Verzyl and Kwong Look to Continue Momentum at Super Final

A whirlwind two months for Sophie Verzyl culminates this week in Beijing, where she’s one of seven divers competing for Team USA at the World Aquatics World Cup Super Final from May 1-3. 

Verzyl has been going almost nonstop these past two months. 

She won 1-meter and 3-meter titles at the SEC Championships, which concluded February 21. From there, it was off to Montreal for the World Aquatics World Cup Stop One that started just days later on February 26. 

Verzyl and Anna Kwong finished fourth in synchronized 3-meter in Montreal to qualify for the Super Final. Kwong got a break from competition after that, but Verzyl did not. 

Less than week later, the University of South Carolina graduate student was at the NCAA Zone Championships, where she won the 3-meter event and placed second on 1-meter to punch her ticket to the NCAA Championships. 

Verzyl capped a stellar collegiate career by capturing an NCAA title on 3-meter and finishing as runner-up on 1-meter at the NCAA Championships in Atlanta from March 19-21. 

Then it right was back to international competition in April.  

“Having to get out of that NCAA mindset and back to USA, coming off of a very long peak and then trying to still perform well has been challenging, but it's been going fine,” Verzyl said.  

At the Canada Cup, Verzyl and Kwong paired up to finish fourth in synchronized 3-meter, with Verzyl placing seventh and Kwong eighth individually. 

A week later at the American Cup in Fort Lauderdale, Verzyl found herself atop the podium three times. She won the individual 3-meter event, took gold with Kwong in synchronized 3-meter and was part of the winning U.S. team in the 3-meter and 10-meter mixed team event. 

Just another week later, it was off to Beijing for the Super Final. 

Verzyl and Kwong are hoping to build on what they did in Canada and Fort Lauderdale.  

“I definitely think (Canada Cup) was a bit more challenging just because we hadn't been together since Montreal. We were trying to time up and everything. It was still successful, but I think (Fort Lauderdale) was better.” Verzyl said. “I think having the two meets right before China prepares us well. I’m grateful we were able to compete twice before that.” 

Kwong agreed that the Canada Cup and American Cup gave the duo an opportunity to work on some things before the Super Final since they had not been together since Montreal given Verzyl’s NCAA events. 

“We had some things to figure out and just shake off the rust a little bit. Sophie just came off an incredible NCAA season, so she's been working her tail off it. She’s been crushing it,” Kwong said. “It's been showing, but we were just coming back into synchro. We needed a bit of time to mesh together into one diver. We know how to do it. And I feel like diving together just makes me a better diver individually too.” 

And as if her schedule hasn’t been hectic enough, Verzyl also had final exams to prepare for. She’s completing her masters in sport and entertainment management at South Carolina, and finals coincide with the Super Final.  

If anyone can do it, it’s Verzyl. She was just named a second team Academic All-American for her efforts in both the classroom and the pool.  

And she’s used to it. At last year’s Super Final in Beijing, Verzyl was writing papers and Kwong was taking finals and preparing for the MCAT.   

They do it all.