SIUC senior diver Alex Wright will attempt to join an elite list of Saluki divers to claim All-American honors this weekend in the Men’s NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships at Auburn University.

SIUC has produced 65 male swimmers and divers who have earned 217 All-American honors since the birth of the program in 1959. But of the 65 individuals, only two were divers.

Even though Wright does not have the credentials of four-time All-American Rick Theobald (1981-82) and seven-time All-American Rob Siracusano (1992-95), one All-American honor would leave Wright in this elite field of Saluki divers.

Advertisement

I don’t think I am among the top divers in SIUC history, Wright said. I just feel I was able to keep the tradition alive by making it to the NCAA Championships.

Wright has seen the work ethic it takes to reach All-American status as he spent his freshman and sophomore seasons under the guidance of Siracusano. With his experience with Siracusano and last year’s NCAA Championships experience, Wright knows what he needs to become an All-American.

Only eight of the 32 divers will qualify for the finals in 1-meter, 3-meter and platform competitions. All-American honors are awarded to the eight finalists, while All-American Honorable Mentions belong to the top-16 divers.

Wright qualified for the NCAA Championships last season, but was overcome by the pressure of the championship atmosphere. Wright’s goal was to finish in the top-16, but finished 19th in the platform, 21st in 1-meter and 32nd in the 3-meter.

Wright hopes that the previous experience will pay off.

I will be more relaxed this time, Wright said. After last year, I know how it works.

Wright qualified for the championships after three top-10 finishes in the Zone D Diving Championships March 14. Wright finished second on the platform, fifth on the 1-meter board and ninth on the 3-meter board.

Advertisement*

Diving coach Dave Ardrey calculated Wright’s Zone D scores with the 1997 NCAA Diving Championship scores and projected his scores would accomplish a ninth-place finish. If Wright can duplicate his Zone D performance, an All-American award is quite possible.

[Wright] feels he is a top diver in the country, Ardrey said. He is very relaxed right now and now understands what is going to happen.

The Diving Championships begin with the 1-meter board 1 p.m. Thursday. The finals begin 7 p.m. Thursday. The 3-meter competition will be Friday and platform competition Saturday.

All semi-finals will be at 1 p.m., and all finals will start at 7 p.m.

My goal is to finish in the top 16, Wright said. But no matter how I finish, I know I am in the top 30 in the country.

Saluki senior diver Alex Wright will represent SIUC in the 1998 NCAA Championships Thursday through Saturday at Auburn University in Auburn, Ala.