University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, March 19
Greensboro, NC
9:00 AM/5:00 PM
University of Minnesota
at
NCAA Championships
Players Mentioned
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Breaststroke/IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Bacon Sweeps Springboards on Day Three of NCAA Championships
3/19/2021 8:26:00 PM | Women's Swimming & Diving
MINNEAPOLIS - For the fourth time in her exceptional collegiate career, redshirt-senior Sarah Bacon is an NCAA Champion. Bacon won her first career title in the three-meter springboard Friday evening, effectively sweeping the springboard diving events at the 2021 NCAA Championships.
Right from the get-go, Bacon was a force on the board as her prelim six-dive score of 380.70 comfortably secured her the top seed in the night's finals session for the second consecutive day, sitting more than 19 points ahead of each of her 45 adversaries.
The night's finals session told almost exactly the same tale, though it was even possibly more impressive. The Indianapolis, Ind. native tore through her competition, rattling off six straight dives of more than 60 points, three of the final four of which were either a 70.50 or above. She'd ultimately finish with the championship winning six-dive score of 408.60, more than 24 points ahead of her nearest competitor.
On top of the flight representing yet another of Bacon's prolific performances on the national stage, it also sadly marks her final as a member of the Minnesota swimming & diving program, as she will graduate later this spring with her BS in Kinesiology. Her four individual NCAA titles make her the winningest woman in any sport in Minnesota history, the next closest having only secured two.
"Wenbo and I have really been working on consistency in my three meter diving for the last two years," said Bacon. "My one meter has always been consistent, and I am finally starting to figure it out on three meter. With that being said, I'm just super happy that mine and Wenbo's hard work has paid off and showed in that three meter final tonight."
Freshman Megan Van Berkom made her NCAA debut on Friday as well, representing Minnesota during the preliminary round of the 400 individual medley. Though missing the night's finals session, Van Berkom improved six spots from her original seed to finish 33rd overall (4:14.96).
In honor of Bacon's historic career coming to an end, the following list highlights just some of her top achievements over her time donning the Maroon and Gold.
With day three now come and gone, Minnesota remains in 21st place with 40 team points.
Van Berkom will return on Saturday to fight for a spot in the night's finals session in the 200 butterfly. Prelims will once again kick off at 9:00 a.m. CT on ESPN3.
Right from the get-go, Bacon was a force on the board as her prelim six-dive score of 380.70 comfortably secured her the top seed in the night's finals session for the second consecutive day, sitting more than 19 points ahead of each of her 45 adversaries.
The night's finals session told almost exactly the same tale, though it was even possibly more impressive. The Indianapolis, Ind. native tore through her competition, rattling off six straight dives of more than 60 points, three of the final four of which were either a 70.50 or above. She'd ultimately finish with the championship winning six-dive score of 408.60, more than 24 points ahead of her nearest competitor.
👀 as Sarah Bacon secures her fourth career NCAA title!#Gophers // #NCAASwimDive 〽️ pic.twitter.com/HwExwUAC6x
— Minnesota Swimming & Diving (@GopherSwimDive) March 20, 2021
On top of the flight representing yet another of Bacon's prolific performances on the national stage, it also sadly marks her final as a member of the Minnesota swimming & diving program, as she will graduate later this spring with her BS in Kinesiology. Her four individual NCAA titles make her the winningest woman in any sport in Minnesota history, the next closest having only secured two.
"Wenbo and I have really been working on consistency in my three meter diving for the last two years," said Bacon. "My one meter has always been consistent, and I am finally starting to figure it out on three meter. With that being said, I'm just super happy that mine and Wenbo's hard work has paid off and showed in that three meter final tonight."
Freshman Megan Van Berkom made her NCAA debut on Friday as well, representing Minnesota during the preliminary round of the 400 individual medley. Though missing the night's finals session, Van Berkom improved six spots from her original seed to finish 33rd overall (4:14.96).
In honor of Bacon's historic career coming to an end, the following list highlights just some of her top achievements over her time donning the Maroon and Gold.
- 3x Reigning NCAA 1m Champion (2018, '19, '21)
- 1x NCAA 3m Champion (2021)
- NCAA Championship 3m Bronze Medalist (2019)
- 8x All-American honoree (1m & 3m - 2017, '18, '19, '21)
- 2x B1G Champion (1m - 2018, 3m - '19)
- 2x Top-Three B1G Championship Finishes (3m - 2018, 1m - '19)
- 2018 NCAA Co-Diver of the Championships award winner
- 2019 B1G Diver of the Year award winner
- NCAA Championships Meet 1m record holder (363.20)
- B1G Championships Meet 3m record holder (430.60)
- Minnesota Team 3m record holder (430.60)
With day three now come and gone, Minnesota remains in 21st place with 40 team points.
Van Berkom will return on Saturday to fight for a spot in the night's finals session in the 200 butterfly. Prelims will once again kick off at 9:00 a.m. CT on ESPN3.
Vivi Del Angel Wins NCAA Bronze
Monday, March 24
Del Angel Earns B1G Platform Diving Silver
Saturday, February 22
Vivi Del Angel Wins NCAA Title
Monday, March 25
Megan Van Berkom Wins 400 IM
Monday, February 26