Diver's showing not so 'Devine'

By KATE BLASCHAK
Collegian Sports Writer

Although it made history this weekend by bringing three divers to the NCAA championships -- the most Penn State has ever taken -- the men's diving team was unable to make history in terms of its performance.

Senior Chris Devine, who placed third in the 1-meter event last year and fifth in the 3-meter, made a disappointing showing this year. He finished eighth in the 1-meter and 15th in the 3-meter.

Diving Coach Craig Brown said Devine was so disappointed in his performance that he apologized to his coach.

"Chris was upset because he really wanted to end (his career) on a real high note," he added.

Brown attributed Devine's performance to the fact he just returned from the Pan-American Games last Monday, where he placed seventh in the 1-meter. Devine had to leave the following day for NCAAs.

"He was tired because he didn't get a break," Brown said. "He also wasn't able to get in any real training before the competition."

Making his last appearance in competition was senior Ryan Smith, who placed last in the 1-meter and 34th in the 3-meter.

Brown said Smith wished he had done better, but that he aggressively went after things in his performance.

"He hit some things in a big way," Brown added. "Unfortunately, when he missed, he missed bad."

Also competing with the Lions was freshman Drew Jackson, who took 29th in the 1-meter and 21st in the 3-meter.

Jackson said the NCAAs were a good experience for him and he was happy with his performance.

"I was a little intimidated at first," he added. "I sort of used my 1-meter as a warm up for my 3-meter."

Brown said these were the best nationals that he has ever seen.

"If you weren't sharp all the time, you just weren't able to compete," he added.

Taking first in the 1-meter was Big Ten Diver of the Year P.J. Bogart of Michigan. Evan Stewart, the 1994 world diving champion in the 1-meter, triumphed in the 3-meter dive.

The Lions will travel to Maryland this weekend for the U.S. Senior National Diving Preliminaries. Jackson and sophomore Seth Kane will be competing. Devine has already prequalified for the senior championships, which will be held April 11-15 in Midland, Texas.