The American Athletic Conference Most Outstanding Diver Micaela Bouter is in the hunt to punch her first ticket to NCAA Championships. The junior was named to the All-Conference list in both the 3-meter and platform after being crowned the 3-meter champion and grabbed a second place finish on the platform at the American Championships. Bouter, the league’s Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year will compete in both the 1- and 3-meter springboard at zone.
Bouter will be joined by freshmen Katelyn Abernathy and Lauren Burrell. Abernathy who earned two podium finishes at the American Championships qualified for the 3-meter springboard while Burrell will compete in the 1- and 3-meter events.
Bouter ended the day with a score of 617.90, finishing two spots outside of the all-important seventh spot. The American 3-Meter Champion placed 13th overall during prelims after capturing a score of 302.85. The Johannesburg native’s best dive came in the fifth round, the reverse 2 ½ somersault tuck to score 58.80 in finals but placed just outside of the automatic qualification positions.
Lauren Burrell finished 26th in the event, with a score of 267.40. The freshman’s best dive, a 49.00, came in the third dive the back 2 ½ somersault tuck.
Freshman Katelyn Abernathy finished the sixth rounds with a score of 238.40 to place 37th in prelims. The 3-meter silver medalist at the American Athletic Conference Championships best dive came on her second trip to the boards, the inward 2 ½ somersault tuck, netting a score of 56.70.
The Houston Diving team continued their run at the NCAA Zone D Meet on Tuesday with the 1-meter springboard event at the Mizzou Aquatic Center. Junior Micaela Bouter led Houston with an 11th place finish, just outside of qualification for the NCAA Championships.
Bouter came on strong late in prelims after spending much of the session outside of the top seven. Her final score of 301.05 was good for seventh, and her reverse 1 ½ somersault pike received a 54.00. The American Athletic Conference Most Outstanding Diver ended the day with a final score of 582.45, just three spots out the NCAA meet. Her reverse 1 ½ somersault 1 ½ twist free was her top dive of the final round, at 50.70.
Lauren Burrell captured a score of 242.55 to finished 31th overall. The freshman’s best dive came in the fourth round inward 1 ½ somersault pike to net a score of 44.40.
Freshman Katelyn Abernathy netted a 36th place finish. Her total score was 236.10, and her best dive, a back 1 somersault 2 ½ twist free, was marked at 48.60.
Freshman Katelyn Abernathy represented the Cougars on the final day of the three-day NCAA qualifying meet. The Charlotte, N.C. native netted a total score of 190.50 to finish 23rd overall during prelims but it wouldn’t be enough to move on to finals. Abernathy’s best dive came in the fourth round on the 5-meter platform. Her back 1 ½ somersault 1 ½ twist free earned her a trio of 6.0’s to give her a score of 45.00.
UP NEXT The Houston swimming team will travel to Mesa, Ariz., to compete at the USA Swimming Arena Pro Series on April 13-15 to swim against some of the world’s best swimmers.
