TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Pac-12 announced the conference All-Century Men’s Swimming & Diving team, comprised of 32 members, on Monday’s ‘Pac-12 Sports Report’ and Sun Devil Hall of Famer Joona Puhakka was named ‘Diver of the Century’.
Puhakka, who competed for the Sun Devils from 2002-05, is the most decorated diver in ASU history with four NCAA Championships and nine All-American honors. Excelling in the 1- and 3-meter springboard events, Puhakka became the first male student-athlete to win two national championships in a career.
As a Pac-10 star, Puhakka was a four-time Diver of the Year recipient, as well as a four-time 1-meter and 3-meter conference champion. In 2005, he captured the 1- and 3-meter springboard championships on his way to earning Diver of the Year.
Harrowing from Kerava, Finland, Puhakka is also a decorated athlete overseas, winning bronze in the 1-meter springboard at the World Championships in Barcelona and stole a gold medal for the 1-meter springboard at the European Championships in Madrid. He was a three consecutive Summer Olympian, competing in Sydney (2000), Athens (2004) and Beijing (2008).
Fellow diver Mickey Benedetti was also named to the Pac-12 All-Century roster for the 3-meter springboard. A Sun Devil from 2006-08, he is one of six divers recognized.
Benedetti, a Rome, Italy native, became the first Sun Devil and only eighth Pac-10 diver to sweep the diving events at 2008 Pac-10 Championships, where he set a school and conference record on the platform with a 434.70 mark. Like Puhakka, he holds multiple conference titles, including Pac-10 Diver of the Year and holds three Diver of the Month titles.
A panel of 20 coaches, swimmers, administrators and media members selected the 32-man All-Century roster. The team features 145 NCAA individual titles and 28 Olympians.