U.S. Merchant Marine Academy senior Joel Meyer (Danville, CA) became the first Mariners athlete to ever win the one-meter diving competition at the NCAA Division III Men's Swimming & Diving Championships, Thursday night, March 18, which is being hosted this year by Principia College. Meyer, who is the second diver to win a national title in Academy history (Bill Nixon, three-meter, 1988 and '89), scored 479.30 points on the evening. His next-nearest competitor was Mike Shaw, a sophomore from Springfield College, who registered a score of 459.50.

This marks the fifth event in which Meyer has garnered NCAA All-America accolades in his illustrious career.

Next, Joel Meyer dove to a second-place finish in the three-meter springboard competition at the NCAA Division III Swimming & Diving Championships, Saturday, March 20, while earning National Diver of the Year honors. Head diving coach Kevin Ryan was honored as National Diving Coach of the Year in the national meet hosted by Principia College.

Ranked first going into the finals, Meyer registered a 480.10, only 8.05 points behind Springfield College sophomore Mike Shaw (488.15).

"Tonight I felt confident in all my dives," said the six-time All-American diver. "I feel kind of relieved. My diving career came to an end on a positive note. I'm just happy. It's just been awesome."

"I had the best meet of my life on the one-meter in the finals," said the four-year at national competitor. "All the other years really helped me to be a little more relaxed than others. I knew what to expect; I knew what I had to do."

Ryan, in his 19th year at the head of Kings Point's diving squad, earned his first national honors in 1988 after leading four divers to the NCAA Championships.

"It's a real honor to win Coach of the Year," said an elated Ryan of his second Division III National Diving Coach of the Year honors. "You coach all year long, and it's a real pleasure. (Joel) dove fantastic. I'm so pleased for him. I'm just very happy."

Kings Point was once tied for 14th place (20 points) in team competition after Thursday night's performance. The Blue and Gray finished the three-day meet with 37 points, good enough to place 19th.

Head swimming coach Sean Tedesco said the trip to the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships reflects the commitment to excellence affirmed by both the Academy and the swimming and diving program.

"We are dedicated and focused on performing at the highest level that we can," said Tedesco in his third year at the helm of the Mariners. "Even though we're a small Division III school, we can produce. Going to Nationals is something we strive for each year."