2 Pitt divers, 1 swimmer earn All-American status after NCAA cancellation
Three athletes from Pitt’s swimming and diving team lost their opportunity to compete in the NCAA Championships, but that roadblock didn’t stop them from becoming first-time All-Americans.
Sophomore divers Serena Buchwald and Amy Read and junior swimmer Blaise Vera were named Wednesday 2020 All-Americans by the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America.
Buchwald, Read and Vera had qualified for the NCAA Championships that were canceled by the covid-19 outbreak.
Vera, a second-year NCAA qualifier, swam a season-best and Pitt record time of 19.10 seconds in the 50-yard freestyle to win the Purdue Invitational in November. It was the fastest effort in the nation at the time.
He finished sixth at the ACC swim meet in the 50 free in 19.54. He also swam a season-best 42.47 in the 100-yard free at ACCs during the 400 free relay, finishing sixth.
Read won the platform event and Buchwald finished third at the NCAA Zone Diving Meet in Morgantown, W.Va., in early March to advance to nationals.
“This is a great honor for our athletes,” Pitt head coach John Hargis said. “It obviously wasn’t the way that we wanted their seasons to end because they were each primed to compete at the NCAA Championships this year.
“They poured their hearts into all aspects of the sport, and I truly feel as though we were going to have some unreal performances at NCAAs.
“The positive thing is that they all have remaining eligibility and another shot next year.”
Pitt diving coach Katie Hazelton said her divers’ “hard work and dedication” paid off in their All-American recognition.
“Although we were certainly disappointed to not be able to compete at NCAAs, earning All-America status is a great reward and a demonstration of the level of excellence that we want our athletes to strive toward,” Hazelton said. “We’re very proud of both Amy and Serena and can’t wait to see what the future holds as they enter their junior seasons.”
Buchwald was set to make her first appearance at the NCAA Championships. Read qualified for the second consecutive season.
Vera also was a second-year NCAA qualifier.
Jerry DiPaola is a TribLive reporter covering Pitt athletics since 2011. A Pittsburgh native, he joined the Trib in 1993, first as a copy editor and page designer in the sports department and later as the Pittsburgh Steelers reporter from 1994-2004. He can be reached at jdipaola@triblive.com.
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