It had been at least six years since a Kansas University athlete competed in the U.S. Senior Diving National Championships.
Two divers – sophomore Erin Mertz and junior Meghan Proehl – will put an end to that streak this summer.
“It’s just an amazing opportunity,” Proehl said. “I will be getting to dive with some of the best divers in the country and some girls that just competed at Olympic trials, which is huge. It’s going to be a great experience competing in a field as elite as this is going to be.”
The Senior Diving Nationals will be held Tuesday through Sunday in Pasadena, Calif. – a perfect location for Proehl, a San Diego native.
“That actually kind of factored into my decision of doing this event,” Proehl said. “I was really uneasy about it because I’ve just been practicing on my own. But (KU diving coach) Eric Elliott was really urging me to do it. So I decided, ‘Why not? It’s in California.’ So being able to go to Nationals is just amazing, and both of my parents, I think, are going to be able to make it up to watch me.”
Proehl will be diving in just the one-meter event, while Mertz will take on both the one-meter and three-meter platforms.
“I want to say it will boost the program, just to show what we do have and people that represent really well,” Mertz said.
Another one of Elliott’s divers will be heading to Senior Nationals. Logan Kline, a member of the Jayhawk Diving Club, qualified for the event, along with qualifying for the U.S. Junior Nationals.
Fellow club divers David Knopke and Ford McLiney will join Kline at Junior Nationals, which will be August 6-10.
Kansas junior Meghan Proehl and sophomore Erin Mertz will compete in the U.S. Senior Diving Nationals from July 22-27 at the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center in Pasedena, Calif.
Proehl and Mertz will compete in the 3-meter event next Wednesday and the 1-meter event on Thursday.
This is the first time in at least six years that a Kansas student-athlete has competed in the Senior National Championships.
“Both Megan and Erin have worked very hard with their club teams this offseason,” Kansas diving coach Eric Elliott said. “They both had tremendous collegiate seasons last year, and have taken the steps to being even better next year. This will be a great experience for both of them to compete against the best divers around.”
Mertz placed fourth in the platform diving competition at the Big 12 Championships last season and eighth off the 3-meter board, while Proehl captured sixth in 3-meter competition and seventh on the 1-meter board.
Fans can follow Proehl and Mertz at the Senior National Championships via the Internet at www.divemeets.com.
