficient enough to achieve a certain score," Keck said.
McKenna has made the cut on the 1-meter board, but strives to achieve acceptance on the three-meter board, just as she did last season as a freshman.
Jeremy Thornton, one of two juniors on the team, said qualifying early usually means that it won't be as difficult a season and lets you focus more on personal goals. McKenna did not qualify until December last year.
"I don't want to lose my focus on the 1-meter board; I want to balance between both (the 1 and 3-meter boards)," McKenna said. "And, I'm still learning new, more difficult dives for both boards."
On top of achieving qualification for the three-meter board, McKenna has set some other standards.
"I want to do better at the Big East (Championships) this year and come in the top eight so I can make finals," she said. "And, I want to get into the NCAA championship, so I still have to get a higher score; that's always in the back of my mind."
Keck called the diving season a process. And while it is important to continue excelling, starting at the high level that McKenna has is impressive and promising.
He expects she has a chance to win the remainder of her contests this season.
McKenna trusts that success will come for her teammates as well.
Last year, Thornton and sophomore Patrick White qualified for one board each. This year, they each hope to qualify on both boards.
The Orange divers continue to push and support each other during both competition and practice. Collectively, they have already surpassed the level at which they started off last season, McKenna said, herself especially.
"I feel like I am ahead of where I was last year, when I ended up doing well," McKenna said. "It's a good indicator for the rest of the season."
With her victory on the 1-meter board in the season opener against Colgate Oct. 14, McKenna met the standards to qualify for the conference meet in February.
McKenna and her swimming and diving teammates travel to West Point this Friday to compete in the Army Invitational.
Diving coach Jeff Keck explained that qualifications were established for entrance into the conference championship in order to assure that all athletes participating could contend for success. The competition standards include a specific score and degree of difficulty (DD).
"You have to do certain dives to get to that high a DD and you have to be proficient enough to achieve a certain score," Keck said.
McKenna has made the cut on the 1-meter board, but strives to achieve acceptance on the three-meter board, just as she did last season as a freshman.
Jeremy Thornton, one of two juniors on the team, said qualifying early usually means that it won't be as difficult a season and lets you focus more on personal goals. McKenna did not qualify until December last year.
"I don't want to lose my focus on the 1-meter board; I want to balance between both (the 1 and 3-meter boards)," McKenna said. "And, I'm still learning new, more difficult dives for both boards."
On top of achieving qualification for the three-meter board, McKenna has set some other standards.
"I want to do better at the Big East (Championships) this year and come in the top eight so I can make finals," she said. "And, I want to get into the NCAA championship, so I still have to get a higher score; that's always in the back of my mind."
Keck called the diving season a process. And while it is important to continue excelling, starting at the high level that McKenna has is impressive and promising.
He expects she has a chance to win the remainder of her contests this season.
McKenna trusts that success will come for her teammates as well.
Last year, Thornton and sophomore Patrick White qualified for one board each. This year, they each hope to qualify on both boards.
The Orange divers continue to push and support each other during both competition and practice. Collectively, they have already surpassed the level at which they started off last season, McKenna said, herself especially.
"I feel like I am ahead of where I was last year, when I ended up doing well," McKenna said. "It's a good indicator for the rest of the season."
