GREENSBORO, N.C. – Emily Bretscher's matching sixth-place finishes via nearly identical list scores on 3-meter earned the Purdue diver All-America honors in her first career appearance in a championship final at the NCAA Championships.
Bretscher placed sixth of 46 in the 3-meter prelim to qualify for the final and clinch her third career All-America accolade, but first of the full-fledged variety. In 2019, she was the runner-up in the consolation finals of both 1-meter and platform to garner a pair of honorable mention All-America awards. Friday, Bretscher became Purdue's first female diver to be an All-American in all three diving events for her career since Erin Mertz in 2011.
The Purdue women have produced a diving All-American in 16 of the last 17 years the national championship meet has been held.
Bretscher posted list scores of 345.55 in the prelim and 345.30 in the final.
She earned her berth in the final thanks in part to three elite dives in the prelim. She ripped her dives in rounds 3, 5 and 6 – all producing awards of at least 63 points. Her 64.5 on a reverse 2 ½ in round 3 was the top score among the 46-diver field in that round of the prelim. Her scores of 63 in rounds 5 and 6 were also among the top five in the field.
Bretscher's consistency was on display again in the final, with all six of her dives earning an award of at least 54 points. But she didn't have another 60-point dive until the final round and by that point she was no longer in position for a medalist finish.
As one of 20 divers to qualify for all three events at NCAAs this season, Bretscher competes again Saturday on the platform. She'll be joined by teammates and 10-meter specialists Maggie Merriman and Maycey Vieta. The prelim is set for 12:15 p.m. ET and the final at approximately 7:15 p.m.
SPRINGBOARD DIVING AT NCAAs
3-Meter (Friday)
Emily Bretscher, 345.55 (Prelim Score) – Finished 6th in Championship Final (13 Points); All-American
1-Meter (Thursday)
Emily Bretscher, 241.20 – Finished 41st in Prelim
Bretscher placed sixth of 46 in the 3-meter prelim to qualify for the final and clinch her third career All-America accolade, but first of the full-fledged variety. In 2019, she was the runner-up in the consolation finals of both 1-meter and platform to garner a pair of honorable mention All-America awards. Friday, Bretscher became Purdue's first female diver to be an All-American in all three diving events for her career since Erin Mertz in 2011.
The Purdue women have produced a diving All-American in 16 of the last 17 years the national championship meet has been held.
Bretscher posted list scores of 345.55 in the prelim and 345.30 in the final.
She earned her berth in the final thanks in part to three elite dives in the prelim. She ripped her dives in rounds 3, 5 and 6 – all producing awards of at least 63 points. Her 64.5 on a reverse 2 ½ in round 3 was the top score among the 46-diver field in that round of the prelim. Her scores of 63 in rounds 5 and 6 were also among the top five in the field.
Bretscher's consistency was on display again in the final, with all six of her dives earning an award of at least 54 points. But she didn't have another 60-point dive until the final round and by that point she was no longer in position for a medalist finish.
As one of 20 divers to qualify for all three events at NCAAs this season, Bretscher competes again Saturday on the platform. She'll be joined by teammates and 10-meter specialists Maggie Merriman and Maycey Vieta. The prelim is set for 12:15 p.m. ET and the final at approximately 7:15 p.m.
SPRINGBOARD DIVING AT NCAAs
3-Meter (Friday)
Emily Bretscher, 345.55 (Prelim Score) – Finished 6th in Championship Final (13 Points); All-American
1-Meter (Thursday)
Emily Bretscher, 241.20 – Finished 41st in Prelim