Garcia Wins Second Title; Lieberman, McLaughlin Also Claim Gold at Junior Nationals

MISSION VIEJO, California – Cristiano Garcia won his second gold medal of the week and Noah Lieberman and Hannah McLaughlin also won gold as the USA Diving TYR Junior National Championships continued Tuesday in Mission Viejo, California.

Garcia won the boys’ 12-13 3-meter title after winning gold on 1-meter earlier in week. Lieberman won the 11-and-under boys’ 1-meter title, and McLaughlin captured gold on platform in the 12-13 girls’ age group.

McLaughlin, who dives with the Woodlands Diving Academy, won the girls’ 12-13 platform gold with 284.65 points. Memphis Watts of the Mission Viejo Nadadores took the silver medal with 258.05 points, and Ava Jolley of the Carolina Diving Academy scored 251.35 points to finish third.

Garcia and Lieberman both dive with Montgomery Dive Club, whose divers have now won five gold medals this week. In addition to Garcia’s two wins and Lieberman’s one, Amir Owens won a pair of 11-and-under titles earlier in the week.

Garcia won the 12-13 3-meter title with 359.35 points. Nathan Piotrowski of Orlando Dive Academy took silver with 324.10 points, while his Orlando teammate Carlos Lujan was just behind with 322.20 points for third.

Lieberman scored 213.10 points to win the 1-meter gold and finish the Junior National Championships with a medal of every color. He also won silver on platform and was third on 3-meter earlier in the week. Callum Hennigan of Marlins Diving Club was second on 1-meter with 195.30 points, while Owens finished third with 194.20 points after winning gold on 3-meter and platform earlier this week.

The USA Diving TYR Junior National Championships continue through August 1. Wednesday’s competition features the 11-and-under girls on 1-meter, the 12-13 boys on platform and the 12-13 girls on 3-meter. In all, 28 junior national champions will be crowned throughout the competition.