Ben Grado Class: RS Senior Hometown: Conifer, Colo. High School: Conifer HS Height / Weight: 5-4 / 144 Position: Diving Experience: 3V

2011-12: Has not finished outside of the top three on all boards this season...Earned a first-place finish on the 3m and a second-place finish on the 1m versus No. 2 Texas...Posted second-place finishes on the 3m and 1m at No. 3 Stanford...Recorded to wins on the 1m and 3m at No. 6 California...Earned two first-place finishes versus No. 15 Iowa...Finished in first on the 1m and the platform and in third on the 3m at the Wildcat Diving Invite...Earned first-place finishes on the 1m and on the 3m versus No. 8 USC...Swept the USC Invite with three first-place finishes on the 1m, 3m and platform...Finished first in the 3m and the 1m in Arizona's season opener versus UNLV.

2011 Summer: Finished third on the 10m, fourth on the 1m, eighth on the 3m and was high-point winner at the ATT USA Diving Championships, qualifying him for the Olympic Trials in June of 2012...Earned a sixth-place finish on the 3m at winter nationals in Iowa.

2010: Was named an All-American after earning a sixth-place finish on the 3-meter at the NCAA Championships.

2009: Finished in third place on the 1m at the USA summer national meet in Florida.

2008: Was named Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year

High School: Graduated from Conifer High School...Was named team captain and Most Valuable Player...Was All-Conference and All-State his senior year.

Personal: Son of Santiago and Loriann Grado...Is the youngest of three with one brother and one sister...In addition to diving, participated in wrestling in high school...plans to apply for Cirque du Soleil after graduation, before going to nursing school.

Major: Psychology

Career Ambition: Pediatric nurse

Spends free time: Watching movies, hanging out with friends, listening to music

Why Arizona: I think, what makes the team so special is how we are just that, a team. Having not only the 5 or 6 other diving members rooting you on yet 30 more of the swim team members just makes the experience so much better because you have that extra boost to make you not only perform better but just do/be better overall.

Five years ago, I made the decision to come to Arizona for diving and school. To this day, I regret nothing. On my recruiting trip, I saw a team full of passion, dedication, and determination, all things I wanted to be apart of. Being able to take part on this team has taught me so much that I will never forget.

Personal Bests:

407.45 - 1 meter - 2011 National Diving Zone D

432.00 - 3 meter - 2010 NCAA

431.05 - 10 meter platform - 2011 ATT National Diving Championships

2009 NCAA Top Finishes:

1-Meter 15th 339.55 Honorable Mention
Platform 16th 337.90 Honorable Mention

363.50 - Platform - Pac-10