TicketsJan. 6, 2011
By Jeff Gentil
GoBEARCATS.com
A large part of the UC women's swimming and diving team's success so far this year has been the stellar performance from the divers. Led by four seniors, diving coach Paul Glassman has seen enough to have some very high hopes for them down the road.
Three of the four senior divers have been Bearcats their entire careers. Lindsey Bakan (Miamisburg/Alter), Maggie Eubanks (Florence/Mt. Notre Dame Academy), and Kirtley Krombholz (Cincinnati/Indian Hill) were recruited by Glassman out of high school and have steadily improved under his tutelage. Brittany Teneyck was also recruited by Glassman out of high school, but instead chose to attend the University of Toledo. However, after her sophomore year Teneyck decided it was time for a change.
"She was the only diver at Toledo," Glassman said. "When she was a freshman there were two other divers but they were seniors. So after they left, Brittany was all by herself. And while she had a very good coach at Toledo, it was hard on her being all by herself. So she asked for her release and it was granted. I think they did it because she was coming to Cincinnati and it wouldn't come back to bite them (if she went to another MAC school)."
"I loved my coach at Toledo," Teneyck said. "But after my sophomore year, she left the program and got a 'real' job so I decided to get away. I really love being part of a team. They are my best friends and I don't know what I'd do without them. We all push each other every day."
The senior has had a breakout season with several top finishes that includes winning the one and three meter boards at the Miami Invitational and the Florida Atlantic Invitational. For Teneyck, the light seemed to switch on.
"I'm very pleased," she said. "It's finally paying off. I figured I would do well, but I was really surprised about the three meter results."
Surprised because until her freshman year she had never dived off a three-meter board and has steadily taken to it and improved exponentially.
Teneyck is not the only diver having a good season thus far. In fact, Glassman believes all four seniors have what it takes to be top notch divers.
"They've all done really well," he said. "And when they have done well, they are as good as any divers in the country. But, it's getting that level of consistency that is the issue. One day they are all in the top-10 of the NCAA; the next day they are completely different. But, they are really talented."
It is this inconsistency that Glassman uses as motivation for the divers.
"We tell them they are capable of finishing first or they are capable of finishing 30th," he said. "But they get better every day. It takes time to be really good divers and they've had four good years and it has all come together. I've got my fingers crossed."
"Diving is a hit or miss sport," Teneyck said. "It takes consistency, but I think we are all great divers and we improve every day."
Heading toward the winter portion of the schedule, Glassman breaks down his senior divers and their chances:
"Brittany and Kirtley are legitimate challengers to win the BIG EAST if they perform the way I have seen them perform in practice," he says. "Lindsey can legitimately make the finals at BIG EAST. She is probably our most consistent diver, but her degree of difficulty isn't as high as Brittany's or Kirtley's. And Maggie Eubanks could be the surprise of the year. She is a real sleeper people aren't paying attention to."
Winning the BIG EAST may be a goal of the finance major but she isn't saying so.
"I want to make the finals on both boards (one and three meters) at BIG EAST," Teneyck said. "I'm going to take it one step at a time. Once I reach each goal I will reassess. I'm very hard on myself. I would really love to reach all my goals this year and I can if I compete like I practice."