ATHENS, Ga. – The 2015 NCAA Zone B Qualifier began on Monday at the University of Georgia with two members of the Florida State men’s diving team advancing to finals. Freshman Tyler Roberge and junior Kalonji Cole made it out of prelims and competed in the final round of 1-meter.
Roberge finished the day leading the Seminoles in 12th place with a score of 620.60 after 12 dives and Cole was 17th with a total of 570.50.
“Both Tyler and Kalonji did what they needed to in order to advance,” FSU head diving Coach John Proctor said. “They gave themselves another opportunity and that is always encouraging.”
Through three rounds of prelims, Roberge sat in 15th place with a total of 151.80. With a small margin for error, Roberge notched 7.0’s on his reverse 1.5 somersault pike, moving him up to 11th.
Roberge threw his highest score on his reverse 2.5 somersault tuck for a tally of 63.00. That catapulted him into seventh, nearly guaranteeing him a spot for the final round.
He would stay in seventh place and eventually advance to the finals after throwing his reverse 1.5 somersault with 2.5 twists for 6.5’s for a final score of 323.70.
Despite improving his first round score by two points halfway through finals, Roberge dropped to 11th. This put him in five-way battle for the final two NCAA invitations. With a total of 478.10 through nine dives, he was just eight points away from eighth and four ahead of 12th.
His reverse 1.5 somersault pike fell a tad short in the fourth round, scoring 48 points leaving him in 12th and on the outside looking in by just seven points.
Roberge would hold steady in 12th to finish out the competition with a score of 620.60.
Although he did not secure the invitation to the NCAA meet, his 12th place showing will make him eligible to contest in the event if he should earn a spot on 3-meter or platform.
“Logistically, Tyler’s best chance to make it is on platform,” Proctor said. “That’s his bread and butter. Knowing that he will have the option of another event is great, but there are fewer spots on the remaining on those boards and we need to focus on those for our guys.”
Cole made it into the finals by placing 17th in prelims with a score of 284.40. Five of his six dives hovered around a net score of 50 points with the exception of his inward 2.5 somersault tuck which he threw for 6.5’s for a total of 60.45.
The Tallahassee, Fla. native finished with a final score of 570.50 holding his place in 17th.
“This was a decent first day for Kalonji,” Proctor said. “I thought it was great for him to make it out of prelims.”
The women competed on 3-meter and redshirt senior Katrina Young finished 22nd with a score of 268.10.
“Katrina missed two of her dives,” Proctor said. “It happens. Usually in meets like this you can miss one and probably still be okay, but when you’re not on for two it’s a lot tougher to make it out of prelims. It wasn’t her best day at the office but I think she’ll move on and get ready for 1-meter tomorrow.”
Young was followed by freshman Blaire Mulka at 259.65, placing 25th.
Sophomore Alexia Gonzalez finished 29th with a total of 253.35 and freshman Caroline Gerhardt was 35th at 230.95.
Tuesday’s competition begins at 11 a.m. with prelims of women’s 1-meter and will be followed with the top 18 advancing to finals. The men will contest on 3-meter starting at 3:30 p.m.
***FSU Athletics
