Monday, March 10
Iowa City, IA
12 P.M.
University of North Texas
vs
NCAA Diving Zones
Photo by: American Athletic Conference/Ben Solomon
Record Five Divers Headed to NCAA Zone Meet
3/9/2025 9:41:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
DENTON - UNT divers will again be making history this week as the Mean Green will send five student-athletes to the NCAA Zone D Championships in Iowa City, Iowa, which begins on Monday and runs through Wednesday.Â
The group heads to the University of Iowa with sights set on qualifying for the NCAA Championships on the heels of a historic showing at the recent American Athletic Conference Championships when the Mean Green won the Team Diving event in meet record fashion and saw junior Kamryn Wong take gold in both the 1- and 3-meter springboard events, while sophomore Sydney Guidara earned a silver medal in the 1-meter event. In all, UNT scored more than 100 diving points higher than the second-best team (FIU) at the conference championship. Guidara and Wong headline a group of five going to Iowa, including freshman Amelia Sharp, who was also a part of that Team Diving win, freshman Valeria Hernandez Meza and senior Mackenzie Ferguson. The program's previous record was when it sent three divers to the Zone meet in each of the past three seasons.Â
Ferguson will make her first career appearance at the Zone Championships in her last opportunity, as she qualified in the 1-meter springboard. Guidara, the school record holder in the 3-meter and platform, will compete in all three events (both springboards and platform). Hernandez Meza will compete in the 3-meter springboard and Sharp, who briefly held the school record in platform this year, will compete in the 3-meter and platform. Wong, the school record holder in the 1-meter, will compete in all three events. No UNT athlete has ever qualified for the NCAA Championships, but Wong competed at the meet last year while at Missouri.
"Qualifying for Zones has been a big goal for Mackenzie and next week is icing on the cake and a chance for her to enjoy and appreciate the effort she's put in the last four years," associate head coach/diving coach Stephanie O'Callaghan said. "Valeria and Amelia have just done an outstanding job as freshmen and both have so much talent and potential. They also bring so much to the team on a daily basis. I'm excited for them to gain this experience at the next level and help them come back stronger next year.
"Sydney and Kam have both been there before to help guide and support the others. Sydney really held her own as a freshman last year, and I'm excited to watch her dive and step into her own. She's looked exceptional in practice as we gear up for zone meet. Kam had a phenomenal meet last year, qualifying for NCAAs, and her strength definitely lies in her confidence and consistency. She has a great opportunity ahead this week."
The top 11 finishers in the 1-meter springboard will advance to nationals, while the top 10 in the 3-meter and the top nine in platform will advance. If a diver advances in one event and finishes top 12 in another, they are eligible to compete in that event at nationals.
"It's been a tremendous season from the start," O'Callaghan said. "From breaking all four school records to winning three of the four diving events at the AAC Championships, having multiple divers awarded AAC diver of the week and five divers qualifying for Zones, along with countless personal bests, they've worked so hard for everything they've earned. I couldn't be more excited for the present and the future of this program and the way the team has bought in, supported each other and elevated their performance and this team to the next level."
Fans can follow the meet live on Divemeets and can watch the event each day via a livestream.
Competitors and schedule
Mackenzie Ferguson - 1-meter springboard
Sydney Guidara - 1-meter springboard, 3-meter springboard, Platform
Valeria Hernandez Meza - 3-meter springboard
Amelia Sharp - 3-meter springboard, Platform
Kamryn Wong - 1-meter springboard, 3-meter springboard, Platform
Monday - 3-meter springboard, 12 p.m. prelims, 3 p.m. final
Tuesday - 1-meter springboard, 12 p.m. prelims, 3 p.m. final
Wednesday - Platform, 12 p.m. prelims, 2 p.m. final
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The group heads to the University of Iowa with sights set on qualifying for the NCAA Championships on the heels of a historic showing at the recent American Athletic Conference Championships when the Mean Green won the Team Diving event in meet record fashion and saw junior Kamryn Wong take gold in both the 1- and 3-meter springboard events, while sophomore Sydney Guidara earned a silver medal in the 1-meter event. In all, UNT scored more than 100 diving points higher than the second-best team (FIU) at the conference championship. Guidara and Wong headline a group of five going to Iowa, including freshman Amelia Sharp, who was also a part of that Team Diving win, freshman Valeria Hernandez Meza and senior Mackenzie Ferguson. The program's previous record was when it sent three divers to the Zone meet in each of the past three seasons.Â
Ferguson will make her first career appearance at the Zone Championships in her last opportunity, as she qualified in the 1-meter springboard. Guidara, the school record holder in the 3-meter and platform, will compete in all three events (both springboards and platform). Hernandez Meza will compete in the 3-meter springboard and Sharp, who briefly held the school record in platform this year, will compete in the 3-meter and platform. Wong, the school record holder in the 1-meter, will compete in all three events. No UNT athlete has ever qualified for the NCAA Championships, but Wong competed at the meet last year while at Missouri.
"Qualifying for Zones has been a big goal for Mackenzie and next week is icing on the cake and a chance for her to enjoy and appreciate the effort she's put in the last four years," associate head coach/diving coach Stephanie O'Callaghan said. "Valeria and Amelia have just done an outstanding job as freshmen and both have so much talent and potential. They also bring so much to the team on a daily basis. I'm excited for them to gain this experience at the next level and help them come back stronger next year.
"Sydney and Kam have both been there before to help guide and support the others. Sydney really held her own as a freshman last year, and I'm excited to watch her dive and step into her own. She's looked exceptional in practice as we gear up for zone meet. Kam had a phenomenal meet last year, qualifying for NCAAs, and her strength definitely lies in her confidence and consistency. She has a great opportunity ahead this week."
The top 11 finishers in the 1-meter springboard will advance to nationals, while the top 10 in the 3-meter and the top nine in platform will advance. If a diver advances in one event and finishes top 12 in another, they are eligible to compete in that event at nationals.
"It's been a tremendous season from the start," O'Callaghan said. "From breaking all four school records to winning three of the four diving events at the AAC Championships, having multiple divers awarded AAC diver of the week and five divers qualifying for Zones, along with countless personal bests, they've worked so hard for everything they've earned. I couldn't be more excited for the present and the future of this program and the way the team has bought in, supported each other and elevated their performance and this team to the next level."
Fans can follow the meet live on Divemeets and can watch the event each day via a livestream.
Competitors and schedule
Mackenzie Ferguson - 1-meter springboard
Sydney Guidara - 1-meter springboard, 3-meter springboard, Platform
Valeria Hernandez Meza - 3-meter springboard
Amelia Sharp - 3-meter springboard, Platform
Kamryn Wong - 1-meter springboard, 3-meter springboard, Platform
Monday - 3-meter springboard, 12 p.m. prelims, 3 p.m. final
Tuesday - 1-meter springboard, 12 p.m. prelims, 3 p.m. final
Wednesday - Platform, 12 p.m. prelims, 2 p.m. final
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Players Mentioned
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