SOL Continental Diving: North Penn’s Burrell, Meiers start postseason in style

TOWAMENCIN >> While North Penn’s Paige Burrell was busy crafting her finest performance ever in an 11-dive meet, the Knights’ Evan Meiers was completing a rousing comeback victory, catapulting past Souderton Area’s Oliver Milles.

The postseason had arrived in gold-medal form for NP.

“I thought it was good preparation for the district championship coming up,” Knights diving coach Kyle Goldbacher said after Wednesday’s Suburban One League Continental Conference Diving Championships at the Rick Carroll Natatorium. “Eleven-dive meets are not that common so it was a good opportunity to run through all the dives.

“It’s sort of a unique test, a test of endurance — mental and physical. I thought they both did well. I thought they both got stronger as the meet went along. They both worked super hard this year and are well-deserving of the honor.”

Burrell scored a lofty 540.35 to top teammate Maddie Zartman (422.80) while Meiers battled past Milles (420.20) and Big Red’s Kyle Creachen (429.75).

For Burrell, it was her second conference title in three years — last year NP got some underclassmen some experience at the event.

“I was really fortunate to get the opportunity to compete today,” said Burrell, a two-time State Champion. “It was my all-time best score for an 11-dive meet so I was pretty excited.”

Burrell nailed her front two and a half pike on her last dive, pushing towards districts with plenty of momentum.

“I’m so excited,” Burrell said. “I think it’ll be fun.”

Meiers picked up a lot of steam in the final round, landing his best dive in Round 10, his inward one and a half.

“Oliver had me for the first eight rounds or so,” Meiers said. “And then I pulled through in the last three. I was just sticking to the idea of ‘I’ll try my best and see where it takes me.’ I hoped for the best and it turned out well for me.

“So I’m happy with it.”

Said Goldbacher of the duo: “I know they both have their sights set on districts and states so hopefully everything goes as planned and we get to finish up strong at Bucknell.”

Rounding out the top eight in the girls event were Central Bucks West’s Hailey DeFazio (367.75), Souderton’s Ally Beldham (363.45), CB East’s Jillian Troth (360.20), North Penn’s Julia Romano (358.80), CB South’s Alexandra Charlton (351.30) and North Penn’s Abbie Broadhead (343.80).

The top eight for the boys included Souderton’s Alex Martin (361.55), CB West’s Connor Levant (333.30), Souderton’s Nick Newberry (318.50), CB East’s Jack DiCarlantonio (309.40) and CB West’s James Cuozzo (209.35).

Next up is the swim portion of the SOL Continental Championships on Friday and Saturday.