Bowling Green State University Athletics
NCAA Zones Qualified
March 07, 2017 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Bowling Green, Ohio – Claire Stam and Talisa Lemke are getting ready to represent the BGSU swimming and diving program at the 2016-17 NCAA Zones.
Qualifying for the NCAA Zones a second year in a row is sophomore, Claire Stam. A score of 278.5 in the one-meter event, along with a 283.4 score in the three-meter event earned the Falcon a spot among the best divers in the region. Talisa Lemke is also qualified for the elite meet that will be hosted at Blumington, Indiana. The freshman scored a 266.60 in the one-meter event, and a 323.15 in the three-meter event to earn a spot in this year's meet. There are a total of five NCAA Zones in the country, which are classified from A-E. The BGSU program falls into NCAA Zones "C", which is a three day meet starting on March 9th.
Get To Know Claire Stam
Why did you choose BGSU?
I chose BGSU because it really seemed to offer the best package out of all the other schools I visited. I liked the diving coach, I liked the team atmosphere, I loved Cooper Pool and the campus, BGSU specialized in my major (Inclusive Early Childhood) and it was the best financial opportunity for me at the time.
What is the most rewarding part of being a student-athlete at BGSU?
I think the most rewarding part of being a student-athlete would probably have to be the bonds that are formed. The team pretty much becomes your family. My teammates are basically my sisters and it is a great feeling to know that I always have such a huge support system, no matter what I'm going through. Whether its learning a scary dive, getting through those pre-meet jitters, experiencing a painful crash in the water or making it past a difficult training session in the weight room, the team is there for you.
What is your favorite thing about BGSU and why?
I love going to the Football games in the fall and tailgating with the team!
Who is your hero and why?
I would definitely say that my Dad is my hero. He is my biggest supporter and has been my biggest supporter my whole life. Whatever I was into growing up, whether it was music, theatre, dancing, or one of the thousands of sports I played, he was out there cheering the loudest. He has great self-discipline and motivation and has managed to complete dozens of marathons and ultra-marathons in his lifetime. He inspires me to work hard. I've made many special memories with him over the years with all of the crazy backpacking adventures we've gone on together. My Dad is also one of the most selfless people I know, and if I can one day be a fraction of the parent he has been to me I would be pretty excited.
What is your pre-meet routine?
My pre-meet routine usually involves staying loose, warm and optimistic. I try to stay as happy and carefree as I can and I usually enlist the help of one of my teammates to keep me in a good mood. During the meet if a dive doesn't go well, I try not to dwell on it and focus instead on the next one. For longer meets where there is a longer wait time in between each dive, I like to develop a consistent routine to keep my mind occupied and in the zone. I do a lot of imagery, modeling and positive self-talk before every dive.
What are your expectations/goals for NCAA Zones?
I am hoping to improve my placement from last year and set a good reputation for BGSU diving.
Have you ever had a nickname? What was it and why?
I've had a lot of people call me Claire Bear.
What would you sing at Karaoke night?
"Thinkin bout you" by Frank Ocean
If you were a superhero, what would your name be and what powers would you have?
I would be "Captain STAMina" and I'd be able to run fast for long distances without getting tired.
What is one thing you would like people to know about you:
I have a YouTube channel- go find me and subscribe for cool adventure videos!
Get To Know Talisa Lemke
Why did you choose BGSU?
I chose BGSU because of their new and good diving program and I also was able to pick theater as a major. Additionally, I already had a friend from high school going to BG.
What is the most rewarding part of being a student-athlete at BGSU?
It is really nice that you are able to do both, a sport and education and both in a serious way. On top of that everybody is really understanding and supportive to help you to get the best out of both.
What is your favorite thing about BGSU and why?
I have the feeling everybody is really friendly and supportive, which made me feel really welcomed here, especially as an international student. Everybody, treats me like a normal student and not like a foreigner.
Who is your hero and why?
