WESTWOOD, Mass. - As part of the NEWMAC's 25th Anniversary celebration, the conference is taking time throughout the 2022-2023 academic year to reflect on some of the pivotal moments that have transpired in the membership since its inception in 1998. These moments honor the dedication and positive influence of administrators, coaches, and student-athletes over the past two-and-a-half decades that have helped the NEWMAC, and its member institutions become champions of academic and athletic excellence and a preeminent conference in Division III.
In her junior season at Wellesley College, Maura Sticco-Ivins would take home her second and third NCAA titles. Her 2017 title quest would start with the three-meter dive, a title which she had also won in 2015. Sticco-Ivins was in fourth place following the day's preliminary competition, advancing to the final with a total score of 448.10 on her opening eleven dives. She then averaged a score of 49.61 on her six dives during the final, including three-straight scores of 50.00 or higher on her final three dives. She would finish with a score of 504.00 to claim her second national title. With the win, Sticco-Ivins became the first two-time NCAA National Champion in Wellesley history.
Sticco-Ivins would then go after her first national title on the one-meter board. Sticco-Ivins entered the final in third place thanks to her score of 430.00 during the preliminary 11-dive competition. She went on to finish with a score of 475.40, including a high score of 56.40 on her third dive to win the national championship. With the title, Sticco-Ivins became the only three-time national champion in Wellesley history.
The College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) awarded Sticco-Ivins the 2017 Women's Diver of the Year for her performances at the NCAA Championship.
ABOUT THE NEWMAC
The NEWMAC is an association of 12 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy. The conference also partners with four Associate Members: Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime (Football) and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), while sponsoring 20 sports.
(Portions of this release courtesy of Wellesley College Sports Information)