Making A Splash

St. Rose diver goes for a second national title

By DAVID FILKINS, Staff writer

Brandon Birchak strolled into the athletic office at The College of Saint Rose last summer and delivered two messages to swimming coach Keith Murray."I'm coming to Saint Rose," Birchak said. "And I'm going to win a national championship."

The declaration may have seemed far-fetched at the time, but Birchak's words proved to be prophetic Tuesday, when he won the NCAA Division II national championship in 3-meter diving at Flickinger Athletic Center on the campus of Erie Community College. Birchak scored 547.10 points, outdistancing his closest competitor by 72 points, and fell just 9.3 points short of the NCAA Division II record set by Dario DiFazio of Oakland University in 1994.

Already the first athlete in school history to win a national championship, Birchak, a junior, continues his quest today in 1-meter diving, though he admits he's much better at three meters.

"My strong event has come and gone," Birchak said.

As impressive as the diver's performance at the national championship has been, the difficult path he has taken to reach this point may overshadow the highlights he's creating this winter.

Birchak turned to diving in seventh grade, when former Shaker High swimming coach Ned Monthie asked him if he wanted to take his tumbling skills elsewhere. Birchak agreed, and took to diving like a fish to water.

"One week later, I was qualified for sectionals," he said.

Birchak became an All-American at Shaker and attended Southern Illinois as a freshman in college, winning the Missouri Valley Conference Championship on both boards and being named Diver of the Meet before putting forth a solid showing at the NCAA Division I national championship.

That's when his fortunes started to change. In the first meet of his sophomore season, Birchak took off into the air for an inward 2.5 and felt a sharp pain in his legs. He landed awkwardly on the water with his back arched and, as he said, "I was just totally out. I really felt it go."

Birchak fractured his back and had to redshirt, missing the rest of the season. He was forced to wear a brace and was in rehabilitation for nearly a year. It was the second time his back had been fractured. In high school he suffered a similar injury, though the first was much less severe.

Once his back healed, Birchak returned for his sophomore season, but not before breaking his ankle when he got hit by a car while skateboarding. He recovered in time to win the Missouri Valley Conference championship on both boards and took Diver of the Meet honors, but the injuries had taken their toll. Birchak had had enough.

"I was looking to go as far as I could (with diving)," Birchak said, "but I had way too many injuries. Now, I'm just doing it for enjoyment."

Birchak plans to swim next year and complete his degree in English. Then he wants to join Cirque du Soleil. He already juggles torches and dives from 80-foot towers at amusement parks.

Not exactly the smartest way for an injury-prone athlete to spend free time, but it's his passion.(Page 2 of 2)

"I've always wanted to run away and join the circus," Birchak said. "My resume is good enough and I'm as good as any of the divers in their shows. It's just a matter of finishing school and sending in my tapes."

Division III: RPI's Greg Derevianko and Matthew Culen finished third and ninth, respectively, in 1-meter diving at the NCAA Division III men's swimming and diving championships in Houston.

Derevianko earned National All-America recognition for the third time in his career. Culen garnered his third consecutive honorable mention All-American honor.