Layden, Kovatch capture Central diving titles

The score wasn’t as high as he’s been in recent weeks, but the win was comfortable nonetheless for Springfield’s Brian Layden.

The senior compiled a score of 244.25 points late Wednesday night to win the boys Central League diving championship at Ridley High School, while Garnet Valley’s Morgan Kovatch was the high scorer in the girls competition with 224.00 points.

Second among the boys was Dean Allred of Garnet Valley at 229.55. Three Haverford divers — Will Canny in third at 225.50, Steve Szathmary in fifth at 208.00 and eighth-place Tom Leonard (184.65) — medaled.

The Ridley duo of Gene Gibbons (212.15) and Rick VanVladricken (205.45) placed fourth and sixth, respectively, while seventh-placed Will Coppola of Upper Darby also surmounted the 200-point mark at 203.45.

Kovatch’s score was nearly 10 points clear of runner-up Eleni Pappas of Strath Haven (214.60). Kovatch’s younger sister, Ashley, was fifth with a score of 201.05.

Third was Radnor’s Nicole Cohen (207.50), while Phil-Anne Dixon of Strath Haven just edged Ashley Kovatch with her score of 201.05. Upper Darby’s Bridget Johnson (195.65) and Haverford’s Lily Frankel (187.85) rounded out the top eight.