BY BRIAN FEESTioga County Sports Report
WEBSTER — Owego sophomore Ayla Young earned a 20th place finish at the NYSPHSAA Diving Championships at Webster Aquatic Center.
For Young it’s fun just getting a chance to be at states with all the competition.
“It’s been a lot of fun, because I know more people this year, so it’s fun diving with all my friends from other sections,” Young said.
This year was a little different as Young went to state with teammate Kaelyn Katchuk last year, but now with her graduated Young was the only Owego athlete at state swimming and diving.
“It’s a lot different not having a teammate, but having the girls from the other sections are helpful, because they are like built in teammates,” Young said.
And, Young talks a lot with Vestal’s Olivia Tanton, who finished eighth to earn a state medal.
While she had experience from states last year, there were plenty of nerves this year.
“I think it was worse (the nerves) this year, because last year I felt like there wasn’t much on the line,” Young said. “This year it feels like it really matters to lock in for the next couple of years.”
The competition last year just helped prepare Young to compete this year.
“It was good last year, because it was very eye opening to see what the competition was like and how difficult it was to be competing here,” Young said. “This year I feel like I know what I’m walking into, so I’m more clear headed.”
Young was sitting right around 20th through each round of the competition.
The Owego sophomore had a 192.40 in the prelims and was 22nd through the prelims. She then had a 294.85 through the semifinals, to sit in 20th place and she finished with a score of 384.70.
A year ago Young finished 23rd. This year she was 95 points better than last year, when she had a score of 289.10.
————
PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES
