LSU freshman diver Cassie Weil wasn’t sure she displayed her best performance after placing fifth in the three-meter event and sixth in the platform diving event at the Southeastern Conference Championships.
Being honored as the best freshman diver in the conference soothed her doubts.
“I didn’t think I dove as well as I could have,” said Weil. “To get the award made me feel a lot better about my performance because there were a lot of freshmen that were deserving.”
Weil said realizing the sport is the same regardless of the level of competition is key in not being intimidated by the staunch competitors in the SEC.
“I’ve seen a lot of other freshmen come in, and it usually takes a while for them to get going, but Cassie really took off,” said sophomore diver Alex Bettridge, last season’s SEC Freshman Diver of the Year. “She adapted really well and it’s impressive.”
Weil is LSU diving coach Doug Shaffer’s seventh freshman to win the award in 11 years and the second in the past two years.
“I’m happy that I didn’t let Doug down and end the streak,” Weil said. “I knew about it from Alex winning it last year, so it was something I was really aiming to get and I think it’s a good goal.”
Shaffer pointed to the program’s ability to identify experienced young divers as a reason for the consistency in bringing the award to LSU.
Prior to enrolling at LSU, Weil was a USA Diving Olympic Trial Qualifier in the three-meter and platform and finished eighth and 10th, respectively, in those events at the 2011 AT&T National Diving Championships.
“Over the years I’ve been fortunate to be able to identify talented young divers to come and participate in our program,” Shaffer said. “Proven Junior Olympic national or international experience gives them the maturity they need to be prepared for an SEC Championship type of format.”
Next season’s freshmen divers should be prepared to continue what’s becoming an LSU tradition.
“I’m hoping we take it again next year,” Bettridge said. “I want to keep it going because it’s really awesome for the LSU program.”
