Duke Divers Enjoy Successful Season

DURHAM, N.C. - The Blue Devil diving squad ended its season this past weekend at the Zone B Diving Championships, as Duke capped one of its most successful diving seasons in school history on the strength of a young lineup.

Freshman diver Julie Brummond reached the finals at the Zone B Diving Championships on both the one- and three-meter boards, as she placed 14th overall on day one, which is one of the best all-time performances at Duke. The freshman had the fifth-best performance of all ACC divers, as she notched a score of 515.35.

On the men's side, sophomore Nick Campisano was the top Duke finisher on day one with a 23rd-place finish out of 41 participants, with a score of 261.90 on the one-meter board. Freshman Eric Winnard notched a score of 249.20 to place 30th.

Day two saw Brummond place 11th on the one-meter board with a score of 251.85, while Campisano placed 23rd (284.50) on the three-meter board and Winnard placed 34th (252.05).

In platform diving action, Brummond placed 22nd with a score of 182.05.

Duke has received strong performances from its freshman diving class of Brummond and Winnard this season, as the two have made an immediate impact on the Duke program.

“Julie and Eric make up the most heralded freshman class duke diving has ever had,” said Duke diving coach Andy Scott. “Both came in as Junior Olympic national qualifiers. Julie re-wrote the women's record book setting all three records this year and went undefeated on the one-meter springboard in dual meets, which is quite a testament to her consistency.

Eric had an incredible meet at George Mason [at the Patriot Invitational] setting our men's one-meter record and falling just shy of setting their pool record. They both have the potential to put Duke diving on the map in the next three years.”

Campisano also had a phenomenal sophmore campaign after a record-setting freshman season was cut short by a torn ACL.
“He was determined to get back in diving shape and be ready by the start of the season and actually re-set his three-meter school record in our first home meet back in October [versus Maryland and N.C. State],” said Scott. “I don't think people understand how huge that is to have ACL surgery in February, and eight months later dive well enough to raise what was formerly a 41-year-old record. It's unheard of, but Nick just wanted it that much.

It was fun to watch Nick and Eric push each other all season long. This is a special group of divers right now and I think they're laying the ground work for a potential powerhouse program, as Coach [Dan Collela] also brings new life to the swim team as well.”

The Duke men's swimming and diving team ended the 2006-07 season with an overall record of 4-5 (1-4 ACC), while the women's squad notched a record of of 5-4 (1-4 ACC). The men placed ninth at the ACC Championships and the women placed eighth.

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