KEENE, N.H. 2/27/13 – Josh Tuller will not only be diving into the Art Linkletter Natatorium Pool , but also diving  into the Keene State College record book when he competes  at the NCAA Division III Regional Diving Championships at Springfield College this weekend. The men's three-meter competition will take place Friday (8 p.m.) while the one-meter event is scheduled for Saturday (4 p.m.).

When the junior from Plainview, N.Y. takes off from the board, he will become the first Keene State diver to compete at the regional meet. Tuller, along with 18 other divers will vie for one of the highly-coveted eight berths to the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships that will be held from March 20-23 at Shenandoah, Texas.

Tuller is hoping to join Diana Robbins as the only Keene State divers to qualify for a national championship meet.  Robbins, a 1984 KSC grad and a member of College's Hall of Fame, competed at two AIAW meets and two NCAA Division II Championships during her four-year (1980-84) career.

“I've been waiting for this meet for 22 weeks. It's been a long time coming,” said Tuller, who was named diver of the meet two weeks ago at the NEISDA championship after finishing first in three-meter and third in the one-meter event. “I'm getting back to doing all my dives at one practice.  It's feeling good.” 

Tuller will do 11 dives in each competition; five optional and six mandatory.  “I'm looking forward to the competition,” said Tuller.  “I don't know how I'm going to do, but I'm going to have fun. If I don't have fun with it, I'm not going to do well.  I'll put too much pressure on myself and it's not going to pan out the way I want it too” 

“If Josh dives up to his ability, he will definitely be a contender,” said KSC Diving Coach Dave Mason.  “My main goal is for him to get the experience of what it's like to get to the finals.  This is a huge step for Keene State diving.  We've never had any one make it this far.”  

Tuller will have some stiff competition.  “When you're at this level – you're talking about the cream of the crop,” said Mason.  “This is the best that New England has for Division III – usually out of New England you get a national champ.”

The talented field includes Johnann Schmidt, a junior from Tufts who was the national champion in the one-meter event and finished fifth in the three-meter competition at last year's NCAA championship.

This will be the second time Tuller has competed at Springfield College this season.  He placed fourth in the three-meter (266 points) and fifth in the one-meter events in a tri-meet against the Pride and Wheaton College earlier this year. “I like their boards a lot,” said Tuller. 

“The last few years under Jack (KSC Head Swimming Coach Jack Fabian), we've been able to develop a highly-competitive and quality swim program and hopefully we can develop an equally strong diving program,” said Mason.