ITHACA, N.Y. - On Sunday, January 26 the Ithaca College swimming & diving programs hosted the 17th Annual Dick Comanzo Diving Invitational inside the Kelsey Partridge Bird Natatorium in the Athletics and Events Center. Competition included student-athletes from IC, Hobart & William Smith, SUNY Oneonta, Cortland, NYU, Hartwick and Alfred State.
 
The morning diving consisted of 11 dives on each board, starting with the men's 1-meter, followed by the 3-meter and vice versa for the women competing on Sunday. The 2024-25 regional cut scores were as follows and in order to qualify divers need two scores off each board in order to qualify for the regional meet: women's 1-meter- 395, women's 3-meter- 410, men's 1-meter- 425, men's 3-meter- 440.
 
In the men's action, the top IC finisher was Kian Long who was able to score a third-place finish and NCAA Regional cut score on the 1-meter boards. He totaled a finals score of 437.95 with Alfred State's Conor Compton finishing with the highest score at 550.70 followed by Cortland's Kevin Kohlhoff. Ithaca's Samuel Smith would surpass the regional cut with his fourth-place finish and 11-dive total of 426.55
 
On the 3-meter boards, Ithaca's Samuel Smith and Kian Long would again achieve NCAA Regional cuts with their third and fourth place finishes. Smith finished in third with his finals score of 493.50, followed by Long's 454.60. Conor Compton was crowned the champion as he led the way with his 563.40.
 
Senior Kailee Payne dominated the field on both the 1-meter and 3-meter boards. She began her morning by edging out teammate Angela Burke by nearly 75 points. Payne totaled a finals score of 521.80, with Burke finishing second at 455.30. Finishing third and surpassing a NCAA Regional cut was fellow senior Jenell Slesser who put together a 408.20.
 
In 3-meter action, Payne who was the third diver out of 21 was once again impressive totaling a finals score of 571.95. This time, it was Jenell Slesser who finished second with her score of 458.60 as also achieving an NCAA Regional cut for the first-time this season was Maya Hathorn who totaled an 11-dive score of 416.80.
 
The Bombers will travel to Geneseo, N.Y. to compete against SUNY Geneseo in their final dual meet of the season before competing in the Liberty League Championships, which Ithaca will host beginning on Wednesday, February 19.