When it comes to representation, the Rowan swimming and diving programs know a thing or two about it.
This upcoming weekend, the Profs have four divers from both the men’s and women’s teams in the NCAA Division III Northeast and South Regional diving tournament. The competition is set to begin at 2 p.m. on Friday, and day two will start at noon on Saturday.
“The three top-guns for us will be Sean Piacente, Chad Shire and Klaudia Rzotkiewicz,” said Rowan diving coach Justin Eakins.
Sophomore Corinne Finkbinder and Rzotkiewicz, a freshman, will be showcasing their talents for the women. Both qualified in the one-meter (11 dives) prelims at the Metropolitan Championships earlier this month. Rzotkiewicz totaled 438.95 points while Finkbinder complied 404.40 points at the event. The NCAA DIII qualifying mark in the one-meter (11 dives) prelim is 395 points.
This season while competing in duel meets, Finkbinder won the three-meter diving at William Paterson University and at TCNJ with scores of 203.70 and 231.45, respectively. She also captured second place against the same schools in the one-meter diving competition.
“Corrine has taken a lot more under her, even as a sophomore trying to keep the team together and keep a team mentality,” Eakins said.
From the men’s side, senior Piacente and sophomore Shire will represent Rowan this weekend up in Ithaca. This will be the second consecutive regional appearance for both Piacente and the first for Shire. Junior Mike Grubb qualified, but will be missing the event due to injury.
This season, Piacente had won both the one and three-meter dives at the Metropolitan Championships, and was honored as Diver of the Meet for the second-straight season.
At last years’ regionals, Piacente placed fourth in the one meter and had qualified for the NCAA DIII Championships. Due to an unfortunate injury he was forced to withdrew from the three-meter dive and was unable to compete for a National Championship.
“He leads by example,” Eakins said. “He shows the possibility of making it to nationals is real.”
Shire had qualified for the regionals in the three-meter event at the Metropolitan Championships prelims with a total of 479.17. Shire has had a successful season, as he won both the one and three-meter dives at Pace University and William Patterson University.
“If we work hard, great things will happen,” Eakins said.
All the divers representing Rowan this weekend in Ithaca hope to make a splash and eventually find themselves competing at the DIII National Championships.
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