Princeton University Athletics
DeMond Qualifies For NCAA Diving Nationals, Looks Ahead To Minneapolis
March 16, 2005 | Men's Swimming and Diving
March 16, 2005
ANNAPOLIS - Sophomore Kent DeMond headed to Annapolis, Md., last weekend with one goal in mind - to make sure it was not his final NCAA meet of the season. By winning the platform competition, DeMond qualified for the NCAA championships in Minneapolis.
DeMond joined freshman teammate Stuart Malcolm and women's freshman Charlotte Jones as the Princeton representatives as the Zone 'A' Diving Championships. While both Malcolm and Jones, who proved throughout the season that they would be among the top divers in the Ivy League for years to come, had solid performances, it was DeMond who earned the ticket to the NCAA Championships.
DeMond won the platform competition with 502.90 points, topping Pittsburgh's Denis Nemtsanov for the title. Nemtsanov placed second with 486.05 points, while Kevin Teague of Navy finished third with 477.95 points.
After six dives, DeMond held a slim lead over Nemtsanov and the rest of the field. The final part of the competition was a set of four optional dives, and the field thrived with consistent dives of 7.0 and above. On Nemtsanov's final dive, he took a lead over the Tiger sophomore, but DeMond would not be denied and went back on top with a terrific final dive.
"It was a very exciting contest with many good to very good dives being performed," Princeton men's and women's diving coach Greg Gunn said. "The top four divers performed particularly well. Any one of them would haverepresented Zone A well at thenational championship.Kent's effort was particularly impressive because at no time in the competition did he hold a commanding lead over his opponents.
"Kentremained tenacious and focused throughout the contest, answering each challenge his competitors put forth with an equally impressive effort of his own.He reallythrived in this stressful and demanding environment. He seemed to enjoy every minute. I was a wreck!" Gunn added. Princeton Zone 'A' Results
Kent De Mond, Platform, 1st place, score of 502.90
Stuart Malcolm, Platform, 7th place, score of 411.65
Charlotte Jones, One Meter, 10th place, score of 455.25
Charlotte Jones, Three Meter, 13th place, score of 391.50
Kent De Mond, One Meter, 13th place, score of 512.40
Stuart Malcolm, One Meter, 15th place, score of 492.65