Purdue and staff reports

Purdue's Steele Johnson captured his first springboard senior national championship Tuesday night, finishing first off the 3-meter board at the USA Diving Winter Nationals in Columbus, Ohio.

Johnson (1344.8 points over three lists) led the way as Purdue had three of the top 13 finishers on 3-meter. He was the only diver in the field to surpass 400 points on all three lists. After they were also 1-meter finalists Monday, Joe Cifelli (9th, 1066.9) and Brandon Loschiavo (13th, 960.75) also represented the Boilermakers well on the national stage.

"We came here to get the job done, and we got the job done," said Johnson, who now has 11 senior national championships. "Now it’s time to go home to prepare for Big Tens, NCAAs and the World Championship qualifiers in April and May. I’m excited.”

Max Showalter competed with Olympian Amy (Cozad) Magaña in mixed synchronized 10-meter. The duo finished second with a score of 262.08 on a five-dive list. Their top three scores came on their final three dives, increasing their score over each round. Cozad Magaña was also the women’s individual 10-meter champion Tuesday.

NFL

For the first time in his nine-year pro career, former Boilermaker standout Cliff Avril was voted into the Pro Bowl.

Avril, a defensive end who played at Purdue from 2004 to 2007, is tied for second in the NFL with five forced fumbles and tied for third with 11.5 sacks (the most among linemen). He has recorded 38 tackles while starting all 14 games.

“It’s an honor,” Avril said on the NFL Network after the Pro Bowl rosters were announced. “To get the recognition from your peers and the media, it’s definitely an honor. I’m glad to have finally gotten one after nine years.”