With fresh faces and many unknowns, the Arizona men’s and women’s diving teams will compete at the Zone “”E”” Diving Championships today through Saturday.

Last year the teams sent their most experienced divers to Oklahoma City: former Wildcats John Collier and Tiffany Manning. This year both male divers, freshman Michael Guilfoil and redshirt junior Matt Bisordi, will head to the meet for their first time. Sophomore Allison Scaife is traveling for the women’s team, also her first time at the event, along with senior Megan MacDonald, who was the only woman last year.

“”There’s a little bit of inexperience, but they’re both experienced divers with years of competition,”” UA head coach Michele Mitchell said of Guilfoil and Bisordi. “”They just haven’t experienced this meet.””

With or without experience, Mitchell said she is confident the teams will make the cut for the NCAA Championships later this month, just as both Manning and Collier did at the event last year.

“”I think the team will stand up and compete well here,”” she said. “”Hopefully we’ll get a diver or two to slide through to the NCAAs.””

Guilfoil posted a fifth-place finish in the 10-meter platform event, while Bisordi finished third in the 3m springboard competition on the men’s side.

“”I just expect them to stand up and compete like they did at the Pac-10s or in a dual meet, or any other meet,”” Mitchell said.

On the women’s side, Mitchell said MacDonald has a chance to go further in the event than last season.

“”She’s diving at the top of her game right now,”” Mitchell said. “”She knows what it takes, and what she’s going to have to do.

“”I think she’s mentally tough enough to give it her best shot.””

At the Pacific 10 Conference Championships Feb. 9-11 in Seattle, MacDonald placed in two events, including fifth in the 10m platform and eighth in the 1m springboard competition.

Those scores were added to the total of the women’s team, which ultimately won the Pac-10 title.