University of West Alabama

ST. PAUL, MINN. - The St. Catherine University swimmers and divers had a tremendous three days at the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Swimming and Diving Championships last weekend.  The Wildcats recorded their best finish in the team standings in 2017 as they took fifth with 282 points. One student-athlete who was key to St. Kate’s success was senior diver Jenna Nagy (Hutchinson, Minn. / Hutchinson), who has been named Wildcat Athlete of the Week.

Nagy saved the best for last in the final MIAC Championship of her career. On Thursday, Nagy earned the top-seed in the 3-meter finals after earning the top score of 424.25 points in the preliminary and semi-final rounds. However, the senior diver from Hutchinson, Minnesota, was in for the competition of her career in Friday’s final with St. Olaf diver Courtney Miller. The two were neck and neck after 10 rounds of diving, meaning a champion wouldn’t be decided until the final round. Miller, the No. 2 seed and seventh diver, earned a huge score to tally 448.90 total points. With just one dive remaining in her program, Nagy took the board and nailed it, earning an 11-dive score of 451.75 to not only win the event, but set a new school record as well.

After a clutch win on the 3-meter board Friday night, Nagy returned to the pool for the final MIAC diving event of her career: the 1-meter championship. After recording the top score in the preliminary round, Nagy won the 1-meter competition in dominating fashion, receiving an overall combined score of 438.35. However, her 6-dive score of 273.45 in the finals was perhaps more impressive than the overall score, as it stands as the new school record.

Thanks to her outstanding weekend,  Nagy was recognized as the MIAC Diver of the Meet, having won both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving competitions, while diving coach Jake Dunn was named Coach of the Meet for women's diving. She also helped the team record their highest finish at the MIAC Championships in recent history, as the Wildcats finished in fifth place with 282 points.