Tiger diver wins Zone D meet to qualify for NCAA Championships

HOUSTON — Missouri sophomore Greg DeStephen won the men’s 3-meter NCAA Zone D diving meet on the campus of the University of Houston.

DeStephen’s first place finish gives him an automatic berth to the 2008 NCAA Championship meet that will take place March 20-22 in Columbus, Ohio. DeStephen had a score of 707.90. As for the other Tiger divers, freshman Dante Jones finished 10th, sophomore Ryan Meeker finished 11th, and senior David Boyko finished 12th.

The women’s 1-meter was also tonight. Junior Kendra Melnychuk finished eighth and freshman Abby Zepeda finished 22nd.

There are five zone meets. The top-two divers in each event automatically qualify for the national championships. The rest of the field is selected from top remaining performers at all zone sites.

The meet will continue with the women’s 3-meter and the men’s 1-meter Saturday and platform diving for both men and women on Sunday.