Aguero verbally commits to Auburn

Wayne Grandy

MOULTRIE — All through her diving career, Anna Aguero has been a Moss Farms Diving Tiger.

Starting next year, she will again be a diving Tiger, but representing Auburn University instead.

Aguero verbally committed recently to dive for Auburn. She will take advantage of next month’s early signing period to put her signature on a letter of intent.

The Colquitt County High senior visited the University of California at Berkely, Georgia, Tennessee and Auburn and decided to dive for coach Jeff Shaffer before making her fifth official visit.

“I just totally clicked with the team,” Aguero said of her visit to Auburn. “I love Jeff. He’s a great coach.

“And Auburn is a big school, but it’s got a small school atmosphere. I enjoyed everything about it.”

Aguero had a strong 2006 summer season, especially on platform, which is her favorite — and best — event.

The Region 1 championships she was first on both the 1-meter and 3-meter springboard in the 16-18 girls age group.

At the Summer East Championships, she was 14th on both springboards and was eighth in the platform finals.

In the Zone competition, she was 13th on 3-meter and second on platform in the senior women division.

At Senior Nationals, she finished 13th in semifinals in the platform event, just missing qualifying for finals.

At Junior Nationals, she was 18th on 3-meter and finished seventh in the prelims in the 16-18 girls platform event and was eighth in the finals.

“I think I could have done a little better on the springboards,” Aguero said of her 2006 summer schedule.

“But I think on platform I did well. I was so close to making finals at Senior Nationals.”

She has another 10 months or so of competition before heading off to Auburn, including the All-Star Challenge and several high school meets before the Spring Region championships.

Aguero said she knows at least one thing she will have to do to get ready for Southeastern Conference competition.

“I’ll be running a lot more,” she said. “Their (Auburn’s) workouts are so intense.

“But the whole team works together. The team is so close. The bond is amazing.”

Moss Farms coach Ed Goodman said he sees no reason why Aguero cannot be successful at Auburn.

“She’s solid at all levels and she especially excels on tower,” Goodman said. “I’m happy for her. And it’s good she committed early.

Aguero will be joining an outstanding swimming and diving program that won the 2007 NCAA championship.

The Auburn women’s swimming and diving team is ranked No. 1 in the Collegiate Swimming Coaches Association of America Top 25 Coaches Poll.

Auburn’s men’s team also is ranked, coming at No. 2, behind Texas.

The Auburn women’s team received 210 points and seven first-place votes in taking the top spot.

The Tigers are also the first among the five SEC teams in the inaugural poll.

Georgia is No. 5, followed by Florida at No. 6. Tennessee is No. 12 while Kentucky is No. 18.

Shaffer has been Auburn’s diving coach for eight years and was named the SEC and NCAA Men’s Diving Coach of the Year in 2004.

Last season, Shaffer coached Steven Segerlin to his first NCAA championship on platform. Segerlin scored a 469.30 to break is own Auburn record and set a new NCAA record.

Also last season, Auburn freshman Corey Lynn Gerlach won All-American honors on the 3-meter board.

In the last five years, Shaffer’s divers have won four SEC and four NCAA titles.

In 2004, Auburn swept the top three places on the platform at the confernece championships.

During his 20-year coaching career, Shaffer has coached 10 World Junior champions, 39 National Junior champions, eight Senior national champions,three Junior National team champions, three Senior National team champions, four SEC champions, seven NCAA champions and has coached 14 individuals to 57 All-American honors.

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