On March 20, 2026, Sophie Verzyl made history. The way she got there, and everything she’s balancing alongside it, is just as remarkable.

The University of South Carolina diver concluded her college diving career with a national championship, winning the 3-meter springboard to become the first female Gamecock in program history to claim gold in the event in the NCAA finals.

“It feels amazing,” she says. “I’m very excited and grateful.”

Verzyl’s career in and out of the pool is beyond impressive. She’s a four-time All-American with 17 event wins in her senior year alone (14 in the regular season, three more in the SEC and NCAA championships), a 2026 finalist for the Honda Sport Award for Swimming and Diving, 2026 SEC Diver of the Year and CSCAA Diver of the Year.

She’s also earned CSC Academic All-District, SEC Academic Honor Roll and CSCAA Scholar All-America honors while completing her undergraduate degree (with honors) in operations and supply chain management at the Darla Moore School of Business as an Honors College student and working toward her master’s in the David and Nicole Tepper Department of Sport and Entertainment Management. 

Even with so many honors already won, her journey is still just beginning.  

Verzyl has already competed for Team USA at World Championships, World Cup events and the Junior Pan American Games. With her NCAA breakthrough now behind her, her goals are firmly set on the future: the Pan American Games, more world competitions, and ultimately the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

The road around the world began in Columbia.

A local product who trained at the Blatt PE Center growing up, she considered leaving home for college. Instead, she found something different at USC, something that felt both familiar and new.

“I thought I didn’t want to stay in Columbia,” she says. “But it just feels unique here… I feel like we have such a range of amazing programs, and everyone’s awesome.”

That range became central to her path. She earned her undergraduate degree in just three years while competing at an elite level. Her next step was a natural extension of both her academic and athletic interests: the Master of Sport and Entertainment Management (MSEM) program.

For Verzyl, the MSEM program represents more than another degree: it’s a bridge to a future that remains intentionally open.

“I like making things work and being more efficient,” she says. “But I also obviously have a passion for sport and entertainment, so I thought this would be perfect.”

That intersection — business, sport, and live events — is exactly where the program thrives. Designed to prepare students for leadership roles across athletics and entertainment industries, the world-renowned MSEM program emphasizes both flexibility and real-world application. For Verzyl, that flexibility is essential.

Faculty and staff have worked closely with her to accommodate an international competition schedule without compromising academic rigor.

“I’ve had to miss some weeks of school for competitions, and everyone has been so lenient, but also helpful in making sure I don’t fall behind,” she says.

That support extends beyond logistics. Verzyl points to the program’s culture — both faculty and peers — as a defining strength.

“My cohort has been very inclusive,” she says. “Everyone is so friendly. You just meet someone and you’re friends from there.”

Courses and faculty have also played a key role in shaping her experience, from finance classes that build on her business background to hands-on guidance from professors like Department Chair Stephen Shapiro, who helped her navigate everything from enrollment to scheduling, sometimes while she was competing halfway around the world.

The level of dedication required to do what Verzyl has done is simply staggering.

Her typical day during the season reflects the reality of being both an elite athlete and a graduate student: early morning practice, back-to-back classes, afternoon training, weightlifting, and hours of coursework late into the night.

“That’s the grind,” she says. “That’s the lifestyle that you sign up for.”

It’s a lifestyle built on discipline (something she credits to her upbringing) as well as a strong support system of family, coaches, and university staff. That combination has allowed her to accelerate her academic timeline, compete globally, and still perform at the highest level when it matters most, like the night in March when she became a national champion.

As Verzyl closes in on completing her master’s degree, she’s also preparing for the next phase of her life, both in and out of the pool.

The MSEM program has given her a wide range of career possibilities, from coaching and athletic administration to operations roles with teams, leagues or live events.

“I feel like I have so many options,” she says. “Whatever my passions are at that time, this degree will set me up for anything.”

That adaptability is by design. The program’s structure has also allowed her to complete much of her coursework in person before transitioning to a flexible, remote format as she continues training and begins her final required internship, gaining hands-on experience in athletic operations, coaching and event management while still pursuing her Olympic goals.

Sophie Verzyl’s national championship will always stand as a milestone, for her and for South Carolina diving, but it’s only one part of a much larger story.

It’s the story of a hometown athlete who stayed, grew and thrived. Of a student who maximized every opportunity, completing an accelerated academic path while competing on the world stage. And of a program that met her ambition with flexibility, support and real-world preparation.

The result is not just a champion in the pool, but a future leader in sport and entertainment, already proving that excellence doesn’t have to be one-dimensional.

For Verzyl, the national championship is just one achievement, albeit an enormous one. What she’s building will last even longer.