DIII Northeast/North Region Diving Championships Preview

By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The first time they competed together as teammates was last Nov. 1 in a home women's swimming & diving meet against Wheaton College.

Cailey Simard (Haverhill, Mass.), the most accomplished diver ever at Bridgewater State University, began her senior season that afternoon alongside newcomers Gianna Varady (Highland Park, N.J.) and Sienna DeLucia (Wallingford, Conn.).

Simard owns four BSU diving records and earned a spot in the NCAA Division III Championships as a junior, becoming the first Bears swimmer or diver to get to the nationals.

Varady was a transfer from Norwich University who had begun her diving career when she got to the Vermont school while DeLucia is a two-sport athlete who is also going to be on the BSU lacrosse team.

Together, the trio made quite the first impression in that meet with Wheaton at the Dr. Mary Jo Moriarty Swimming Pool.

Simard was first in the 1-meter even, as usual, followed by DeLucia and Varady for a clean sweep. Simard and Varady competed in the 3-meter event as well, finishing first and second, respectively.

It was the start of something special for the BSU divers.

"I think you could see that early, especially in the first meet when they performed at a very high level," said Bears head coach Michael Caruso. "All three of them had an incredible first meet on the board.

"You could tell right away they were in a good groove."

That continued throughout the fall and winter as the three of them continually piled up points for the Bears.

Their impressive season together will continue this week as all three qualified for the NCAA Division III Region Three Diving Championships to be held at Connecticut College's Lott Natatorium in New London, Conn.

The two-day regional starts Friday at 12:30 p.m. and continues Saturday at noon with qualifiers advancing to the NCAAs in Indianapolis March 18-21.

It marks the first time in program history that the Bears are sending multiple divers to the regional. Simard qualified the past three seasons, traveling to New York, Maine and Springfield, Mass., as the first female BSU diver to reach that level.

Now she has company with Simard competing on both boards, Varady on the 3-meter board and DeLucia on the 1-meter board at the regional.

"It's huge because it's growth for us," said Caruso. "We continue to get stronger each year. Now it's multiple athletes going for the first time. It's a clear sign we're trending in a really good direction with the program."

Nicole Radanovics is in her third season as the diving coach and was a BSU diver for two seasons before graduating in 2018.

She has had an up-close view of the way the diving group has developed into a powerhouse in recent years.

"Honestly, it's kind of surreal," said Radanovics. "We were excited to bring Cailey (to the regionals). Then we were so, so excited to bring her to nationals.

"Now that the program is growing and we're adding even more competitors to the regionals lineup, it feels very special. It's a cool time to be part of the program."

Simard, a four-time Little East Conference Diver of the Year who holds all of the conference's meet records, was 17th and 16th on the 1-meter and 3-meter boards as a freshman at the regionals.

She improved to seventh on the 1-meter board and eighth on the 3-meter board as a sophomore and placed sixth on the 1-meter and 19th on the 3-meter a year ago.

Now she is bidding fpr a return trip to the nationals to cap off an amazing journey at BSU.

"She's a generational athlete for us, but also a leader," said Radanovics. "Just getting to see her step up academically, personally and in the pool has been really cool.

"I'm super proud of her. She holds herself to a high standard. It's clear to see the growth. She is consistently beating her records."

Simard was first six times on the 1-meter board this season and five times on the 3-meter board.

Varady was a gymnast in high school in New Jersey, then switched to diving when she was a freshman at Norwich before transferring to BSU last fall.

She placed third behind Simard and DeLucia five times on the 1-meter board and won on the 3-meter board twice while placing second five times.

"She's realy ambitious," said Radanovics. "She dives different this year. Her style has changed. Her lift has changed and it's the first time she's done the 3-meter. She's really done a very good job."

DeLucia has been on the 1-meter board all season, finishing second six times and winning in a tri-meet with Brandeis and Keene State.

"We had recruited her and I knew she was a fantastic diver," said Radanovics. "We knew she was a great athlete all around. I knew she had a big resume.

"The confidence and her willingness to go forth and try things has always been there. Her being able to settle in and qualify for regionals in her first year, it's pretty evident it's only up from here. She's got a lot of really strong skills she's acquired this year."

Simard has been the veteran leader among the divers and the newcomes have followed that lead, giving the Bears a bright future when their all-time best diver graduates.

"I think they feed off of each other," said Radanovics. "It's clear that there's a great friendship there. The competitive spirit that all three have bounces well off each other.

"They are constantly pushing each other to try harder, keep each other pushing forward."