SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Gannon's
Luke Curtis (Adelaide, South Australia/Blackfriars Priory) and
Diana Rocco (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) concluded arguably the best NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Championships showing in school history Saturday evening as the duo earned two more all-america honors. The national championships co-hosted by The University of the Incarnate Word and San Antonio Sports concluded Saturday night at the Palo Alto Natatorium in San Antonio, Texas.
Curtis picked up his fourth all-america award of the week with a 12th-place finish in the 1,650-yard freestyle. The true freshman completed the race in a time of 15 minutes and 54.33 seconds. He had previously captured all-america accolades in the 400-yard IM (sixth-place, 3:57.72), the 500-yard freestyle (ninth-place, 4:30.20) and the 1,000-yard freestyle (10th-place, 9:23.74).
The Adelaide, South Australia native shattered the school record for all-america awards in a single season. No Gannon swimmer, female or male, had earned more than two in a single season. Likewise, he is the first swimmer in school history to become an All-American in four different events. Previously, no Gannon swimmer had been an All-American in more than two.
Curtis already owns the second-most all-america awards in school history despite swimming at only one national championship. Only Sharon Crotzer has more, earning six between 1992 and 1995. Brett Lindemuth is tied with Curtis, securing four between 1996 and 1997.
Rocco reached uncharted waters of her own on the diving board this weekend. The junior picked up her second all-america honor of the week with 372.25 points in the three-meter dive, good for 13th place. She is now a five-time All-American, representing three more than any other diver (female or male) in school history. Rocco is also the only diver (female or male) in school history to earn all-america honors in multiple championships. She was named an All-American earlier in the week with a 10th-place finish in the one-meter dive (392.10 points).
The Cranberry Township, Pa., native previously earned an all-america award in the one-meter dive last season, as well earning all-america accolades in both the one-meter and three-meter diving events as a freshman in 2009.
In other Gannon action,
Kaitlyn Bosy (Courtice, Ontario/Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary) and
Ellie Hess (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell) were unable to advance to the finals in the 100-yard freestyle. Bosy placed 30th in the preliminaries with a time of 52.65 seconds. Hess finished 45th with a time of 53.20 seconds. Jackie Rzymek (Erie, Pa./McDowell) was a scratch in the 100-yard freestyle due to an injury.
Curtis' 12th-place finish in the 1,650-yard freestyle captured five more points for Gannon in the men's team standings. The Golden Knights concluded the NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Championships in 22nd place with 34 points.
Rocco's 13th-place finish in the three-meter diving event gave the Gannon women's swimming and diving team four points. The Lady Knights finished in 32nd place with 11 points.
For complete results from the final day of the NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Championships, please
click here.