Tamaqua’s Jones earns silver medal

Ashley Jones has finished between Pottsville’s Greta Snukis and Emma Smith in the past.

Twice during the regular season, the Tamaqua sophomore placed in the middle of the two Crimson Tide divers.

On Monday at the Schuylkill League Diving Championships, the scenario played out once again. Jones came through with some strong dives down the stretch to earn a second-place medal in the 1-meter event.

Snukis captured the gold with an impressive showing, while Smith had to settle for third.

“I think she really came on strong in her last few dives, which tend to be her strongest, cleanest dives, and I think that was the difference,” said Tamaqua head coach Jen Paisley of Jones earning second. “She kind of focused on her dives, and not what anyone else was doing around her.

“She knew what she could do, and she kind of followed through with that. And that’s how she ended up with a last few solid dives. That’s what really helped her move away from the third-place finisher.”

While Snukis pulled away to take first, finishing with 387.25 points in her 11 dives at North Schuylkill’s Donald Bricker Natatorium, the battle was very tight for the runner-up spot.

Jones couldn’t land the perfect dive, or a combination of dives, early on, but her ability to come through in the latter stages enabled her to nose out Smith by 3.65 points (318-314.35).

“I think any time you find yourself on the podium, it’s always a really good feeling, especially when you’ve been working hard all season long,” said Paisley. “I know there were a few dives where she kind of thought she could have done a little bit better and a little bit cleaner, but it’s a long night. Eleven dives are a long and grueling thing to get through.

“Just having a solid 11 dives is something to be proud of. And walking away with a silver medal on top of it is just icing on top of the cake.”

Jones wasn’t alone in representing the Blue Raiders, as Hailey Toth and Katelyn Rudy also took part in the competition.

Toth finished in seventh place with a score of 242.75, while Rudy placed eighth with 232.10 points.

“They’re a really great group of girls,” said Paisley. “They kind of feed off of each other’s energy. They’re very supportive of each other, and I think that helps keep them calm and relaxed because it was around a four-hour meet today.”

Blue Mountain’s Michael Levkulic easily claimed the boy’s gold medal, winning by over 55 points. Tamaqua didn’t have a diver in the boy’s event.

AN EXTRA DAY (OF PRESSURE, OR COMFORT) … The Schuylkill League Diving Championships were originally scheduled for last Friday, but were moved to Monday. That gave the competitors a few extra days to wait. Was that a good thing or a bad thing? “I think it did (help them),” said Paisley. “It might have thrown them off a little bit at first, but in the end it helped them.”

SECOND CHANCE … All three Tamaqua divers — Jones, Toth and Rudy — will take part in the District 11 Diving Championships, to be held Friday, Feb. 28 at Emmaus.

SCHUYLKILL LEAGUE DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

GIRLS

1. Greta Snukis (Pottsville) 387.25, 2. Ashley Jones (Tamaqua) 318.00, 3. Emma Smith (Pottsville) 314.35, 7. Hailey Toth (Tamaqua) 242.75, 8. Katelyn Rudy (Tamaqua) 232.10.

BOYS

1. Michael Levkulic (Blue Mountain) 404.60, 2. Owen Golden (Pottsville) 349.40, 3. Jackson Mabry (Blue Mountain) 321.45, 4. Aeden Hine (Blue Mountain) 285.15, 5. Gavin Frey (Blue Mountain) 282.90.