Dewire third in AA

Tamaqua took part in the District 11 Class AA Diving Championships over the weekend and put forth respectable efforts to help their teams in the upcoming Swimming Championships this weekend.

Head Coach Eric Lech had plenty to be happy with after witnessing his four divers plunge their way to success. "I think they did a really nice job," Lech admitted. "With the kids having two days off prior to the event (due to weather), they came in a little shaky and needed some confidence, but I think they did a really respectable job."

In the girls' competition, senior Katie Hummel and junior Alaina Reese finished tenth and eleventh in the field, despite some ill-timed malady. "Katie was feeling pretty sick this week so she wasn't necessarily up to her regular effort," Lech admitted. "But at the same time, she put everything out there that she had, since this was her last diving meet."

As for the Blue Raider male divers, third place was taken by Dane DeWire, a junior. Following immediately behind was senior Billy Breiner in fourth.

"Dane and Billy had a great meet and it was probably their best performance of the season," Lech stated. "For them, that was the highest that either of them have finished at the district meet and was definitely their best showing."

For junior Alaina Reese, this was the first time that the Lady Raider qualified for districts and Lech couldn't be prouder. "Alaina had a great showing considering that this was her first district meet appearance," he mentioned.

One of the best parts of the four divers' performances is that the efforts and results will count towards points for their team results in this coming weekend's District Eleven AA Swimming Championships held at Parkland High School. "The diving counts towards the swimming meet," Lech said. "So having them there and competing and representing us will help us out in the near future, as well."

The four athletes, along with the rest of their teammates, will look forward to adding to their already existent point total this weekend when they compete even further in the pool.

Individually, Allentown Central Catholic's Catherine Rose set a new district record with her point total of 502.15, in easing her way to the AA Girls' Championship. David Principato of Notre Dame of Green Pond won the boys' AA event with a total of 457.20.

In AAA, Lauren Brown of Parkland (446.35), and her male counterpart, the Trojans' Seth Bergman (432.60) provided Parkland with the individual diving sweep.

District 11 Class 2A Diving Championships

GIRLS

1. Catherine Rose (Central Catholic) 502.15* (new district record), 2. Amy Rodgers (Central Catholic) 359.10, 3. Valerie McLaughlin (Southern Lehigh) 327.25, 4. Callie Woods (Moravian Academy) 295.05, 5. Carly McLaughlin (Southern Lehigh) 278.65

Local finishers

10. Katie Hummel (Tamaqua) 234.25, 11. Alaina Reese (Tamaqua) 201.00.

BOYS

1. David Principato (Notre Dame GP) 457.20, 2. Peter Cialkowski (Salisbury) 444.85, 3. Dane DeWire (Tamaqua) 356.15, 4. Billy Breiner (Tamaqua) 257.15