NCAA D-II NATIONALS

WOLF WINS 6^TH NCAA TITLE/SHATTERS 1 METER DIVING RECORD

            (Buffalo, N.Y.): Clarion senior diver Jamie Wolf (South Park), the most prolific women’s diver in NCAA Division II history,  won her 6^th NCAA Division II national title in seven tries and shattered the one meter national record in the process tonight.

            Held at the Flickinger Center in Buffalo, New York, Wolf won the one meter competition scoring a phenomenal total of 453.75 points. She shattered the D-II record by 18.10 points, which ironically was set last year by Laura LaFranchise (Cal-Bakersfield) at 435.65. The win was the 6^th NCAA Division II title in 7 tries for Wolf. The only title she did not win was the 1 meter competition last year, when LaFranchise set the NCAA record in besting Wolf on one meter, who finished second.

            Wolf will be trying for her seventh title on Saturday night, her final NCAA Division II Diving event. She was the D-II Female “Diver of the Year” in 2004 and 2005.

            Diving was a strong event for the Golden Eagle women tonight, as Wolf’s teammate Ginny Saras (Jr. Sugarloaf/Hazleton) finished second with a total of 360.80 points, with Teagan Riggs (Jr. Meadville) placing fourth with 348.15 points and Jena Gardone (Fr. Apollo/Kiski) ending eighth with 319.05 points.

            In other women’s action Clarion’s 200 free relay finished 10^th with a time of 1:37.86. Included were Brittany Hanzl (Sr. Whitehall), Lori Leitzinger (Jr. State College), Stacy Ogden (Sr. Clearfield) and Kristy Clarke (Sr. Campbell Hall, N.Y.). The 400 medley relay team of Leitzinger, Denise Simens (So. Hollister, Ca.), Katie Kuntz (Sr. N. Canton, Oh.) and Clarke finished 15^th.

            Earning individual placings in the 200 freestyle were Rebecca Burgess (Fr. Gibsonia/Pine Richland) who was 13^th and Kristy Clarke, who was 14^th for the Golden Eagles.

            In the women team race at nationals Drury leads with 317 points, Truman State is second with 263, Cal San Diego is third with 164 and Clarion is Ninth with 102 points.

            In men’s action Clarion had two strong relays on Thursday night. In the 200 free relay the team of Adley Kilgore (Sr. Airville/Red Lion), A.J. Claypool (So. Kittanning), Mike Cohen (Jr. Pickerington, Oh.) and Ryan Thiel (Fr. Ligonier) placed third with a time of 1:22.92. Also the 400 medley relay team placed 13^th with a time of 3:27.98 and led by Mike Kerr (Jr. Lansdale), Rich Eckert (Fr. Versailles/McKeesport), Mike Cohen and Adley Kilgore.

            Drury leads the men’s title chase as well with 314 points, while North Dakota is second with 257, Wayne State third with 180 and Missouri Rolla fourth with 155. Clarion is in tenth place with 90 points after two days.

            The Division II Swimming and Diving Championships conclude with Championship events on Saturday night.