MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., March 21, 2006– Springfield College senior All-American Mike Shaw (Westfield, Mass.) placed second in the three-meter diving (501.20) and one-meter diving (507.55) competitions to help lead the Pride to 57 points, good for 17th place overall at the NCAA Division III Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships hosted by the University of Minnesota.
Kenyon College finished first overall with 498 points trailed by Denison College, which came in second with 345 total team points, and Emory College which rounded out the top three with 310 points.
SC’s 17th-place finish was tops in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC). Shaw, competing in the final diving events in his illustrious Springfield College career, finished second on both boards, once again earning All-America status.
Two other Pride swimmers and one more diver also competed in the weekend’s festivities. Sophomore Roy Burch (Warwick, Bermuda) placed fourth overall in the 50 freestyle (20.75), 13th in the 100 freestyle (45.97), and 19th in the 100 backstroke (52.64).
Senior All-American Dan Moran (Wilbraham, Mass) finished up his collegiate career with a 20th-place finish in the 200 butterfly event (1:54.02) and a 27th-place finish in the 500 free (4:40.07).
Finally, sophomore Ben Casavant (Action, Mass) finished 13th on the one-meter board (402.75) and 18th in the three-meter diving event (372.85)
John Taffe enters his 25th season in 2013-2014 as the head coach of the men's and women's swimming teams at Springfield College. Under Taffe’s leadership, the Pride has returned to its status as one of the best collegiate swimming and diving programs in Division III. Read more.
Peter Avdoulos is regarded as one of the top diving coaches in the nation, and will enter his 28th season as the diving coach for both the men's and women's programs in 2012-2013. The current NEWMAC Men's Diving Coach of the Year, Avdoulos has coached countless All-New England and All-American divers, as well as several National Champions. Read more.