Natalie Snyder becomes first RIT diver to earn All-American honor at NCAA Championship

2016 Mar 25

Senior Natalie Snyder (Rockville, MD/Rockville) of the RIT women's swimming and diving team became the first diver in program history to earn All-American honors, placing fifth on the 1-meter board at the 2016 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championship, hosted by Greensboro College on Thursday, March 17. Two days later, Snyder wrapped up her collegiate career by placing 19th on the 3-meter diving board.

Snyder started slow in the preliminaries on Thursday afternoon, sitting in 18th place after her fifth dive, but turned it on over her last six dives, en route to a fourth place finish, ensuring All-American honors with a score of 421.10. The top eight finishers in the preliminaries are guaranteed All-American status, while competing for the championship later in the evening.

In the finals, once again, Snyder started slow, sitting towards the back pack among the eight divers before unleashing a series of excellent dives to earn the fifth place finish with 423.40 points.

Maria Zarka of Kenyon College won the 1-meter event with a score of 484.50 points, beating out Meghan Bartlett of SUNY Fredonia by nearly 40 points. Bartlett recorded a score of 444.75 points, just ahead of third place diver Sarah Sheridan of Hope College, who had 442.55 points. Anna Belson of Ithaca was fourth with 424.20 points, just ahead of Snyder. Sarah Hayhurst of Centre College, Meghann Kilgallon of The College at Brockport, and Veronica Nikolaki of Worcester Polytechnic Institute rounded out the top-eight.

"Natalie was an amazing competitor in her first national championship appearance," said RIT diving coach Cliff Devries of Snyder's appearance on Thursday. "She never gave up after a very difficult preliminary round. Her All-American finish is a testament to her incredible work ethic and mental toughness."

Snyder is RIT's first female outright All-American in diving. In 1993, Kathy Hugelier was an honorable mention All-American in the 3-meters, placing 14th. Two years ago, Sam Huselstein (Olean, NY/Olean) placed 15th in the 3-meter as well, earning honorable mention accolades.

On March 19, Snyder got off to a promising start in the 3-meter event, sitting in the top-10 after four rounds, but eventually placed 19th out of 24 divers in the preliminary round with a score of 381.05. Maura Sticco-Ivins of Wellesley College led after the prelims with a score of 469.55.

"Natalie finished her national experience giving everything she had left," said Devries on Snyder's performance in the 3-meter on Saturday. "We knew going in (to the 3-meter) that her list of dives was extremely difficult and that she did not have a lot of time to prepare for this meet, but she fought hard until the last dive. I am extremely proud of her."