University of Texas Austin - Cactus Yearbook (Austin, TX)

DIVERS PARTICIPATE IN NATIONAL TRIUMPH With two Longhorns qualifying for the NCAA meet, the 1990 UT men ' s diving team helped pave the way for Texas ' third consecutive swimming and diving national championship. " The team did a good job through- out the year, " said sophomore Kenny Green. " I ' m glad that we won the third straight championship. We contributed some extra points. " Ranked No. 1 in the nation through- out the season, the Horns not surpris- ingly won their 1 1th straight Southwest Conference Championship title. Con- tributing to the team ' s success, fresh- man Brandon Gardner placed third in both the one-meter and three-meter springboard events. Also placing, soph- omore Jason Rhodes captured fifth place in the one-meter and placed fourth in the three-meter springboard. The Horns entered the NCAA Championships in Indianapolis qualify- ing only two divers, Gardner and Rhodes. Although he qualified, Rhodes did not feel that he was in the best of shape, for he was still recuperating from an off-season shoulder injury. However, Rhodes and Gardner did well enough to help insure a national victory for Texas. Gardner placed in the Top 20 in the one and three-meter spring- board. Surprisingly, Rhodes took two eighth place finishes in both the one- meter and three-meter events and fin- ished 1 7th in the ten-meter platform. Rhodes, who also earned All- American honors, attributed the Long- horns ' successful season to the team- work of both the divers and swimmers. " As a team we did well. The ones who went to the NCAA meet did really well. Everyone contributed (to the champi- onship). " Pat McParland I TOPSY-TURVY: Fresh- man Brandon Gardner flips in the three-meter springboard competition at the Austin Cup Finals. SHAKEDOWN: Arkan- sas ' Andy Serie congrat- ulates sophomore Andy Rhodes and Gardner at the SWC Championships. photos by Hannes Hacker Men ' s Diving 165