Ryan Funderburk

Position:
Diving
Height:
6-1
Class:
Sophomore
Hometown:
Summerfield, N.C.
High School:
Northwest Guilford

Career Best Scores: 371.95 in a one-meter dual meet; 345.85 in a one-meter championship (School Record); 399.38 in a three-meter dual meet; 366.60 in a three-meter championship (School Record); 248.70 on 10-meter platform (School Record).

General: Three-time letterman who will be returning as the top diver for the Tar Heels his senior year...one of the most rapidly improving young men's divers on the national scene after only one year of diving competition in high school...was the highest finisher for Carolina on the one- and three-meter boards at 2007 ACC's.

2006-07: At the 2006 summer nationals he finished seventh on the one-meter board and 24th on the three-meter board...achieved a career best in the one-meter board with a score of 371.95 against Minnesota and in the three-meter versus Maryland with 399.38 points...both scores ranked him atop the one- and three-meter scores for the season on the Heels' depth chart...finished eighth in the one-meter and sixth in the three-meter diving at ACC Championships...placed ninth in the one-meter and fourth in the three-meter at the Nike Cup...fifth in the one-meter and fourth in the three-meter in ACC cumulative scores for the season...named to 2006-07 ACC Academic Honor Roll...NCAA Zone Diving qualifier for third straight year.

2005-06: NCAA nationals qualifier...just missed earning All-America honors as he placed 17th on the one-meter board...named the most outstanding performer and most improved performer for the men's team, the first time a UNC diver won two major awards in a single year...also shared the David F. McInnis Diving Award with Jon Fox...ranked atop the UNC depth chart for both diving events in 2005-06...All-ACC on both diving boards...placed third in three-meter diving and second in one-meter diving at the league meet...finaled in the one-meter event at the NCAA Zone B diving meet.

2004-05: Gained valuable experience at the ACC Championships as an exhibition competitor... would have finished in the Top 12 on both boards had he been a scorer...made the finals in the exhibition platform event at the conference meet...was the top exhibition scorer on the one-meter board with a 260.20 total...also the top exhibition scorer on the three-meter board with a 450.55 score...NCAA Zone diving qualifier...named to ACC Academic Honor Roll...spring 2005 Dean's List selection.

Prep: Graduated from Northwest Guilford High School on May 22, 2004...part of swimming team for four years and diving team for one season...runnerup at State 4A Diving Championships his senior year...team captain sophomore and senior year...All-Conference swimmer junior and senior year in freestyle and backstroke...voted his team's best all-around swimmer...two-year member of National Honor Society...four-year honor roll member...North Carolina Scholar...AP Scholar...part of a club power tumbling and trampoline team for nine years.

Personal: Given name is Ryan Allen Funderburk...nicknames are Funder and Tigger...born July 10, 1985 in Greensboro, N.C....son of Smiley and Brenda Funderburk...has two sisters...father played football for ECU.

Funder Facts
Academic Major at Carolina: Exercise and Sports Science
Career Plans: PT School
Hobbies: Singing
Athlete I Most Admire: Lance Armstrong
Biggest Sports Thrill: Placing sixth in power tumbling at the World Age Group Games in Sydney, Australia in 1998; Winning Nationals for Power Tumbling in 1998.
Person Who Has Had The Greatest Influence on My Athletic Career: My parents
Favorte Book: The Bible
Favorite Magazine: USA Diving
Favorite Food: Home Cooking
Favorite Movie: The Emperor's New Groove
Favorite TV Show(s): Friends, Family Guy, Grey's Anatomy
Favorite Website To Visit: Facebook.com
City I've Never Been To But Want To Visit: New York City
Entertainment Figure I'd Most Like To Have Dinner With: Steve Spielberg