The Iowa diving team sent one diver to the finals on the first night of the NCAA Zone Diving championships.

Freshman Matt Mauser posted the Hawkeyes’ best finish on the day, diving to 18th overall after qualify for finals in 17th on the 3-meter springboard. 

Mauser dove a 296.50 in the prelims, to go along with a 293.65 in finals. Sophomore Brandis Heffner finished 20th with a 280.10, and junior Addison Boschult finished 23rd with a 268.40.

On the women’s side, redshirt senior Abby Grilli led the Hawkeyes, finishing 19th and missing the 18th and last spot in the finals by just 0.95 of a point.

Grilli dove a 293.45 to Nebraska’s Francesca Giganti’s 294.40.

Other Hawkeyes in the 1-meter springboard included redshirt senior Joelle Christy, who finished 41st with a 222.80, redshirt senior Lauren Kelba, who finished with a 254.55 for 33rd, and sophomore Lydia Lehnert, who finished 30th with a 266.00.

The men will dive from the 1-meter springboard today, while the women will dive from the 3-meter springboard.

— by Ian Murphy