Few college athletes get the opportunity to compete for their universities on such a grand national stage, but Irish freshman Daniel Knapp did it just a few months into his young Notre Dame career.
On Friday, the Mesa, Ariz., native participated in the 3-meter springboard event at the 2022 USA Diving Winter National Championships in Morgantown, W.V. He finished with a final score of 315.70, which was good enough for 17th place out of 45 of America’s best divers.
Knapp’s six dives included a Forward 3 1/2 Somersault Pike, Inward 2 1/2 Somersault Pike, Forward 2 1/2 Somersault 2 Pike Twist, Back 2 1/2 Somersault Pike, Reverse 3 1/2 Somersault Tuck and Reverse 1 1/2 Somersault 2 1/2 Twist Free. His best dive came third in the lineup, as his Forward 2 1/2 Somersault 2 Twist Pike earned him a score of 68.00 and a second-place finish in the round.
Olympian Andrew Capobianco (Holly Springs, N.C./Johansen Diving Academy) won the event, earning his fourth career national title with a score of 853.80.
Knapp will now turn his attention toward a few more in-season meets with Notre Dame before Zones and NCAAs in March. He has already had tremendous success for the Irish, earning three second-place finishes and a first-place finish in fall meets against Pittsburgh/Penn State and Louisville.
Notre Dame swimming and diving will compete next in Annapolis, Md., in a tri-meet against Navy and Princeton from Jan. 13-14.