After completing the first of three days at the NCAA Zone Championships, diving coach Russ Dekker had honest feelings on the Bobcats’ performances.
“Well, it wasn’t our best performance,” Dekker said with a laugh. “Kristin (Capcik) made it to the finals, which was one of her early season goals, but Morgan (Srail) and MaryRose (Hillstrom) didn’t do as well as they expected.”
Capcik, a senior, was the lone finals qualifier for Ohio, as she scored a 14.90 in the one-meter qualifying round.
“She’s so excited about her score,” Dekker said. “With anybody, no matter how small or large the goal is, it’s an awesome feeling when you set out and achieve one of your longtime goals.”
Dekker mentioned that the some of Srail’s and Hillstrom’s struggles could be linked to being caught in the moment, as the caliber of the meet was so monumental.
“Sometimes you’re not at your best,” Dekker said. “You’re surrounded by divers you’re not aware of and it can be a little intimidating.”
Hillstrom, a redshirt senior, and Srail, a junior, each finished with scores of 14.80 on their six one-meter dive attempts, though the duo fared stronger in three-meter dives, with Hillstrom scoring a 15.90 and Srail posting a 16.40.
Despite the discouraging scores from Hillstrom and Srail, Dekker said their scores are valuable numbers, despite not being up to par.
“It’s a different type of environment,” he said. “It’s a unique environment where you're facing off against Olympian-bound divers and different types of athletes.”
Dekker knows first-hand the pressure that can build during zone meets after qualifying four times when he was a student-athlete at Eastern Michigan during the 1991-95 seasons.
The NCAA Zone Championship will continue Friday when the divers will re-attempt the three-meter dives.
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