The UT Diving Invitational kicked off Thursday with the men taking to the one-meter board for their first of three days of competition. With another impressive performance, freshman diver Michael Hixon secured the event with a final score of 410.60 points. Hixon finished the preliminary round at the top of the standings with 404.85 points, but fell into fifth place after his first dive in round one of the finals. Hixon would find his form over the five remaining rounds, clinching the event on his final dive: an inward, two-and-a-half somersault that totaled 80.60 points. 

Texas occupied five of the eight qualifying spots going into the final. Sophomore Cory Bowersox took third place with 378.25 points, while freshman Mark Anderson placed fourth with 371.80 points. Junior Will Chandler placed seventh with 324.55 points, and senior Will McCraney took eighth place with 306.50 points. 

This week’s invitational features divers from Texas, Arizona State, California, Miami, Fla., Hawaii, TCU and Wisconsin. The invitational will resume Friday with the three-meter diving preliminary round at 1:30 p.m.