Celaya-Hernandez, Suchla, Punch NCAA Ticket

LSUsports.net
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Fraser McAlpineCommunications Student Assistant



COLUMBIA, Mo. – Three LSU divers notched automatic qualifying bids for the 2017 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships on day one of the NCAA Zone ‘D’ Regionals at the Mizzou Aquatic Center.
All seven divers had a chance to collect a bid after both teams for the men and women finished in the top-18 during the preliminary round.
The diving squad will return to action tomorrow morning with men’s three-meter prelims at 11 a.m. CT. Women’s one-meter prelims and finals will follow, starting at 4:45 p.m. CT.
“Today was a great day. I’m most proud of Andrew (Suchla) who made his first NCAA berth in his senior year, and that is special and rewarding as a coach,” said head diving coach Doug Shaffer.
“We have two more days of competition left, and some of our best events are ahead of us. There is definitely an opportunity for more Tigers to qualify moving forward and that is our focus.”
Three-time school record holder Juan Celaya-Hernandez earned a two-list score of 828.00 on one-meter to take first in the finals, picking up an NCAA bid in his first season.
Sucha also garnered his first-ever spot at NCAA’s with a two-list score of 700.45 on one-meter, tallying eighth overall in the finals. Matt McClellan just narrowly missed the top-eight, coming in on the heels of Suchla at ninth overall with a final score of 696.55.
Matthew Phillip, a sophomore from Frisco, Texas, rounded out the men’s team, taking 17th with a score of 595.45.
On the women’s side, Lizzie Cui garnered her second consecutive NCAA bid on three-meter, diving to a two-list score of 720.70 for second place.
Freshman Makayla Robillard and sophomore Rileigh Knox finished 16th and 17th in order, compiling two-list scores of 587.50 and 578.55 respectively to close out first day.
Tuesday, March 7
11 a.m.-1:45 p.m. – Men’ ...


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