Simard Places Third on One-Meter Board at Diving Regionals, Advances to NCAAs

NEW LONDON, Conn. – Bridgewater State University senior Cailey Simard (Haverhill, Mass.) placed third out of a field of 27 student-athletes during the one-meter diving competition on Friday afternoon at the 2026 NCAA Division III Region Three Women's Diving Championships hosted by Connecticut College and held at the Lott Natatorium.

Simard, who is making her fourth straight appearance at the regional diving championships, posted an 11-dive score of 436.00 points and will advance to the NCAA Division III Swimming & Diving Championships which will take place at the Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis, Indiana from March 18-21.

BSU freshman Sienna DeLucia (Wallingford, Conn.) finished 22nd on the one-meter board with a score of 353.65 points. DeLucia was making her NCAA regional debut.

Simard's highest-scoring dive today was a reverse 1 1/2 somersault pike (2.4 DD) on her ninth dive for which she earned 48.00 points. An inward 1 1/2 somersault pike (2.4 DD) that Simard attempted for her tenth dive scored a 45.60. She also recorded 44.85 points on her eighth dive (back 1 12 somersault pike, 2.3 DD) and 44.50 points on her 11th and final dive (back 1 somersault 2 1/2 twist free, 2.7 DD).

Sophomore Fiora Beratahani of MIT captured top honors at the championship meet on the one-meter board with 442.30 points.

Amherst College senior Donna Zhang rounded out the top three scorers at the meet as she placed second with 440.55 points. 

Last season, Simard placed sixth out of a field of 29 student-athletes during the one-meter competition with 415.35 points. She also finished eighth out of 31 competitors with 396.90 points in 2024 and 17th out of a field of 26 as a freshman in 2023 with 361.45 points.

DeLucia's top performance was her sixth dive, a forward 2 somersault pike (2.3 DD), which resulted in a score of 42.55 points. She also notched 39.60 points on her tenth dive, an inward 1 1/2 somersault pike (2.4 DD), and 35.65 points on her 11th and final dive, a back 1 somersault (2.3 DD). 

Simard and sophomore teammate Gianna Varady (Highland Park) will compete in the three-meter diving competition on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 PM.

The top four finishers in each of the two diving events automatically qualify for the NCAA Division III Swimming & Diving Championships, with qualifications beyond the top four possible to reach a total of seven divers that will qualify from the region.