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There were 214 registered divers competing for 18 teams at the meet. Whirlwind easily won in both the boys and the girls team competitions for a total combined score of 483.50 points, besting the second place team, High Dive Champions of Purchase, NY, by over 65 points. Whirlwind Diving had individual double winners at both ends of the age range. Representing the 9-and-under boys, Whirlwind diver August Hibler of Pound Ridge took first place in both the 1-meter and the 3-meter events with personal bests in both events.
High school All American diver Kirsten Parkinson of Stamford won the 1- and 3-meter boards in the 16-18 girls competition., also with a personal best score on 3M.
Other Whirlwind event winners included Timothy Luz (Darien, 14-15 boys) on 1M, high school All American Sean Burston (Stamford, 16-18 boys) on 3M, Allison Courtney (Wilton, 14-15 girls) on 3M, Hannah Craley (Redding, 12-13 girls Novice) on 1M, and Gail Heaslip (Ridgefield, Masters Gold) on 1M. STAMFORD: Also representing Stamford, Shannon Rust (11U girls) placed 13th on 1M and 8th on 3M, Rachel Burston (16-18 girls) placed 6th on 1M, Vahram Tchakmakjian (9U boys) received bronze medals on both boards, Sawyer Neyer (9U boys) placed 6th on 1M and 4th on 3M, and Sean Burston (16-18boys) finished 6th on 1M. NEW CANAAN: Local divers from New Canaan who competed at the Invitational include: Claire Ross (12-13G), Anne Farley and Katie Kushner (both in the 14-15G age group), Olivia Park (16-18G), George Moore (12-13B), and in the 16-18B group, Bobby Ross, Cameron Rhind and Griffon Edmonds. Claire placed 2nd on 1M and 5th on 3M. Anne placed 9th on 1M and 2nd on 3M. Katie placed 13th on 1M and 4th on 3M. Olivia came in 25th on 1M and 15th on 3M. for the boys, George placed 11th on 1M and 10th on 3M, Bobby placed 3rd on 1M, Cameron finished 11th on 1M and 9th on 3M, and Griffon placed 16th on 1M and 14th on 3M. DARIEN: In addition to Timothy Luz, Darien divers Owen Stevens and Wiley Schmidt (both 14-15B) added to the medal count for the Whirlwind team. Owen and Wiley placed 2nd and 3rd in the 1M event and 3rd and 4th in the 3M competition, respectively. Also from Darien, divers Kyla Pech (16-18G) and Kyle O’Donnell (16-18B) competed with Kyla placing 20th on 1M and 8th on 3M, and Kyle finishing 10th on 1M.
GREENWICH:Annabelle Pollack (14-15G) and Caleigh Kupersmith (16-18G) contributed to the Whirlwind victory. Annabelle placed 4th on 1M and 5th on 3M, and Caleigh finished in 14th place on 1M.
The Whirlwind divers are gearing up to compete at the USA Diving Region 1 Championship Meet on March 14-16. The New Canaan YMCA will also host this Regional meet, which will include teams from the Mid-Atlantic states and New England.
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