Niday, Henninger Win Gold on Day One of 2025 Winter National Championships

ElliReese Niday and Quinn Henninger won women’s 10-meter and men’s 3-meter national titles as the 2025 USA Diving Winter National Championships kicked off Friday in Midland, Texas.

Niday scored 754.85 points over two lists of women’s 10-meter dives to win her second national title. Ella Roselli finished second with 649.50 points, edging Bayleigh Cranford, who took bronze at 643.70.

Niday also won the 10-meter title at the 2025 USA Diving National Championships in May and took gold on the event at the Junior Pan American Games in August.

The 13-year-old Niday scored no lower than 74.20 points on any of her five dives in the final, with two scoring more than 80 points. She opened with 83.20 points on a back 2 ½ with 1 ½ twists and closed out her list with 81.60 points on an armstand double back somersault with 1 ½ twists. She received a 10 from one judge on her inward 2 ½ pike, which scored 77 points.

“I’m so honored to compete against so many amazing athletes. It was really fun out there,” Niday said.

Roselli scored 81.60 points on her final dive, a back 2 ½ with 1 ½ twists to overtake Cranford for the silver medal. Cranford, who was second heading into the final round, ended her list with 71.40 points on a reverse 3 ½ tuck – the most difficult dive performed in the contest – but it wasn’t enough to stay ahead of Roselli in the final standings.

Henninger won men’s 3-meter with 836.35 points on his two lists of dives. Jack Ryan took second at 806.35, and Luke Sitz was third with 800.35 points.

The 3-meter title was Henninger’s first senior national title in an individual event. Ryan won the title at last year’s winter nationals, when Henninger and Ryan also paired together to win the 3-meter synchro title.

Henninger scored 72 points or higher on five dives, including 78.75 on his reverse 1 ½ with 3 ½ twists.

“I’m feeling pretty good. I’m excited with the outcome. My goal was to stay consistent, so I was happy with that,” Henninger said.

Ryan had the two highest scoring dives of the contest, earning 87.75 points on a front 2 ½ with three twists and 84 points on a reverse 3 ½ tuck. Sitz also had two dives score more than 80 points, with his front 4 ½ tuck scoring 81.70 points and his reverse 1 ½ with 3 ½ twists scoring 82.25 points.

The USA Diving Winter National Championships continue through Tuesday. Saturday’s competition features men’s 10-meter and women’s 1-meter.