HOUSTON, Texas - Kyra Apodaca represented the Little Rock swimming and diving team at the NCAA Zone Diving Championships for the first time in seven years this week, competing on the 1-meter board on Monday.
The junior finished 44th out of 52 competitors, beating out divers from Power 5 schools such as Kansas, TCU, Texas A&M and Wisconsin. Her final score over six divers was 214.20 points.
"All year we have had a motto for how to approach challenges," said diving coach
Chris Pape. "We approached this meet in the same manner. We set out to come in and do
What We Know, The Best We Are Able."
"I thought Kyra executed this motto and game plan very well," he continued. "During the competition, she looked calm and confident on each dive even if it didn't end up they way we were hoping. It was great to see her step up and show the Zone competition what Little Rock was about. Myself, Coach Nathan, and the entire team are very proud of what she accomplished this year and look forward to what next year will bring."
Apodaca also out-scoring opponents that the Trojans had competed against this past year, including Tulane, Northern Iowa and North Texas, proving her growth over the year. Her performance also hints at the trajectory that the diving program is headed.
"In just two years, we have brought the team to a point that some program never get to," remarked Coach Pape. "We have divers that can compete for dual wins, finals at conference, and Zone qualifications. It speaks to the hard work we are putting in and also the major support we have from our alumni, donors and administration. I am very excited to see where we are in the next couple years, and continue to build up the name of Little Rock in the diving world."
For the latest information on Little Rock Swimming and Diving, make sure to check out LRTrojans.com. You can also find the team on social media at @LittleRockSwim on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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