Divers Medal in 2 Synchro Events to Close Winter Nationals

MIDLAND, Texas – With Boilermakers claiming silver and bronze medals in the 10-meter synchronized events, the Boilermakers wrapped up their week at the annual USA Diving Winter Nationals by winning a medal of each color on the tower.

Alumnus Jordan Rzepka teamed with current sophomore Tyler Wills to win silver in men’s synchronized 10-meter Tuesday. They posted a two-list total of 732.66 (359.91 prelim, 372.75 final).

Alumna Sophie McAfee was also a bronze medalist in women’s 10-meter synchro with two-time Olympian Katrina Young on Monday. Only .09 hundredths of a point separated second (488.91) and third place (488.82) in the event.

PURDUE’S SYNCHRO RESULTS AT USA DIVING WINTER NATIONALS
• Men’s 10-Meter Synchro – Jordan Rzepka & Tyler Wills (Silver Medalists, 732.66 – 372.75 Final, 359.91 Prelim)
• Women’s 10-Meter Synchro – Sophie McAfee [with Katrina Young] (Bronze Medalists, 488.82 – 248.88 Final, 239.94 Prelim)
• Men’s 3-Meter Synchro – Zach Welsh [with Misha Andriyuk] (7th, 616.35 – 313.89 Final, 302.46 Prelim)

Individually, Rzepka won gold on 10-meter Saturday night, medaling at Winter Nationals for the fifth consecutive year. This time he won medals in both the 10-meter individual and synchro events at Winter Nationals for the first time. At the 2021 Winter Nationals, he won silver in 10-meter synchro with Purdue teammate Tyler Downs and bronze on 1-meter. The 2018 Winter Nationals also saw Rzepka win gold in 10-meter synchro with Downs while both were still in high school.

McAfee won her fourth career medal at Winter Nationals and her first in a synchro event since being a back-to-back gold medalist in 10-meter synchro with Olivia Rosendahl in 2016 and 2017. Earlier this year, the Purdue graduate won silver in mixed 10-meter synchro with Boilermaker Kaden Springfield at the World University Games in Germany.

Wills also won his fourth career medal at Winter Nationals, all coming in 10-meter synchro. He’s now medaled with Joshua Hedberg (gold in 2022), Baleigh Cranford (gold in 2023), Daryn Wright (silver in 2023) and Rzepka. He competed with both Cranford and Wright in mixed 10-meter synchro two years ago and went on to represent USA Diving in the event at 2024 and 2025 World Aquatics Championships. Mixed-gender events were not contested at Winter Nationals this year.

Rzepka is now a seven-time medalist overall at Winter Nationals. He earned the opportunity to represent USA Diving at 2026 World Aquatics Diving World Cup meets set for February through May.

Wills joins Brandon Loschiavo and Downs as teammates that Rzepka has medaled with in the synchro events at the annual meet.

Purdue resumes its NCAA schedule the weekend of Jan. 9-10 with the final home meets of the season. The men host Southern Illinois on Friday at 2 p.m. Saturday’s Senior Day meet features the women hosting Illinois and the men competing as part of an intrasquad meet. The annual Senior Day ceremony will begin at approximately 10:30 a.m. with the meet to follow.