Haochen Liu ’27 and Calder Biondi ’28 competed at NCAA Diving Regionals this past weekend, each earning one of the region’s four qualifying spots for the NCAA Div. III Championships starting on Mar. 18.
Their performance came after the NESCAC Championships from Feb. 19 to Feb. 22, where Liu and Biondi finished first and second, respectively, on the 3-meter board. These results helped propel men’s swimming and diving to its seventh consecutive NESCAC title while earning Liu his second straight NESCAC Diver of the Year award.
The pair’s dominance has extended throughout the season, with Liu and Biondi cumulatively breaking five pool records. Across every dual meet and invitational prior to regionals this season, the two were undefeated in the 3-meter event, with one of them placing first every time. “We did not lose 3-meter a single time,” Biondi said.
Liu and Biondi entered the NESCAC 3-meter finals on the third night of the competition with the Ephs trailing Tufts, according to Liu. “Our team morale was pretty low,” Liu said. “There was a very real possibility of us losing … For the first time going into [diving] finals, there was some pressure.”
After entering finals seeded third and fourth following the morning’s prelims, Liu and Biondi bounced back, finishing first and second with 554.20 and 517.80 points, respectively. “Turning around in [the] final session and coming one-two … we improved so much,” Liu said. “That was the most special part about that experience for me.”
According to Biondi, his and Liu’s performance helped shift the momentum of the meet. “It was considered a turning point,” he said. “I think the mindset of being able to bounce back from such an abysmal prelims to having such a strong, electric final helped give the team energy.”
While diving is often perceived as an individual sport, Liu and Biondi credit their success to their partnership. “[We go] into it with the mindset of, ‘keep going, don’t give up, rely on each other when we need it,’” Biondi said. “That’s what helped us get through the season.”
This camaraderie proved especially important as both athletes battled injuries during the season. Biondi said lingering pain from a past stress fracture in his foot occasionally flared up, particularly during these longer postseason meets. “These weekends specifically can be kind of hard [when] both of us … don’t feel 100 percent and we’re trying to push through the pain,” he said. “That’s where our goal of being there for each other comes in because that’s what … helps us perform to the best of our abilities.”
Liu was sidelined until mid-January with a heel injury. This forced break from diving gave Liu a new appreciation for the sport and for his teammates. “For the past few years of my life, [diving had] been such a big part of my life … that I almost forgot my love for the sport,” he said.
Liu’s return to competition was an uphill battle. “[My goals] went from ‘make nationals again’ to just ‘make it to the NESCAC team,’ because I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to compete at all,” Liu said. “It was definitely not the journey that I expected this season to be … I’m very glad it turned out okay.”
Just a month after returning to competitions, Liu’s perseverance was rewarded with his second consecutive NESCAC Diver of the Year award. “[I’m] very happy that I was able to pull this off, given my goals for the season had shifted so much after my injury,” Liu said. “I’d like to say I surprised myself.”
After a successful NESCAC weekend, Liu and Biondi faced suboptimal pool conditions at their regional meet. According to Liu, the facility lacked a hot tub for recovery, and dim lighting and flickering lights made it difficult for the divers to rely on visual cues while in the air. “The lights flickering probably don’t actually impact my dive at all, but when I’m doing the dive, I have that in the back of my mind,” Liu said. “I think the mental aspect of it was what made this weekend really, really tough.”
Despite the conditions, Liu and Biondi placed high enough on both boards to earn two of the four NCAA qualifying spots. On Friday’s 1-meter board, Liu placed second with 482.10 points, closely followed by Biondi in third with 479.20 points. The following day, Biondi placed third on the 3-meter with 470.85 points, while Liu took fourth with 441.75 points.
The duo emphasized the role of the other diving program members in their success. “None of this would be possible without [Ashley Loh ’27], [Ben Lowy ’28], and [Diving Coach Trent Makowiec],” Liu said. “We have to give credit where credit is due.”
Liu and Biondi now turn their attention to NCAAs, which begin on March 18 at Indianapolis University Natatorium, which has hosted 14 Olympic Trials since 1984. “[The pool is] legendary for diving,” Liu said. “It’s a big bucket list [item] for the two of us.”
As they prepare to compete against the nation’s top divers, Liu and Biondi are focusing on more than just the scores. “I just want to do my best, and I want Calder to do his best,” Liu said. “I want to have a good time there, and at the end of the day, that’s what’s most important for us.”
Biondi echoed Liu’s sentiment. “Our story’s not finished,” he said. “We still have a lot left to prove.”
