38 / 48
F
or most swimming and diving programs,
a top-25 finish on either the men’s or
women’s side at the NCAA Championships
would classify as a solid season.
But what if both teams finished in the top
25? Well, that constitutes an outstanding
campaign.
The Virginia Tech men’s and women’s
swimming diving program were one of those
teams last season, as both squads finished in
the top 25 at the NCAAs, marking the fourth
time in program history and the fourth time
in the past five seasons. Both registered an
awesome achievement, but placing high at
NCAA and ACC Championships is a place
where head coach Ned Skinner and head
diving coach Ron Piemonte expect the Hokies
to finish year in and year out.
The 2016-17 campaign is no different, as
both sides expect a lot out of themselves.
“We always want to be in the upper echelon
of the conference and build our season,” said
Skinner, who enters his 18th season leading
the swimming and diving program. “We go
all in for the ACC Championships, where our
men won in 2014 and the women have been
runner-up. We always strive to be one of the
top three teams vying for an ACC title. On an
NCAA level, we have returning All-Americans
and a lot of swimmers and divers who have
a lot of experience. A top-15 finish at NCAAs
and finishing in the top three in the ACC are
the teams’ goals.”
DIVING
Eleven years into his tenure leading the
Hokie divers, Piemonte, a two-time ACC
Diving Coach of Year, knows the heights that
can be reached by his athletes. His men’s
diving program ranks as one of the top-scoring
programs in the ACC since the Hokies joined
the league, while the traditionally strong
women’s divers gained valuable experience
and go into this season with big aspirations.
Another year older is sophomore Ashlynn
Peters, who comes off a strong freshman
campaign in which she placed in the top
25 in all three diving events at the ACC
Championships. Redshirt junior Ashley
Buchter returns after taking a redshirt season
and a sophomore campaign in 2014-15 that
saw her earn 62 individual points at 2015 ACC
Championships. Peters’ potential progression
and the return of Buchter’s tough demeanor
excite Piemonte.
“I feel like Ashlynn Peters had a fantastic
summer, and I think that she learned a lot
as a freshman last year. She’s very prepared
for her sophomore campaign,” Piemonte
said. “Ashley’s recovered and working hard.
It’s going to be nice to get her back on the
boards because she’s very competitive. She’s
a multi-time ACC finalist and two time NCAA
qualifier, so I’m looking forward to having
Ashley competing for us again.”
The lone freshman diver on either themen’s
or women’s side is Miranda Eberle, a Saline,
Michigan native whom Piemonte praised
for her athleticism at such a young age after
qualifying for junior and senior nationals in
the 3-meter event. Junior Savannah Padgett
and senior Leah Piemonte round out the
women divers and serve as the squad’s
veteran leaders. This season marks the final
one for the coach’s daughter, and he’s excited
for the upcoming season after she scored at
the ACC Championships and qualified for the
NCAAs as a junior.
“It’s going to be nice to see her finish out her
career, and it’s been a great one,” Piemonte
SWIMMING AND DIVING
2016
Both the men’s and women’s squads
are coming off top-25 finishes at the
NCAA Championships and both
are looking to do even
better this season
by
Peter Long
Special to
Inside Hokie Sports
FIONA
DONNELLY
SWIMMING
AND
DIVING SQUADS
READY FOR 2016-17 CAMPAIGN
Continued on page 38
36
Inside Hokie Sports