Hope College's Sarah Sheridan finished seventh in 1-meter diving at the NCAA Division III Championships on Thursday in Bloomington, Ind.

The sophomore from Richmond, Ind. (Richmond HS), scored 416.90 points in 11 dives to earn All-America Honors. She recorded Hope's best performance in 1-meter diving since Kari Jackson placed fifth in 2000 and 1999.

Jackson and Sheridan are Hope's two All-Americans in 1-meter diving.

Pictured at right, Sarah Sheridan and Hope diving coach Zach Golin

"It's an incredible experience," Sheridan said. "I kept realizing this is such an amazing opportunity to be at the national meet with girls across the country."

Hope diving coach Zach Golin said Sheridan finishing in the top eight at nationals was the goal all season.

"She's worked so hard for this," Golin said. "She persevered and fought through adversity. She got down a few points early in her dives, but didn't get down on herself. She stayed consistent. She just needed to keep hitting the next drive, and she did."

Sheridan said her confidence in her dives was buoyed by the support she received at the University of Indiana Natatorium.

"I had a great group of girls cheering me on," Sheridan said. "Swimmers were screaming. I had some family up in the stands. It was an atmosphere to dive in."

Sheridan will attempt to become Hope's first All-American in 3-meter diving on Saturday.

Sheridan, the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association 2014 Diver of the Year, qualified for Thursday's finals by placing eighth during afternoon preliminaries.

Hope placed 17th in the 200-yard freestyle relay with a time of 1 minute, 36.57 seconds.

Sophomore Michelle Hance of Noblesville, Ind. (Noblesville HS), freshman Molly Meyer of South Bend, Ind. (John Adam HS), freshman Mikayla Freyling of Alto (Grand Rapids South Christian HS) and sophomore Klare Northuis of Holland (Holland HS) posted a time of 1 minute, 36.57 seconds.

Hope finished 21st in the 400 medley relay preliminaries. Northuis, Hance, Meyer and Freyling had a time of 4:00.95. The top 16 qualified for the evening's finals.

Hope is in 28th place with 12 points.