Chesney earns All-America honors on 3-meter diving on Day 3 of NCAA III Swimming & Diving Championships

George Chesney

By Tim Glon

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MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Senior George Chesney earned All-America honors in the 3-meter diving on the final day of the 2009 NCAA Division III Swimming & Diving Championships at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center.

Chesney finished 10th out of 22 divers with a score of 427.55 points, earning Honorable Mention All-America honors for the second time in three days.

On Thursday, Chesney earned Honorable Mention All-America honors in the 1-meter diving, finishing 16th out of 22 swimmers with a score of 406.15 points.

The top eight in each event earn All-America honors, while finishers 9-16 earn Honorable Mention All-America honors.

"I'm very happy," Chesney said. "Two All-America honors - I'll take it. I was happy with the tough dives early, but struggled with the easy dives later. Overall I'm pleased, though."

Sophomore Michael Schultz finished seventh in his heat and 20th out of the 26 in the 1650 free, finishing in 16:00.83.

Schultz got off to a quick start, leading the first eight lengths, but drifted back as the race wore on.

"George dove well," ONU head coach Peggy Ewald said. "He did a nice job. Michael did not swim well this week. He got off well in the 1650, but couldn't sustain it."

Schultz finished 37th out of 56 swimmers overall in the 200 free in 1:42.59 Thursday morning. He was the No. 21 seed in the 200 free, qualifying in 1:40.79.

On Wednesday, Schultz finished 23rd out of 41 swimmers in the 500-yard freestyle in 4:33.60. He qualified with the ninth-fastest time in the nation this year with an ONU-record effort of 4:28.83. 

Chesney is a two-time OAC Champion in the 3-meter diving and is a two-time All-OAC honoree with a runner-up finishes in the 1-meter diving each of the last two years. He is the school record holder in the 1-meter diving with a score of 466.50 points for 11 dives.

Chesney, who was making his first appearance at the NCAA III Championships, will also compete in the 3-meter diving on Saturday.

Schultz was the No. 9 seed in the 1650 free with a qualifying effort of 15:45.82.

He is the ONU record holder and 2-time Ohio Athletic Conference champion in all three events.

This is Schultz's second appearance at the NCAA Championships. As a freshman last year, Schultz finished 31st in the 200 free in 4:43.16, was 32nd in the 200 free in 1:43.49 and was 20th in the 1650 free in 16:05.29.