Ashley Benner

Position:
Diving
Height:
5-6
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Moultrie, Ga.

General:
Outstanding returning diver for the Tar Heel women’s program...three-year letter winner...dove for coach Wenbo Chen at Moss Farms Diving club...dove year-round for nine years with her club team prior to coming to Carolina...a four-time national finalist in diving and a YMCA All-America selection...finished second on both the one-meter and three-meter boards at 1999 YMCA Nationals. 2001-02: Named to 2002 ACC Academic Honor Roll.placed seventh in three-meter diving and 15th in one-meter diving at the ACC Championships.

2000-2001:
Once again led the Tar Heel diving corps…further solidified her reputation as a clutch performer for the Tar Heels…at the 2001 ACC Championships, she finished fifth on the 3-meter and 10th on the 1-meter boards…member of the Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Honor Roll.

1999-2000:
The Tar Heels’ top diver throughout the 1999-00 season…at the 2000 ACC Championships she finished 4th on the three-meter board (440.90) and sixth on the one-meter board (366.25 points)...was also an NCAA Zone Diving qualifier where she was a finalist in both events.

Prep:
Graduated in 1999 from Colquitt County High School in Moultrie, Ga....as a high school athlete, she dove four years for CCHS...was named an NISCA All-America for diving...was a varsity cheerleader for three years, captaining the team her final year...was also a competition cheerleader for two years, including one year as captain...was a member of the National Honor Society, a U.S. Diving Academic All-America, an Honor Scholar, Key Club member and four-time athletic scholar...graduated fourth in her high school class.

Personal:
Given name is Ashley Austin Benner...nicknamed by her teammates “Slimer”...was born on April 21, 1981 in Albany, Ga....is the daughter of Dr. Randy and Peggy Benner...has one sister...her mother, Peggy Benner, was a diver at Indiana University...her biggest sports thrills were winning the 2000 ACC team championship and swimming a 50-yard freestyle as part of a 200-yard freestyle relay in a dual meet last year...hobbies include shopping, lifting weights, dancing and water skiing...athlete she most admires is Tar Heel teammate Rob McMillen…is currently working with the Ronald McDonald House for Children…is also active at Carolina in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and Athletes in Action (AIA)...elementary education major...would like to be a first grade teacher specializing in math, science and computer technology.