2008 NCAA Division II
Swimming & Diving
Championships

In his seven seasons with St. Cloud State University, head coach Jeff Hegle has led the Huskies to numerous NCAA Championship meets consistently finishing among the best in the country.  This past season, the Husky women earned a 20th place finish after earning 50 points at the 2008 NCAA Division II Championships. SCSU's men's team placed 15th at the Championships with 98 points.

Coach Hegle, along with former diving coach Nate Brisley, helped coach SCSU's junior diver Nate Jimerson to national titles in both the one-meter and three-meter boards in 2008. Jimerson tallied a 520.75 score on the one-meter and two nights later completed the Championship sweep with a 546.15 on the three-meter. Jimerson's three-meter score was only 10 points shy of the national meet record of 556.40 set in 1994. To add to his list of accolades, Jimerson was also named the 2008 NCAA Division II Male Diver of the Year at the conclusion of the NCAA Championship Meet, while Coach Brisley garnered
2008 National Diving Coach of the Year honors.

St. Cloud State's two-time National Champion, Nate Jimerson.

Nate Jimerson's championship trophies.

SCSU's 2008 National Qualifiers.

SCSU's junior diver Kelsey Berkeland (above and below), captured All-American honors on both the one and three-meter boards at the NCAA's.

Alisha Blaydes getting ready to enter the pool. Blaydes finished the Championships as a two-time Honorable Mention All-American swimmer int he 200 free relay and the 800 free relay.

Sean Fitzgerald tabbed four Honorable Mention All-American awards at the 2008 Championships in the 200, 400 and 800 free relays, and the 200 medley relay.

Senior diver Chris Pape finished his career with a 15th place finish on the three-meter board.

Alison Weske getting ready on the starting block. Weske gained two All-American Honorable Mention honors in the 200 and 800 free relays.

Matt Verwey tallied All-American Honorable Mention status four times in 2008 in the 400 free relay, the 200 backstroke, the 200 medley relay and the 800 free relay.

Senior diver Kendra Willis ended her Cardinal and Black career as a three-time All-American. Willis finished 5th on the three-meter board at the 2008 Championships.

Husky sophomore Jake Goergen entering the pool in a relay event at the NCAA's. Goergen was a member of SCSU's 200 and 400 free relay teams, and a member of the 200 medley relay and the 800 free relay, all of which scored All-American Honorable Mention status.

SCSU's Kelly Vieau (bottom left) and Erin Lannon (top right) entering the pool at th 2008 Championships. Both swam on the 200 free and 800 free relay teams that placed 15th and 16th at the National Meet, both good for All-American Honorable Mention honors.

2008 women's national race.

SCSU's Nate Jimerson (far left) and Ross Eiden (third from right) on the awards podeum.

Kelsey Berkeland (above and below) receiving one of her two All-American trophies in 2008.

 

SCSU's diving coach Nate Brisley giving Ross Eiden his All-American trophy and a congratulatory hug.

2008 NCAA Division II Championships pool and crowd in Columbia, Mo.

St. Cloud State's national qualifying divers. (L to R): Chris Pape, Nate Jimerson, Diving Coach Nate Brisley, Kelsey Berkeland, Ross Eiden and Kendra Willis.

St. Cloud State's 2008 Seniors.
(L to R): Chris Pape, Erin Lannon, Sean Fitzgerald, Doug McGrath and Kendra Willis.

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