Illness keeps Stultz from desired NCAA finish

Flu-like symptoms couldn’t keep sophomore diver Jeremy Stultz out of the 2006 NCAA Swimming… Flu-like symptoms couldn’t keep sophomore diver Jeremy Stultz out of the 2006 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships that were held in Atlanta last weekend.

They did keep him from performing the way he wanted to, though.

“He came down with a stomach flu type virus right before we left and he was ill for the whole trip down,” swimming head coach Chuck Knoles said. “He kind of recovered after a few days of competition, but he just wasn’t on his game and became frustrated with his abilities to perform.”

Knoles added that Stultz was just unable to perform up to his expectations.

Despite the disappointment, it was still a successful overall experience.

In his first NCAA appearance, Stultz got an up-close-and-personal look at the nation’s top divers. Stultz battled his illness to finish his sophomore season with a 30th-place performance in the 1-meter boards, earning a final score of 258.30 and then taking 35th in the 3-meter dives, with a score of 212.80.

“One of the most important things is he’s one of the top divers in the country. They only invite 35 divers and he was one of them,” Knoles said. “That’s only a tribute to his work ethic and attitude.”

Knoles also added that Stultz is only a sophomore and will only continue to improve.

In only his two years at Pitt, Stultz has already accomplished a lot.

As a freshman, he earned an all-Big East Selection, and this year he was named the 2006 Big East Diver of the Year. Stultz qualified for a spot in Atlanta, by finishing first in the 3-meter boards at the NCAA Diving Zones ‘A.’

Knoles knows the future is bright for Stultz and some of Pitt’s other male swimmers.

“We look forward to returning with Jeremy and some of our swimmers to a little more damage here next year,” he said.