March 2, 2006

ST. PETERS, Mo. - Opening day of the 2006 NAIA Men's and Women's Swimming & Diving National Championships crowned two individual champions.  The championships are being staged at the St. Peters Rec-Plex March 1-4.

Kyla Kachman of host Lindenwood University (Mo.) claimed the top spot in women's one-meter diving while Beh Wahlman from California Baptist University won the men's three-meter diving competition.

Kachman posted a score of 234.30, besting Julie Northrop of Illinois Institute of Technology who scored 221.40 points. 

Wahlman dominated the event with a score of 329.50.  Second-place finisher Tom Lucido from Lindenwood recorded a 233.25.

The two diving competitions were the only events held on Wednesday.

Competition continues on Thursday, March 2 without NAIA powerhouse Simon Fraser University (B.C.).  A panel comprised of SFU senior administrators from the Office of the Registrar, and Recreation and Athletics ruled that both the SFU men's and women's teams would lose the privilege of competing in the NAIA competition as a result of disciplinary action.

The departure of Simon Fraser from the men's competition opens the door for last year's runner-up California Baptist.  The Lancers have placed second in the championships the last six years.

Click here to view men's results.

Click here to view women's results.