Rustin’s Fitzergald takes silver in diving

UPPER DUBLIN -- At last year’s District 1 Class AAA Boys Diving Championships, West Chester Rustin’s Liam Fitzgerald finished eighth -- good but not good enough to earn one of the district’s berths at the PIAA Class AAA Championships.

When the junior returned to Upper Dublin on Friday night to compete in the 2013 District 1 Championships, he was determined not to be left out again.

Fitzgerald showed that determination by winning the silver medal with a score of 478.45. The only diver to beat him was William Tennent’s Ian Forlini, who grabbed the gold medal with a score of 556.5.

“Last year, I just missed making states by two points,” said Fitzgerald. “That really drove me to work harder over the past year.”

In Friday’s prelims, Fitzgerald’s dives were inward pike, back one-and-one-half with one-and-one-half twists, front two-and-one-half pike, inward two-andone-half tuck and reverse straight.

“I felt like I had a really good entry on my back twister,” said Fitzgerald. And, I had a good top on my front two-and-one-half. On my reverse, I just tried to wait for the board. I got straight 7.5s.”

His dives in the semifinals were back one-and-onehalf pike, reverse one-and-one-half with a half twist and back straight.

“In the back one-and-one-half, I arched a little too much so the judges took off for that,” said Fitzgerald. “But, I got in well with not much splash. The reverse one-and-one-half with a half twist was one of the best I’ve done. I waited a long time until I went into the twist. The back straight I just tried to take nice and slow.”

In the finals, Fitzgerald’s three dives were reverse two-and-one-half tuck, inward one-and-one-half pike and front one-and-one-half pike.

“I saved my two easiest dives until the end,” said Fitzgerald. “In my last dive, I knew (the guys in) third and fourth were creeping up on me. I had to nail it and I did. I scored just about straight eights. I just tried to wait for the board to lift me up and then take it nice and slow. And, I tried to save the entry as fast as I could.”

Other divers from Chester County who competed were Unionville’s Greg Tamargo, who finished 21st; Coatesville’s Brandon Butler, who placed 23rd; and Rustin’s Mitchell Dever was 24th.