Kushner Named SEC Diver of the Week

FAYETTEVILLE-University of Arkansas freshman diver Brieanne Kushner was named Southeastern Conference Diver of the Week as announced by the conference office Wednesday Jan. 12.

Kushner won the one- and three-meter springboard events at the Jan. 10 meet against conference foe, Tennessee, Kushner’s sweep of the diving events marked the first time she achieved the feat. Kushner qualified for the NCAA Zone Diving Championships with her score of 260.70 in the one meter.

Head diving coach Scott Reich said he was very pleased with Kushner’s achievement and is hopeful about her performances in the remaining portion of the season.

“That’s awesome accomplishment,” Reich said. “She’s really talented. She was under the radar in recruiting. She is a true diamond in the rough.

“Her goal should be to finish in the top eight at conference and to qualify for NCAAs,” Reich said. “And it will be a bonus if she scores.”

Kushner, a Thunder Bay, Ontario native, hails from the same hometown as former Arkansas diver and NCAA Runner-up Mandy Moran and Reich said that Moran has been a beneficial role model for Kushner.

“It’s neat that she (Kushner) is from the same hometown as Mandy (Moran),” Reich said. “Mandy has really helped her in training.”

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