Pepperdine University diver and Malibu Times Magazine assistant editor Leslie Wade earned a trip to the NCAA Zone Regional Meet after placing first in the one-meter springboard event at a cold and rainy meet in San Luis Obispo last weekend. Wade’s personal best score of 257.20 qualified her for a trip to regionals in March, the prelude to the NCAA Championships.
Wade, an Atlanta native, made Waves history with the score and joins an elite list of Pepperdine athletes who have qualified for the NCAA Championship. Her first-place showing earned the team 20 points in the standings and then gained 16 more after placing third in the two-meter.
“The team did incredibly well in very difficult circumstances,” said head coach Nick Rodionoff of the Waves’ performance in the less-than-favorable conditions. “And we couldn’t be prouder of Elle. Her hard work and determination has gotten her to this point, and I know she’s going to do even greater things for us the rest of the season.”
The Waves placed second out of five teams after two days of competition and 26 events scored. With 383.5 points, Pepperdine placed behind Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and finished better than Concordia-Irvine, Azusa Pacific, and Fresno Pacific.