Divers finish NCAA Zone D Competition
AUSTIN, Texas – Junior Peri Charapich dove a total score of 204.30 on the platform event Wednesday evening to wrap up the NCAA Zone D Diving Competition inside the Jamail Texas Swimming Center in Austin, Texas.
Charapich’s total score placed her 21st on the platform preliminary event to round out her junior season of diving for the University of Kansas. Her score was just under three points away from her personal-best of 207.15 that she set the last time she stepped foot on the tower March 2 at the Big 12 Championship.
During the 2018-19 season, Charapich was able to put down lifetime bests on all three diving events, making it a memorable and rewarding year.
“I am really happy with how the season went,especially at the Big 12 Championship when I got my Zones cut on one-meter,” Charapich said. “It was so much fun to have the whole team watching and cheering me on. At Zones this week was a lot of fun because I was able to see more of Austin (Texas) and compete against some really great divers, which made the meet more fun to be a part of. It was definitely a rewarding season after having had an injury for the majority of my sophomore year. I’m excited to see that my hard work has paid off.”
Head diving coach Gabe Downey is proud of what Charapich has been able to achieve this season also looks forward to what she may be able to accomplish during her senior year.
“Overall (it) just a really successful season,” Downey said. “Coming off of missing bases the whole year last year, she has overall done a really good job this year. There is a lot we can improve on and build onto (for) next year. I am really happy with what she has done and really excited for what she can do.”
Looking forward senior Vicky Xu makes yet another quick turnaround as she e returns to the Jamail Texas Swimming Center for the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships, March 20-23.
“I am looking forward to all sorts of aspects of the NCAA Championships,” Downey said. “One is I am looking forward to her (Xu) being competitive. I know she has the capacity to dive with the best divers in the country. What she does remains to be seen, but she has that ability. But (I am) also looking forward to the whole experience. It has been a while since we have had a diver representing the University of Kansas at this competition and I know that she is really excited to represent the Crimson and Blue. It’s a great honor for us and an opportunity for her to not only represent herself, but represent the whole team, (her) teammates and (the) program.”
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