Making a splash

Lion divers riding wave of success into Big Ten tourney

Swimmers and divers are usually paired together in competitions to form a swimming and diving team. This actually creates two teams within a team and, for a successful competition, each team within the team has to live up to expectations.

Thus far, Penn State men's diving has surpassed expectations.

Penn State men's diving team, coached by Craig Brown, has been virtually unbeatable. The team of five has a unique mix of talent, depth and youth. Standout seniors Drew Jackson and Seth Kane are turning heads in the Big Ten while freshman Jeffrey Harrison and sophomores Chris Alderman and Richard Ross are improving with each dive.

Kane, a fifth-year senior, had a strong showing at the 1997 Big Ten Championships that subsequently earned him a chance to compete at the NCAA Championships. He is an extremely quick diver whose difficult dives make him a threat in the postseason.

"If Seth is on, he has the capability to win at the Big Ten Championships," Brown said. "So does Drew Jackson."

The other senior, Jackson, is within the top 20 elite divers in the country and has qualified for the NCAA Championships three consecutive years. In addition to being a very consistent performer, he adds a high degree of elegance to his dives.

The seniors are on their way out, but Brown does not need to worry -- he has talented youth in his corner.

Alderman, a transfer student from North Carolina, placed third at the 1995 Junior Nationals and has already made an impact at Penn State by improving the team's depth.

Ross, a Texas native, should be able to qualify for the NCAA preliminary diving meet if he continues his current path of improvement.

Harrison, who might have the most potential of the bunch, has a unique "rip" entry with tight twists and spirals incorporated into his dives. Although very talented, Harrison realizes there is much room for improvement.

All the divers could perform better -- they are not perfect -- but Brown seems very satisfied with his group nevertheless.

"We have some of the better divers in the country," Brown said. "We have a lot to look forward to."

Brown can look forward to the Big Ten Championships Feb. 26 in Minneapolis, but he better be prepared for some fierce competition. Indiana has a diving squad very similar to Penn State's and could pose a major problem for the Lions.

Hoosier divers Mike Collier and Tom Davidson have been dominating all season and their formidable dives could continue the trend in Minneapolis.

Despite Indiana's tandem, Brown is confident in his group and is focused going into the championships.

"We're aiming to be good," Brown said. "We're not going to try to be great."

Brown added diving is a sport in which a single mistake can eliminate you from winning, so he feels the best way to approach the competition is with confidence and caution.

So far, that formula has worked. The Penn State men's diving team is 8-2, its best record since the 1995-96 campaign.

As far as how it will fare against Indiana, Harrison put it simply.

"It will come down to who performs best under pressure."