Dive Right In

Purdue divers seek World gold

By RUSTY BARNES
rubarnes@jconline.com

Three Purdue divers are looking forward to soaking up the miniature Olympic experience.

Senior Ashley Karnes and juniors Kara Cook and David Colturi will travel to Belgrade, Serbia, today for the World University Games. The three will stay in a college-centered community and will get the opportunity to watch other top-caliber athletes in their respective sports.

"It's really cool because we're living in a village just like in the Olympics and we get tickets to all of the other sports," Cook said.

In particular, the trio is looking forward to watching fellow Boilermaker Robbie Hummel compete with the USA basketball team. Karnes said sharing this opportunity with other Boilermakers is an added perk.

"It makes the experience that much better," Karnes said. "I want to go see gymnastics. I used to do gymnastics, and I love watching it. There's not really an opportunity around here to go see it."

For Karnes, this opportunity is a bit of a surprise. She was the alternate in her event before a Team USA member dropped out.

"I just found out a couple weeks ago," said Karnes, who will compete in the 1-meter. "I've just been working on the 1-meter, so hopefully I can go and perform the way I've been training."

Cook will compete in the platform and synchronized platform with her partner, Audra Egenolf of Southern Methodist. Colturi will compete in the 1-meter and will team up with Sean Moore of Ohio State in the synchronized platform.

Each agreed the goal is to polish their respective dives before the Purdue collegiate season, but experiencing the culture is just as important.

"I just want to have a great time and enjoy it, because you can only do this once when you're in college," Cook said.

Colturi agreed.

"I'm really just looking to soak it all in," he said. "I've talked to people who have done it before, but I've never done it myself. I've heard nothing but good things."

Colturi, who commutes to Columbus, Ohio., to train with Moore, said he thinks the duo has a good chance to medal.

"He won NCAAs as a freshman on tower," Colturi said. "We're really just looking to put some good dives down and see where it puts us."

The week-long event beginning Saturday will feature international competition, which Purdue diving coach Adam Soldati said is a tier higher than the NCAA.

"Whenever you can go international ... it's going to be tougher competition than the NCAAs," he said. "What I told them is No. 1: soak up the experience of being at an international meet against some of the best divers in the world and soak up the experience of being at this event."