Gina Jacobson was selected Athlete of the Week by the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table and honored at Monday's final press luncheon of the year at Harry's Plaza Café. The award is given to the top male and female performer from all the local high schools, plus UCSB, Westmont and SBCC.
SBCC's freshman diver from Madison, Wis., captured a CCCAA State title in 1-meter diving during the State Swimming & Diving Championships on May 4-6 at East L.A. College. She set a new state record with 246.85 points, breaking a nine-year-old mark.
Jacobson took third in the 3-meter state finals the following day, May 5.
The Vaqueros started their women's dive program this year. Jacobson and Ashley Dettmann (6th in the 3-meter) contributed 49 points to the Vaqueros' total. SBCC finished fourth in the state for the second straight year, beating Las Positas by one point thanks to a fourth-place finish in the final event, the 400 free relay.
"That was probably the most exciting meet of my entire career," said coach Chuckie Roth, who coaches the San Marcos High girls' swim & dive team and the Vaqueros' fourth-year program. "The highlight of the meet was Gina Jacobson, who was the WSC Diver of the Year.
"She's the best diver in town and really something special as she showed by breaking a nine-year-old record to win the 1-meter title. She's a true talent and we're extremely proud of her."
