The men's diving team will be led by senior NCAA Runner-Up Andy Bradley. Bradley finished second in the one-meter board at the NCAA Championships and was an All-American in both the one and three meter boards. Additionally, junior Ian Balman and senior Dean Emmerton intend to make major impacts this season. Balman competed well last year and is looking to make the NCAA Championships this year. Emmerton has plenty of experience as the South African National Champion 2002-2003 and continues to serve them throughout the world.
Coach Todd Sherritt expects of all these competitors to have a successful season, he commented.
"Well I'd hope that they all do actually. I've been looking forward to Andy Bradley. He was 2nd in the nation last year. Dean Emmerton I think he can. I hope Ian Balman can compete in the Top 12 in the SEC and possibly qualify for the NCAAs."
Another element that will benefit this continual achievement will come from their physical training.
"One of the things that we've done this year is we have changed our conditioning and that will make a difference in the strength of Andy and the others on the team as well," Sherritt commented.
On the prospects of another Balman run at an NCAA Championship, Sherritt suggests there might be a chance for two.
"Well I think he has a shot at the low board. I think he had a shot last year he was one dive off, he really had it in his hands. He just did not hit one dive he usually hits. I think he has a shot at the high board too," Sherritt said, optimistic of the All-American's chances.
The women's diving team is a group of females are simply loaded with talent and deserved accolades. Tracy Richardson, a native of Great Britain who sat out last season represented Great Britain in the Athens Olympics and will return to the team this year. Before her trip to Athens, Richardson was the SEC Champion in the 3-meter board and was an All-American. While Richardson was set to compete in Athens, her teammate Allison Brennan became an NCAA Champion in the 1-meter board.
Sherritt has great respect for these divers as well as their supporting cast who is also incredibly talented.
"Well I've got Lauren King and Tracy Richardson and Holly Hodges and Lindsay Havens. I think Lyndsey Havens is the most improved of the group. I'm looking forward to a Top eight in the SEC and Top 60 in the NCAAs."
Sherritt continued by discussing the potential of these lesser known divers by saying, "Holly has been as high as 2nd in the conference so I'm looking for her to be up there in the top five. Same with Lauren King, I think she has a shot to win the conference and a top five performance in the NCAAs. Any of my girls can win the conference. Tracy Richardson has a shot in winning in our conference and a top eight performance in the NCAAs."
Sherritt also believes the girls have, and will continue to feed off of the individual successes of each other. This can only help the team, he commented.
"Well I think anytime anybody makes an Olympic team or wins a national championship gives the team a lot of pride. It improves the practices, it increases the motivation, because they saw Allison came in, didn't make the NCAAs the first year and then win it the next. It says that anybody can do it if they work hard."
On the diving element of the dual meet this coming Friday, Sheritt expects complete control over the school's bitter rival.
He confidently remarked, "I think we'll dominate. I think the women will win, I think the men will win. We're undefeated against Clemson as a diving team."
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