My role model for diving is Kassidy Cook, she is a young diver from Stanford, who also went to the Olympic Games in Rio. I like the way she dives and she works really hard. One of my favorite quotes is from her: "You discover yourself when you´re dealing with hardships, not when you´re at your highest points."
What is your pre-meet routine?
I don´t really have a specific pre-meet routine, but I often walk around to calm down and check my diving list and the diving order to make sure everything is fine. And of course I listen to music before and during the competition.
What are your expectations/goals for NCAA Zones?
I know it won´t be easy but my goal is definitely to make it into finals and hopefully be one of the top 8 divers to make it to NCAA. It will be two long days, with long competition, because we´re 50 divers in one competition, but I am still very excited to meet other divers.
Have you ever had a nickname? What was it and why?
In Germany I had different nicknames from different friends. But here at BGSU, most teammates call me "T". I think it is the easiest way to cheer each other on and I honestly like it, it sounds cool.
What would you sing at Karaoke night?
I love twenty one pilots, so I would probably sing "Tear in my heart" from twenty one pilots.
If you were a superhero, what would your name be and what powers would you have?
I think I would keep my nickname T, it kind of reminds me of the Terminator and it is short. I would love to be able to fly, so I can go to different places really fast and easy.
What is one thing you would like people to know about you:
I often look really serious during practices or diving in general, but I am actually a fun person, I am just concentrating.
Qualifying for the NCAA Zones a second year in a row is sophomore, Claire Stam. A score of 278.5 in the one-meter event, along with a 283.4 score in the three-meter event earned the Falcon a spot among the best divers in the region. Talisa Lemke is also qualified for the elite meet that will be hosted at Blumington, Indiana. The freshman scored a 266.60 in the one-meter event, and a 323.15 in the three-meter event to earn a spot in this year's meet. There are a total of five NCAA Zones in the country, which are classified from A-E. The BGSU program falls into NCAA Zones "C", which is a three day meet starting on March 9th.
First year diving coach for the Falcons and BGSU Hall of Famer, Phil Koester, commented on his expectations for the meet: "I am excited for them. It is one of the best NCAA Zones in the country, so there will be past and future Olympians at this meet. I think it is a great opportunity for our freshman and sophomore."
Head coach for the swimming and diving program, Matt Ense, also shared his comments on having two Falcons representing the program at the national level: :"It is a very exciting time to have 2 divers heading to Bloomington this week to represent the Bowling Green program on a bigger stage in hopes of qualifying to the biggest meet at the NCAA level. It has been 30 years since Bowling Green has had a diver qualify for it, so Talisa and Claire have a shot this week to make history."
Get to know divers Claire Stam and Talisa Lemke below. Also, don't forget to keep up with the Falcons as they step on the boards and dive for the orange and brown at the 2017 NCAA Zones.
Head coach for the swimming and diving program, Matt Ense, also shared his comments on having two Falcons representing the program at the national level: :"It is a very exciting time to have 2 divers heading to Bloomington this week to represent the Bowling Green program on a bigger stage in hopes of qualifying to the biggest meet at the NCAA level. It has been 30 years since Bowling Green has had a diver qualify for it, so Talisa and Claire have a shot this week to make history."
Get to know divers Claire Stam and Talisa Lemke below. Also, don't forget to keep up with the Falcons as they step on the boards and dive for the orange and brown at the 2017 NCAA Zones.
Get To Know Claire Stam
Why did you choose BGSU?
I chose BGSU because it really seemed to offer the best package out of all the other schools I visited. I liked the diving coach, I liked the team atmosphere, I loved Cooper Pool and the campus, BGSU specialized in my major (Inclusive Early Childhood) and it was the best financial opportunity for me at the time.
What is the most rewarding part of being a student-athlete at BGSU?
I think the most rewarding part of being a student-athlete would probably have to be the bonds that are formed. The team pretty much becomes your family. My teammates are basically my sisters and it is a great feeling to know that I always have such a huge support system, no matter what I'm going through. Whether its learning a scary dive, getting through those pre-meet jitters, experiencing a painful crash in the water or making it past a difficult training session in the weight room, the team is there for you.
