South divers gain experience

South Putnam sophomore Courtney Sullivan competes in the one-meter diving event at the sectional meet on Saturday. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

AVON -- South Putnam sophomore Courtney Sullivan and freshman Maddison Plunkett gave their squad important team points at the grueling 11-dive sectional meet on Saturday.

Sullivan (11th place, 207.35) and Sullivan (ninth place, 221.10) were competing in their first 11-dive meet of the year.

Throughout the season (at dual meets, county and conference tournaments) the Eagles competed exclusively in six-dive formats.

For young divers like South Putnam has, learning to add five new dives and increasing the degree of difficulty modifier throughout the season is a challenge in itself.

Doing that at a single meet, with the pressure of the sectional crowd and competition, is a big task.

South Putnam coach Matthew Edwards said he thinks they were the only team that entered Saturday's sectional without having prior experience this season with a full format.

Edwards said he will look into adding one to the schedule in future seasons.

With the youth and relative inexperience the Eagles have, their place was an achievement.

If the two are able to compete at the same level next year, but throw in slightly more difficult dives, they will vault up the leader board.

Greencastle also had a pair of divers throughout the year, but they each failed to score in the sectional.

Freshman Madi Fauvergue missed the meet with a shoulder injury and junior Sydney Cassida was disqualified.

"Those extra five dives are very hard to get and they take you into difficulty ranges that you don't often work with during the year," Greencastle coach Kent Menzel said. "It's a real challenge to be able to do 11 dives, particularly for a new diver like Sydney, who is in her first year. I have no doubts that she will be back and she'll have those dives perfected next year and the results will be very different next year."

The top four divers, Plainfield's Courtney Coverdale (420.95) and Molly Fears (364.65), Tri-West's Lorin Dickerson (351.85) and Avon's Melissa Moore (332.65), all advance to the regional diving competition, which is Tuesday at Plainfield High School at 6 p.m.

GHS junior Sydney Cassida competes in the one-meter diving event at sectionals on Saturday. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

North Putnam did not field any female divers this season.