Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Two Salukis To Dive at NCAA Zone D Diving Championship
03/10/2004 | 12:00:00 | Swimming & Diving
March 10, 2004
By Josh Magill
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - It's not something just anyone can do. There is a fine-tuned skill involved in diving - it's a skill that both Adam Peper and Brandon Birchak have and will try to utilize this weekend at the 2004 NCAA Zone D Diving Championship.
The meet, which is scheduled to be held in Houston, Texas and hosted by the University of Houston, will sport some of the best collegiate divers in the nation, from some of the best programs in the Midwest. Divers from such institutions as Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, SMS, Texas and host Houston are expected to attend.
For Birchak, a freshman, the zone meet is something new, but for Peper - Southern Illinois University's only senior diver - it's another step in the long road toward a national title.
"Having been there before gives me an idea of what to expect ahead of time," Peper said. "I know this will be a hard competition with some really good, Olymipc-style divers. So it will be that much harder to compete with them, but it will be fun and a good experience."
"This is a pretty big thing for us; it's part of nationals," Peper added. "It's the prequalifying meet for nationals, so it's a good meet to end on if it's where we end our season."
Peper, who qualified in the 1-meter this season, has been to the Zone D Championships just one other time when he qualified for both the 1-meter and 3-meter dives last season. He finished 16th and 20th, respectively, but says it's an experience he'll never forget since he got to share it with three former Saluki divers.
"Being with those guys was helpful. Big time.," Peper said with a smile on his face. "It was a big family, had a lot of fun and competed well together. It was a great experience. This year, it's just me and Brandon, but we'll have a good time doing it. We just have to stay focused and dive our best."
Birchak, who has qualified for the 1-meter and 3-meter dives this season, grabbed Missouri Valley Conference titles in both events, giving him some confidence he hopes to carry into the zone meet.
"It helps to have won at conference," Birchak said. "It's always nice to go out on a good note, but whether I'd have won or not, I'm pretty confident. I am a little nervous. Probably about five minutes before my first dive I'll get really nervous, but that's not a bad thing. I just need to turn it into a positive."
Also an accomplished gymnast, Birchack, who holds 16 Shaker High School diving records, has participated in such events as the U.S. Diving East Coast Nationals (age 16-18) and the Down Under Games in Australia (18-under).
So ... make no mistake, Birchak isn't totally unprepared for such a high-profile event and says the butterflies are there, they just are swimming in his stomach quite yet.
"I've been to some pretty big meets, this is definitely on a different level," Birchak said. "I see these guys in magazines, so I know who they are and all the names, but I really haven't competed against them in a long time, since (age) 16-18s. I think I've gotten a lot better since then and have a real good shot at doing well and going to Long Island for the finals."
The 2004 Zone D Diving Championship will take place Friday through Sunday, March 12-14, at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Natatorium in Houston. Birchak will compete in the 3-meter dive on Friday at 4 p.m., while both Birchak and Peper are scheduled to participate in the 1-meter dive at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
The Saluki duo's results can be found at www.SIUSalukis.com.