What is your favorite thing about BGSU and why?
I love going to the Football games in the fall and tailgating with the team!
Who is your hero and why?
I would definitely say that my Dad is my hero. He is my biggest supporter and has been my biggest supporter my whole life. Whatever I was into growing up, whether it was music, theatre, dancing, or one of the thousands of sports I played, he was out there cheering the loudest. He has great self-discipline and motivation and has managed to complete dozens of marathons and ultra-marathons in his lifetime. He inspires me to work hard. I've made many special memories with him over the years with all of the crazy backpacking adventures we've gone on together. My Dad is also one of the most selfless people I know, and if I can one day be a fraction of the parent he has been to me I would be pretty excited.
What is your pre-meet routine?
My pre-meet routine usually involves staying loose, warm and optimistic. I try to stay as happy and carefree as I can and I usually enlist the help of one of my teammates to keep me in a good mood. During the meet if a dive doesn't go well, I try not to dwell on it and focus instead on the next one. For longer meets where there is a longer wait time in between each dive, I like to develop a consistent routine to keep my mind occupied and in the zone. I do a lot of imagery, modeling and positive self-talk before every dive.
What are your expectations/goals for NCAA Zones?
I am hoping to improve my placement from last year and set a good reputation for BGSU diving.
Have you ever had a nickname? What was it and why?
I've had a lot of people call me Claire Bear.
What would you sing at Karaoke night?
"Thinkin bout you" by Frank Ocean
If you were a superhero, what would your name be and what powers would you have?
I would be "Captain STAMina" and I'd be able to run fast for long distances without getting tired.
What is one thing you would like people to know about you:
I have a YouTube channel- go find me and subscribe for cool adventure videos!
Get To Know Talisa Lemke
Why did you choose BGSU?
I chose BGSU because of their new and good diving program and I also was able to pick theater as a major. Additionally, I already had a friend from high school going to BG.
What is the most rewarding part of being a student-athlete at BGSU?
It is really nice that you are able to do both, a sport and education and both in a serious way. On top of that everybody is really understanding and supportive to help you to get the best out of both.
What is your favorite thing about BGSU and why?
I have the feeling everybody is really friendly and supportive, which made me feel really welcomed here, especially as an international student. Everybody, treats me like a normal student and not like a foreigner.
Who is your hero and why?
My role model for diving is Kassidy Cook, she is a young diver from Stanford, who also went to the Olympic Games in Rio. I like the way she dives and she works really hard. One of my favorite quotes is from her: "You discover yourself when you´re dealing with hardships, not when you´re at your highest points."
What is your pre-meet routine?
I don´t really have a specific pre-meet routine, but I often walk around to calm down and check my diving list and the diving order to make sure everything is fine. And of course I listen to music before and during the competition.
What are your expectations/goals for NCAA Zones?
I know it won´t be easy but my goal is definitely to make it into finals and hopefully be one of the top 8 divers to make it to NCAA. It will be two long days, with long competition, because we´re 50 divers in one competition, but I am still very excited to meet other divers.
Have you ever had a nickname? What was it and why?
In Germany I had different nicknames from different friends. But here at BGSU, most teammates call me "T". I think it is the easiest way to cheer each other on and I honestly like it, it sounds cool.
What would you sing at Karaoke night?
I love twenty one pilots, so I would probably sing "Tear in my heart" from twenty one pilots.
If you were a superhero, what would your name be and what powers would you have?
I think I would keep my nickname T, it kind of reminds me of the Terminator and it is short. I would love to be able to fly, so I can go to different places really fast and easy.
What is one thing you would like people to know about you:
I often look really serious during practices or diving in general, but I am actually a fun person, I am just concentrating.
Players Mentioned
Diver
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Diver
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BG S/D : Coach Perkins Post-Mac's 2.26
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