LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Boilermakers' four NCAA Championships qualifiers Thursday at the NCAA Zone C Diving Championships featured two qualifying in their Zones debuts and two clinching their third career berths at the national championship meet.
On the first day of individual events, Holden Higbie, Max Miller, Jordan Rzepka and Jaye Patrick all finished among Zone C's allotted automatic qualifying spots to earn their bids to NCAAs. All four now only need to finish top 12 in their upcoming events this week to add to their schedules at the national championship meets later this month.
In the men's 3-meter event, Higbie finished third and Miller seventh among a field of 41 divers. The freshmen earned their bids to NCAAs in their first individual events at Zones. Jordan Rzepka placed eighth to also finish among the top 10 auto-qualifiers. The junior is one-third of his way towards qualifying for NCAAs in all three events for the third year in a row.
Patrick's seventh-place finish among a field of 61 in the women's 1-meter event was key because that was the final auto-qualifying spot for 1-meter from Zone C. She'll compete again on platform Saturday but has already assured herself of a trip to Athens, Georgia, next week. Previously, the grad transfer competed for Northwestern at NCAAs in 2021 and 2023.
The Boilermakers competed in both exhibition team diving competitions Wednesday evening. Miller, Rzepka and Higbie teamed up for a decisive victory (by 90 points) in the men's event, their third of the season as a trio. They were also victorious together in team diving at the Big Ten Championships in February and Purdue Invitational in November.
Action at the NCAA Zone C Championships continues Friday with the men on 1-meter and the men on 3-meter.
THURSDAY AT ZONES
Men's 3-Meter
• Holden Higbie, 839.2 (413.5 Final, 425.7 Prelim) – Finished 3rd; NCAA Championships Qualifier
• Max Miller, 760.95 (356.55 Final, 404.4 Prelim) – Finished 7th; NCAA Championships Qualifier
• Jordan Rzepka, 754.20 (383.35 Final, 370.85 Prelim) – Finished 8th; NCAA Championships Qualifier
Women's 1-Meter
• Jaye Patrick, 577.05 (288.55 Final, 288.50 Prelim) – Finished 7th; NCAA Championships Qualifier
• Jenna Sonnenberg, 217.00 – Finished 41st in Prelims
WEDNESDAY AT ZONES
Men's Team Diving (Exhibition)
• Max Miller, Jordan Rzepka & Holden Higbie, 387.55 – Event Winner; Won by 90.95 Points
Women's Team Diving (Exhibition)
• Jenna Sonnenberg, Kaitlin Simons & Jaye Patrick, 307.90 – Finished 2nd
AUTOMATIC QUALIFYING SPOTS TO NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS FROM ZONE C
Top 12 in an event also qualify for NCAAs if he or she has already auto-qualified
• 1-Meter – Women: 7 // Men: 7
• 3-Meter – Women: 11 // Men: 10
• Platform – Women: 9 // Men: 8
ZONE C REMAINING SCHEDULE
Top 18 in prelims advance to finals
• Friday at 1 p.m. – Men's 1-Meter, Women's 3-Meter
• Saturday at 11 a.m. – Women's Platform followed by Men's Platform
PURDUE'S REMAINING DAILY SCHEDULES
Friday
• Men's 1-Meter: Jordan, Max, Holden
• Women's 3-Meter: Daryn, Sophie, Jenna, Kaitlin
Saturday
• Women's Platform: Daryn, Sophie, Maycey, Jaye, Jenna, Kaitlin
• Men's Platform: Jordan, Holden
On the first day of individual events, Holden Higbie, Max Miller, Jordan Rzepka and Jaye Patrick all finished among Zone C's allotted automatic qualifying spots to earn their bids to NCAAs. All four now only need to finish top 12 in their upcoming events this week to add to their schedules at the national championship meets later this month.
In the men's 3-meter event, Higbie finished third and Miller seventh among a field of 41 divers. The freshmen earned their bids to NCAAs in their first individual events at Zones. Jordan Rzepka placed eighth to also finish among the top 10 auto-qualifiers. The junior is one-third of his way towards qualifying for NCAAs in all three events for the third year in a row.
Patrick's seventh-place finish among a field of 61 in the women's 1-meter event was key because that was the final auto-qualifying spot for 1-meter from Zone C. She'll compete again on platform Saturday but has already assured herself of a trip to Athens, Georgia, next week. Previously, the grad transfer competed for Northwestern at NCAAs in 2021 and 2023.
The Boilermakers competed in both exhibition team diving competitions Wednesday evening. Miller, Rzepka and Higbie teamed up for a decisive victory (by 90 points) in the men's event, their third of the season as a trio. They were also victorious together in team diving at the Big Ten Championships in February and Purdue Invitational in November.
Action at the NCAA Zone C Championships continues Friday with the men on 1-meter and the men on 3-meter.
THURSDAY AT ZONES
Men's 3-Meter
• Holden Higbie, 839.2 (413.5 Final, 425.7 Prelim) – Finished 3rd; NCAA Championships Qualifier
• Max Miller, 760.95 (356.55 Final, 404.4 Prelim) – Finished 7th; NCAA Championships Qualifier
• Jordan Rzepka, 754.20 (383.35 Final, 370.85 Prelim) – Finished 8th; NCAA Championships Qualifier
Women's 1-Meter
• Jaye Patrick, 577.05 (288.55 Final, 288.50 Prelim) – Finished 7th; NCAA Championships Qualifier
• Jenna Sonnenberg, 217.00 – Finished 41st in Prelims
WEDNESDAY AT ZONES
Men's Team Diving (Exhibition)
• Max Miller, Jordan Rzepka & Holden Higbie, 387.55 – Event Winner; Won by 90.95 Points
Women's Team Diving (Exhibition)
• Jenna Sonnenberg, Kaitlin Simons & Jaye Patrick, 307.90 – Finished 2nd
AUTOMATIC QUALIFYING SPOTS TO NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS FROM ZONE C
Top 12 in an event also qualify for NCAAs if he or she has already auto-qualified
• 1-Meter – Women: 7 // Men: 7
• 3-Meter – Women: 11 // Men: 10
• Platform – Women: 9 // Men: 8
ZONE C REMAINING SCHEDULE
Top 18 in prelims advance to finals
• Friday at 1 p.m. – Men's 1-Meter, Women's 3-Meter
• Saturday at 11 a.m. – Women's Platform followed by Men's Platform
PURDUE'S REMAINING DAILY SCHEDULES
Friday
• Men's 1-Meter: Jordan, Max, Holden
• Women's 3-Meter: Daryn, Sophie, Jenna, Kaitlin
Saturday
• Women's Platform: Daryn, Sophie, Maycey, Jaye, Jenna, Kaitlin
• Men's Platform: Jordan, Holden