July 29, 2010

Texans shine on day two of Age Group Nationals

TUCSON, Ariz. – Divers from Texas won four of the six titles awarded Friday at the USA Diving Age Group National Championships.

Michael Beran (Austin, Texas) won the 16-18 boys platform title, Maddie Cox (The Woodlands, Texas) won the 14-15 girls 1-meter title, Sloane Papa (Southlake, Texas) finished first in the 12-13 girls 1-meter contest, and Ryan Tipton (Mansfield, Texas) won the 14-15 boys 3-meter title.

Other Friday winners were Calli Head (Fox Point, Wisc.) in the 16-18 girls platform event and Nash Nickerson (Doylestown, Pa.) on 3-meter in the 12-13 boys age group.

Texans also won three silver and three bronze medals Friday.

Less than 10 points separated first from fifth in the 12-13 girls 1-meter standings. Papa, who scored 237.15 points in her win, edged out silver medalist Nicole Bogusch (Austin, Texas) by 2.05 points. Fellow Texan Cassidy Gebhart (Spring, Texas) was third.

Beran finished with 420.05 points for his win on platform, and Devin Burnett (Plano, Texas) was second at 395.35. The bronze went to Ethan Canty (Loomis, Calif.).

Tipton dominated the 14-15 boys 3-meter competition, scoring 377.95 points to win by more than 50 points. Demetri Demet (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) was second and Thomas Shinholser (Burtonsville, Md.) third.

Head won her platform title with 367.80 points, with Texans Alexandra Bettridge (Austin, Texas) and Katherine Barolak (The Woodlands, Texas) finishing second and third.

Cox was the only diver in the 14-15 girls 1-meter contest to top 300 points, finishing with a total of 301.65. Siyao Li (Monterey Park, Calif.) took second, and Ashlynn Peters (Cypress, Texas) picked up the bronze.

Nickerson scored 278.20 in his 3-meter win, with silver and bronze going to Ryan McClelland (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) and Matthew Casillas (Orange, Calif.).

The Age Group National Championships continue through Saturday, July 31. Eight titles will be up for grabs on both Friday and Saturday.