The NCAA Men's Diving GOAT

In the history of NCAA diving, there are champions—and then there is Israel Zavaleta.

Zavaleta’s college career is a story of dominance, resilience, and history-making poise under pressure. From his first national title to his dramatic eighth, he didn’t just win—he rewrote the standards of excellence in collegiate diving.

Starting in Division III, Zavaleta quickly rose to national prominence. He captured six NCAA titles and earned six All-American honors while also being named CSCAA Male Diver of the Year three consecutive times. No diver in Division III history had ever achieved that level of sustained greatness. But Zavaleta wasn’t finished.

Transferring to Division II, he entered an even deeper competitive field—and still rose to the top. His biggest test came in his final NCAA Championship. Standing in his way was Julio Osuna Kelly, the four-time defending national champion and a legend in his own right. The two titans traded leads throughout the 1-meter final in a showdown that will be remembered for generations.

It all came down to one final dive. Zavaleta vs. Kelly, a competition that was so close no one knew who would win. With ice in his veins, he nailed the final dive of his college career and surged into first place, claiming his record-setting 8th NCAA title—becoming the only male diver in NCAA history to win eight national championships across two divisions.

He added another CSCAA Diver of the Year honor, bringing his total to four, and cemented a legacy that now lives in rare air.

Israel Zavaleta wasn’t just great—he was generational. A model of consistency, a master of the moment, and the undisputed GOAT of NCAA Men’s Diving.