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New Canaan YMCA Whirlwind Divers Dominate at Winter Weekend Invitational

 

While the Olympic athletes were competing in Sochi this past weekend, the New Canaan YMCA Whirlwind Diving Team kept busy earning medals at home. Whirlwind divers once again captured the team first place prize at the annual Whirlwind Winter Weekend Invitational Diving Meet held at the New Canaan YMCA on Feb. 7-9th.  There were 214 registered divers competing for 18 teams at the meet.  Although the competition was stiff, Whirlwind easily won in both the boys and the girls team competitions for a total combined score of 483.50 points, besting the 2nd place team, High Dive Champions of Purchase, NY, by over 65 points!

 

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Whirlwind Diving had individual double winners at both ends of the age range.  Representing the 9under boys, Whirlwind diver August Hibler of Pound Ridge, NY, took 1st place in both the 1 Meter and the 3 Meter events with personal bests in both events.  Local high school All American diver Kirsten Parkinson of Stamford captured the win on both 1 Meter and 3 Meter in the 16-18 girls competition., also with a personal best score on 3M.  Other Whirlwind event winners included Timothy Luz (Darien, 14-15 boys) on 1M, high school All American Sean Burston (Stamford, 16-18 boys) on 3M, Allison Courtney (Wilton, 14-15 girls) on 3M, Hannah Craley (Redding, 12-13 girls Novice) on 1M, and Gail Heaslip (Ridgefield, Masters Gold) on 1M.

Sophia Rapp, Liam Simmons, and Hayley Palsho, all of Weston, competed also.  Sophia (14-15G) placed 7th on 1M and 8th on 3M, Liam (14-15B) finished 6th on 1M and 7th on 3M, and Hayley, competing in the 10-11G Novice Division, placed 6th on 1M and 10th on 3M.  Eliza Donovan (16-18G), of Westport, finished in 27th place on 1M.

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Divers from Redding competing at the meet were Hannah Craley and Alana Foodman (both 12-13G Novice), and Matthew Mintz (16-18B).  Hannah placed 7th on 3M along with her win on 1M, and Alana placed 2nd on 1M and 9th on 3M.  Matt placed 17th on 1M and 16th on 3M.

The meet on Whirlwind’s home boards was a great success for the Whirlwind team, as the divers gear up to compete at the USA Diving Region 1 Championship Meet on March 14-16.  The New Canaan YMCA will also host this Regional meet, which will include teams from the Mid-Atlantic states and New England. 

 

For additional information about the New Canaan YMCA Whirlwind Diving Team, contact Coach Joe Somma at jsomma@newcanaanymca.org.

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