March 12, 2006

LEXINGTON, KY. - North Carolina junior Jon Fox of Neenah, Wis. continued his remarkable diving performance Saturday at the NCAA Zone B Diving Championships being held at the Univeristy of Kentucky. In fact, Fox recorded the highest finish ever for a Tar Heel diver in the history of the zone diving events.

After finishing ninth in the three-meter competition on Friday, Fox made great strides Saturday as he copped fourth place in the one-meter diving. The fourth place finish was the highest ever in an any event at the NCAA Zone Diving meet by any Tar Heel men's or women's diver in history.

Fox qualified seventh in one-meter with 303.50 points. After completing his six optional dives, Fox' score zoomed to 606.40 points and a fourth-place standing. The two performances combined give Fox a splendid chance to earn a spot to compete in the NCAA National Championships in Atlanta, Ga, in two weekends. The national meet is hosted by Georgia Tech.

The bids to nationals will be awarded Sunday and will be determined by a formuia analyzing the ascores on all three events.

Sophomore Ryan Funderburk of Summerfield, N.C. had a better second day as he fibaled in one-meter event. Funderburk was ninth in the prelims with a score of 292.90. After doing six optional dives in the finals, Funderburk remained in ninth with a total score of 593.30.

Ryan Matuszak, a senior from Rochester Hill, Mich, was 28th in one-meter with a 234.60 score.

On the second day, the Tar Heel women were also involved in three-meter diving. Mandi Arak was 26th (243.20) while sophomore Erika Matheis was 29th at 227.30.