Senior Sophie Mernitz placed eighth out of 31 State qualifiers in one-meter diving at the swimming and diving State Finals on Feb. 15 at the IU Natatorium. Mernitz earned an overall score of 447.00.

Mernitz said she started diving her sophomore year, applying her experience as a gymnast for 14 years to diving. She described diving as “really fun” and a lot easier on her body than was gymnastics.

She prepared for the State Finals by practicing six days a week for up to four and one-half hours a day. She described the feeling of placing eighth as a “really cool experience because I didn’t even expect to place.”

As a result of her finish in the diving competition, the women’s swimming and diving team was credited with 11 points at the State meet.