July 19, 2012

UCLA Divers will be competing this weekend in an effort to qualify to the USA Diving Senior National Championships being held in Greensboro, NC August 9-14, 2012. Four Zone Championship Meets will be held around the country, with the top 5 individuals advancing in each of those respective events.

Senior Michelle Vale will compete locally in both the one and three meter events in the Zone D Meet, being held in Mission Viejo July 20-22. Three meter will be held on Friday, with one meter being contested on Saturday.

"Michelle has had a fantastic spring and summer preparing," said Dive Coach Tom Stebbins. "I hope all of her hard work has a chance to shine this weekend."

Vale, missed all of her second year and much of last season with various injuries, after qualifying to the 2010 Summer Nationals in the three meter and synchronized three meter events.

"Michelle's form has almost fully returned," added Stebbins. "When she is feeling good, she can compete with anyone at this meet."

Junior Paulina Guzman, will compete in both springboard events, as will incoming frosh Maggie Denison and Montana Monahan (1M only) in Mission Viejo.

UCLA sophomore and Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year, Emma Ivory-Ganja will compete at the Zone C Meet in Dallas, TX. Emma will try to qualify herself in the 1M event. She is currently pre-qualified to Nationals in both 3M and PL (and those synchronized) events.