After years of diving into pools, former University of Tennessee standout Jevon Tarantino had a chance to jump into the air Monday morning.

He was named to the U.S. Olympic diving team in the men's synchronized 3-meter springboard.

"I felt really positive after camp, but we didn't find out until this morning," he said during a news conference at the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center announcing the rest of the team. "I am still soaking it all in, but now I will have to transition back into training."

Joining him in the event will be former Georgia standout Chris Colwill, who also qualified individually on the 3-meter board.

Other new team members selected following a five-day team camp at the Jones Center are former Iowa diver Nancilea Foster of Texas (women's 3 meter and 3-meter synchronized), 18-year-old Thomas Finchum of Indianapolis (men's 10-meter platform and 10-meter synchronized), and 15-year-old Haley Ishimatsu of Indiana and California (women's 10 meter and 10-meter synchronized).

Also teen-agers Kelci Bryant and Ariel Rittenhouse, who train in Indianapolis, qualified in the women's 3-meter synchronized, and 15-year-old Mary Beth Dunnichay of Elwood, Ind., will be teaming with Ishimatsu in the 10-meter synchronized.

These eight will travel to Beijing for next month's Olympics along with Olympic Trials winners Laura Wilkinson of Texas (women's 10 meter), former Indiana standout Christina Loukas (women's 3 meter), 28-year-old Troy Dumais of California (men's 3 meter), and David Boudia of Indiana (men's 10 meter).

John Wingfield of Fishers, Ind., will be the head coach.

Tarantino - who won an NCAA championship in the 1-meter springboard for Tennessee in 2004 but left school early to focus strictly on diving - said being back in Knoxville made his selection that much more special.

"This pool was like heaven for me," said the South Floridian. "I had a lot of people supporting me this week. It has been great."

The selection of the new members began Sunday at the Jones Center by nine USA Diving electors, who included 1976 Olympic bronze medalist and television commentator Cynthia Potter and UT diving coach Dave Parrington.

The officials used the camp competition results and other factors to determine the team.

Team leader Bob Rydze said the discussions took some time, but he feels the right team members were selected.

"We all came to a unanimous decision," he said.

He added that he believes the U.S. team will do better in Beijing than in Athens, where it did not medal.

"We will not be shut out this Olympic games," he boldly said.

According to Parrington, Tarantino will be the first former Tennessee diver to compete for the U.S. Olympic team.

Other Olympic team members joining Tarantino for the announcement at the Jones Center were Loukas, Boudia, Dumais and Colwill.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.