By Jim Fenton, The Enterprise (Brockton)

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Easton resident Tiffany Easter ended her first season with the Bridgewater State University swimming and diving team in style.

Easter was named the Little East Conference diver and rookie diver of the week on Monday after her performance in the regular-season finale against Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

The Brockton High School graduate had her best scores on the one-meter board (180.00) and the three-meter board (191.70) to finish second in both events during a 206-184 loss to the Engineers.

Easter showed improvement throughout her freshman season for the Bears and was a consistent point producer.

She placed first in the 3-meter event six times and was in the top three on four other occasions. Easter was in the top three in the 1-meter event nine times, including three first-place showings.

“She’s come such a long way,’’ said BSU coach Michael Caruso, now in his second season. “She dove for Brockton High School and really just picked it up the last couple of years she was there.

“She’s just been unbelievable. Each meet, she’s getting just stronger and stronger.’’

Easter was first in the 1-meter event in her second meet against Regis and won the 3-meter event against UMass-Dartmouth in her third collegiate meet. Her scores continued to get better as the season progressed, especially on the 3-meter board.

“I would say to the surprise of a lot of people, the 3-meter is where she seems to be more comfortable right now, which she had no experience with before coming here,’’ said Caruso.

She was named the Little East rookie diver of the week to end January after finishing fifth on both boards against Bentley University (with what was a season-best score of 175.35) and Babson College.

“She started out a little slow, but she’s taking to coaching,’’ said Caruso. “Jen Jackson is our diving coach, and Jen’s also our record holder on both boards. She just takes coaching very well. If you tell her to do something, she does it.

“I expected her to get stronger. I didn’t think she would get to this level initially in her first year. Over a couple of years, I thought she could get her. She’s just quickly taken to the board. I think what’s happening is she’s getting very comfortable on the board.

“I would say in the last month or so, it started to come to her a little bit easier. Really, for her, it’s been building the confidence. Each time she gets up there, she does a little bit better or works on a dive that maybe wasn’t as strong before and becomes stronger.’’

Easter did not qualify for any postseason meets this season, but Caruso feels it will be only a matter of time before that occurs.

“Next year, I think you’ll see her qualify quickly for the New Englands, and then the ECACs or NCAAs before the time she graduates,’’ he said.