Top divers qualify for American Cup

After qualifications during the week, the Speedo American Cup begins today at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center. The Cup, a prestigious diving tournament in which the top athletes in the sport are invited to compete, will showcase a host of Hoosiers. \nIU divers competing in the event include 2000 Olympian senior Sara Hildebrand, junior Cassandra Cardinell, junior Marc Carlton and senior Adam Hazes. Former Hoosiers Erin Quinn and Tom Davidson will also dive in the competition.\nLindsay Weigle, a Bloomington South senior and IU signee will compete on three-meter. Weigle, 17, was the 2002 junior national champion on the board.\nQualifications for the Cup were open, allowing both those invited and other IU divers to compete. On the women's three-meter, Cardinell scored a 208.20 for fourteenth place. IU teammate senior Lori Matthys placed 23rd.\nWeigle took first place off of the platform, scoring a 250.00. Matthys finished seventh with a score of 194.70.\n"(Weigle) did a great job today," Diving Events Coordinator Jason Baumann said in a statement. "She hasn't been up on tower much since the summer as she's been competing in high school. It's nice to have her back up there as tower is probably her best event. It was nice to see her do such a good job. She actually turned around to compete in a high school meet tonight. That's a tough double for her."\nOn the men's side, Carlton took second place on the three-meter with a score of 349.50. Carlton, a U.S. National Team member, trailed University of Georgia freshman and fellow National Team member Chris Colwill by six points. \n"Marc did a very good job today," Baumann said in a press release. "We thought he was actually going to lead that one from start to finish. He started out very strong and did a nice job. He just had a little bit of a miss on his last dive and got caught by a few points."\nSophomore Ryan Fagan took 18th (263.60), Hazes took 22nd (248.55) and sophomore Brian Metzler took 25th (227.95).\nOn the platform, Hazes and junior Alex Burns finished ninth (260.20) and tenth (258.75) respectively. Freshman Brian Mariano took 12th (242.60) and Fagan took 15th (152.90).\nThe competition will be stiff with some of the top divers in the country scheduled to compete. Among those invited are 2000 Olympic platform gold medalist Laura Wilkinson and 2000 Olympian Troy Dumais. \nThe Cup kicks off today with the preliminary rounds of the men's three-meter and women's platform events, the quarterfinals of women's platform, and the finals of men's platform synchro along with women's and men's three-meter synchro.\nTickets are $6 for students.