High School Sports |

‘Stoga’s Hillier repeats as Central League diving champ

RADNOR – Conestoga senior Avery Hillier, the defending PIAA 3A state girls diving champion, closed her Central League diving career with a bang Tuesday evening, posting a personal-record 529.35 with a first-place finish at the Central League Girls Diving Championships at Radnor High School.

Hillier, who won last year’s Central League diving meet with a mark of 518.90 (for 11 dives), said, “It feels pretty good (to set a PR tonight) – I’ve been working hard recently, so it was nice to put down some good dives tonight. I felt I was consistent tonight, had a pretty good meet overall, a lot of fun

“It was a good way to end my Central League (diving) career, having a good meet. I’m sad that it’s my last Central League (diving) meet, but I feel like overall, it’s been pretty good … I felt that all of my voluntary dives tonight were pretty strong.”

The Conestoga senior felt particularly good about her sixth and seventh dives, a 201b back dive pike and a 301b reverse dive pike.

Hillier, who will dive next winter for Duke University, is not totally finished with Central League competition — she will be swimming the 50 yard freestyle and the 200 medley relay at the Central League Swimming Championships this weekend. Last winter, she placed fifth at the Central League Championships in the 50 free and qualified for districts in that event.

“I had a really good time swimming at Centrals last year,” said a smiling Hillier. “It will be fun swimming with all of my (Conestoga) teammates again. I swim to have fun, and it’s just an amazing atmosphere with Conestoga.”

Conestoga diving coach Megan Hillier said, “Avery’s always been really clean with her voluntary dives, so it’s not surprising that all of her voluntaries were up in the eights and nines tonight. I was most impressed with her front 2½ (105c, her 10th dive of the night, degree of difficulty 2.4), her back twister (her fifth dive, a back flip with 2½ twists, degree of difficulty 2.7), and her front twister (her 11th and final dive, 5134d, a front 1½ somersault with two twists, degree of difficulty 2.6).”

The Conestoga coach, reflecting on Avery’s participation in the upcoming Central League Swimming Championships, said, “Avery focused more on diving this year, being a senior and heading to Duke University in the fall to dive, so she didn’t swim as much (this winter) as she normally does, but that (Central League Swimming Championships) is just a little added bonus to our whole program that she can also swim the 50 free.”

Another Conestoga diver who finished in the top 16 Tuesday night was sophomore Abby Johnston, who placed 13th with a total of 278.05 points.

“I’m very proud of Abby,” said Megan Hillier. “Our goal was to get here to the Central League (Diving) Championships, and a bugger goal was to make all the cuts, and she wound up making the final 16 and scoring points for Conestoga.”

Finishing second to Avery Hillier was Lower Merion senior Chloe Morton, who scored 437.80 points. Last winter, she placed third at the Central League diving meet with 430.80 points.

“I felt like I had a good meet,” said Morton. “All my voluntaries were pretty good tonight, so I was pretty happy with those.”

The top five finishers at the Central League Girls Diving Championships all compiled district consideration totals, which included a trio of sophomores – Ridley’s Ella Dietz (third place with a personal best 395.40), Radnor’s Orlaith Dill (fourth, personal best 389.70) and Garnet Valley’s Gabby Tront (fifth, 336.60).

The remaining top 16 spots were as follows: Ridley’s Kristen Barresi (sixth place, 332.60), Harriton’s Cara McGowan (seventh, 330.95), Haverford’s Amelia Marotta (eighth, 330.00), Garnet Valley’s Mikaela Menseck (ninth, 316.85), Radnor’s Olivia Cohen-Freue (10th, 295.80), Garnet Valley’s Alex Scamuffa (11th, 292.50), Ridley’s Reilly Kienzle (12th, 281.80), Penncrest’s Cora Scholtz (14th, 276.35), Garnet Valley’s Charlotte Franks (1th, 270.50) and Garnet Valley’s Chelsea Gus (16th, 264.45).