Normally, freshman athletes just want to score points for the team.

Freshman Haley Haynes, however, is hoping to reach the pinnacle for a college athlete this weekend – the NCAA Championships.

To do that, Haynes has to defeat a talented group of divers from universities around the Midwest in the Zone D Diving Qualifications at the Mizzou Aquatics Center in Columbia, Mo. Haynes will compete in the one-meter competition on Friday, the three-meter on Saturday and the platform on Sunday.

Haynes said this was the position she wanted to be in at the end of the year.

“Qualifying for Zones was my main goal this year,” Haynes said. “I’m really excited to be there.”

Diving coach Jeff Warrick said he knows competing at the Zone meet for the first time can be intimidating, and he has tried to keep Haynes relaxed.

“We’ve talked about that and gotten ready for it,” Warrick said. “She is just going to approach it like any other meet and go have fun.”

This meet will be held at the same facility that Haynes competed in the Big 12 Championships just two weeks ago. At that meet, Haynes placed seventh on the one-meter, 11th in the three-meter and sixth on the platform, making the site a place she’s definitely familiar with.

“You get used to the atmosphere,” Haynes said. “It will really help having been on the boards, too.”

Warrick said not having to adjust to a new place will be nice.

“She will be used to the environment,” Warrick said. “She knows the boards and the pool, which will really help.”

Haynes said it would be a big accomplishment to qualify for the NCAA Championships.

“We’ll see how it goes when we get down there,” Haynes said. “I’m not putting too much pressure on myself or really worrying about it.”

Teammate Lauren Breunig was also invited to compete in three events at the NCAA Championships. Breunig qualified in the 100 and 200 freestyle and the 200 individual medley.

All of Breunig’s qualifying times were set at the Big 12 Championships two weeks ago, when she swam season bests in all three events.

“I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it,” Breunig said. “I knew I was on the bubble, but it is a good feeling. I’m excited to go.”

Breunig will compete in Athens, Ga., at the national championships from March 16 to 18. If Haynes qualifies, she will be competing on the same days.