USC travels to Tucson for Wildcat Invitational


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USC’s men’s and women’s diving teams will look to continue their undefeated starts to the season this weekend at the Wildcat Diving Invitational in Tucson, Ariz. It’ll mark the first tournament of the 2013-14 campaign where they’ll compete without their swimming teammates, as USC will compete in the 1-meter, 3-meter and platform contests.

Crest of a wave · Just two weeks after beating Arizona and Arizona State, USC returns to the desert for the Wildcat Diving Invitational. - William Ehart | Daily Trojan

Crest of a wave · Just two weeks after beating Arizona and Arizona State, USC returns to the desert for the Wildcat Diving Invitational. – William Ehart | Daily Trojan

The top-ranked women’s swimming and diving team found its oasis in the desert two weekends ago, as they swept Arizona State and Arizona on the road to improve to 3-0 on the season and 3-0 in Pac-12 matchups. The Women of Troy prevailed by a score of 167-128 over the Sun Devils and 167-133 against the Wildcats.

The men’s team, ranked No. 4 in the nation, enjoyed equal success, beating Arizona State 171-119 and Arizona 172-128 to post a 2-0 record to start their season.

Seniors Meghan Hawthorne and Stina Gardell as well as sophomores Sam Adams and Kendyl Stewart were instrumental in leading the Women of Troy to victory over the weekend. Senior Dimitri Colupaev led the way for the men, winning four events over the weekend, while junior Cristian Quintero won three.

Those swimmers earned a much-deserved rest, while some of their teammates will look to beat the heat once again in Tucson this weekend at the Wildcat Diving Invitational.

Redshirt junior Haley Ishimatsu will compete alongside sophomores Natalie Kalibat, Natalie Stahl and Katherine Van Winkle for the women’s squad, while junior Jordan Gear and sophomores Adam Payne and Collin Pollard will represent the men’s team.

Ishimatsu enters the women’s side of the tournament as a favorite after taking home the NCAA title for the platform last year. Ishimatsu’s older sister, Victoria, won the 1-meter event at the Wildcat Invitational in 2010.

Gear was the top performer for the mean’s team in the 3-meter last season, and also performed well on the 1-meter and platform. Pollard placed second in the 1-meter and the 3-meter against both Arizona and Arizona State, and will look to take home his first win of the year this weekend.

USC will face off against divers from Arizona, UCLA, BYU, Nevada, Wyoming, Boise State and Northern Arizona at the tournament.

 

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