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Italian diver Rebecca Ciancaglini has verbally committed to study and dive at the University of California-Berkeley under Pei Lin, a three-time NCAA runner-up and a national champion in China.
In 2022, Ciancaglini competed in the Youth A category at the European Junior Championships, placing 9th in the 1m springboard with a score of 341.80. She was also in the 3m synchro with partner Elisa Pizzini, finishing 6th with a score of 217.68. Additionally, Ciancaglini ranked 11th in the 3m springboard, scoring 336.20.
At the 2023 European Junior Diving Championships in Rijeka, Ciancaglini showed significant improvement. She and her synchro partner, Pizzini, achieved 2nd place in the Girls A/B 3m final with a score of 231.00.
Individually, Ciancaglini also secured 2nd in the Girls A 3m final, scoring 396.30 and the Girls A 1m with 397.80.
Looking ahead, the California Golden Bears secured their sixth Pac-12 Women’s Swimming & Diving Championship title this year. The program has recently experienced significant turnover in diving coaches, with Lin being hired in 2022. Most of the women divers were freshmen last season, including Ariana Drake, Caroline Li, and Jane Raffetto, with junior Danielle Killeen being the only upperclassman.
Drake qualified for the B final in the platform, 3m springboard, and 1m springboard events at the Championship, scoring 207.60, 292.10, and 224.90 respectively. Li also reached the B final in the 3m springboard, achieving a score of 231.05.
Diving has long been Cal’s weakness relative to many of its main NCAA rivals, including Texas and Indiana (on both the men’s and women’s side). Lin, however, is starting to build some momentum for that group, including two men scoring on platform at NCAAs last year.
Ciancaglini could be an asset to the young team of divers, especially following her success at the 2023 European Junior Diving Championships. Her future teammate Drake is a member of the Philippine National Team and has competed at the 2022 Southeast Asian Games, where she placed 4th on the 3m springboard. Additionally, both Drake and Li were at the 2022 FINA World Junior Diving Championships.
Ciancaglini will join swimmers Mia Nappi, Charlotte Burnham, Mary-Ambre Moluh, Maggie Petty, Arielle Brotman, Jordan Ash, Adriana Smith, Mia West, and Finley Anderson as a part of the University of California-Berkeley’s recruiting class of 2024. Moluh and West are also from outside of the United States, with Moluh from Canada and West from France.
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