Eric Sehn got a two-for-one deal when he made the decision to take a year off from diving for Texas A&M in an attempt to make the Canadian Olympic team.

The training time and experience proved invaluable, and by redshirting, Sehn will finish his career on the NCAA's biggest stage diving at his home pool.

At the time, A&M was in the running to host the 2009 NCAA Men's Swimming & Diving Championships, but the bid had not been confirmed.

"It wasn't anything we planned for," Sehn said. "We kind of knew we might get it. We weren't sure when we made the decision, and then as soon as the NCAA [announced the 2009 site], it was, 'Yes, that's sweet because now I get to come home and finish it all where it started.'"

Sehn didn't make the decision to redshirt alone. A&M diving coach Kevin Wright helped him decide to train in Canada under Trevor Palmatier in hopes of making the Canadian squad.

"He's done so much for the program that we honored his decision and we saved his scholarship and said 'no we are not going to stand in your way,'" Wright said.

Sehn's only disappointment was not making the team. He finished second on the 3-meter springboard by less than 15 points to Rueben Ross, who will dive for Miami this weekend. The Canadians sent a second diver, Alexandre Despatic, who did not have to go through qualifying because he was injured at the time. Despatic eventually won the silver medal in Beijing this summer.

Sehn also finished fourth in platform diving during the Canadian qualifying meet.

"I know I gave it my best," Sehn said. "I gave everything I had into it. I was sad I didn't make the Olympics, but I didn't give it to somebody. I dove well, a personal best score."

Sehn hasn't had much to regret concerning his collegiate career.

The senior is A&M's most decorated athlete in any sport, winning 11 of the 12 Big 12 Championship events he has entered. His only slip-up came this year in the platform event when he finished third.

In winning 11 gold medals, Sehn broke Mark Naftanel's A&M record of eight conference championships.

"One of my goals when I talked to Kevin was I wanted that record, but I never imagined I'd go for 11, never imagined it, but it was a goal," Sehn said. "I remember joking with Kevin what if I go 12 for 12, and Kevin is 'one at a time.' I'm very happy with the success I've had here at A&M."

Sehn would like to top it off with a national championship, something he came very close to capturing twice in 2007. The native of Edmonton, Alberta, placed third on the platform and fourth on the 3-meter springboard. One dive made the difference between a title and his final spot in the standings in both events.

"Had he done a decent [3 1/2] twister not even good, just decent, he would have won the platform," Wright said. "And had he not gone over on the 3-meter springboard, he would have won that, too."

Sehn holds the school record for career points in NCAA Championships at 113. He scored 45 his junior season when he reached the finals in all three diving events.

Starting Thursday at the A&M Student Rec Center Natatorium, Sehn will have three more opportunities to win a national title. The 1-meter springboard event is scheduled for Thursday with the 3-meter on Friday and the platform Saturday.

No Aggie has won a national title in swimming or diving.

"If I do it in front of my home crowd, I think that's just going to make it just that much more special," Sehn said. "It's going to be tough, but if I do, I will be ecstatic, a great end to a collegiate career."

Sehn is one of the favorites on the 3-meter springboard, his preferred event.

"If he has a chance to win anything it's going to be in the 3-meter," Wright said. "He has a chance to do well in the other events and by doing well I mean make the top eight, dive in the finals, represent Texas A&M in the finals at night in his own pool in all three events. That would be our goal, and if something better happens, then that's great."

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NOTES -- Sehn plans on training until at least the 2012 Olympic Games. He will concentrate on the 3-meter springboard with plans to compete in the platform. "I think I can do well on the tower for Canada, but I feel more competitive internationally on the 3-meter." ... A&M teammate and fellow Canadian diver Cam McLean is also qualified for this weekend's NCAA meet, as is A&M freshman Grant Nel from Australia.

A&M MEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING

What: NCAA Men's Swimming & Diving Championships

When: Thursday-Saturday (prelims begin at noon each day; finals at 7 p.m.

Where: A&M Student Rec Center Natatorium.

A&M participants: Seniors Brad Raiford, Shawn Clarke and Eric Sehn, juniors Jason Bergstrom, Nathan Lavery and Casey Strange and sophomores Boris Loncaric and Balazs Makany, freshmen Cam McLean and Grant Nel.