The three members of the LSU diving team begin competition today at the 2003 NCAA Diving Regionals at Auburn, Ala.
Seniors Barb Gorst, Kyle VanArsdall and sophomore Jessica Wantz are diving for a chance to compete at the NCAA National Championships.
The top 12 men and top 13 women at regionals qualify for NCAA’s.
LSU diving coach Doug Shaffer said all the LSU divers have the potential to qualify.
“They need to perform within their ability,” he said. “We’ve prepared for it. We’re ready for it.”
Wantz said she is excited to be competing in regionals this year since she missed last year’s competition due to a case of mononucleosis.
“I was out [of diving] for fourth months,” she said. “Over the summer, I had to get my body back to normal routine.”
      Wantz said she hopes to improve her results from the Southeastern Conference Championships, where she finished 6th in the 1-meter event, scoring 274.05, and seventh in the women’s 3-meter competition with a score of 484.10.
Wantz said she needs to “stay consistent and focus” in order to improve.
Gorst heads into regionals with momentum from her second-place finish in the platform competition at the SEC Championships.
She earned second team All-SEC honors after her runner-up performance in the event.
VanArsdall finished fifth in the men’s platform competition at SEC’s with a score of 672.50.
“I’m just going to do what I know how to do,” said VanArsdall, the LSU men’s swimming and diving team captain.
VanArsdall said Shaffer, in his first year as LSU’s coach, has prepared the team well.
“Doug’s done a good job keeping things light and fun at practice,” he said. “When you come in and feel pressure he takes your mind off of it. He’s really improved my diving.”