South Fayette Senior Repeats as WPIAL Boys 2-A Diving Champ
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Friday, February 24, 2017 | 3:52 PM
With the Class AA boys diving field reduced to only six competitors, the 2017 Championship concluded in record time. Despite the brevity of the event at Moon Area High School, drama was still at the forefront, as South Fayette senior Trevor Mahoney repeated as champion, winning by a razor-thin margin. Mahoney edged Laurel Highlands’ John Ek by less than one point, 427.05 to 426.15.
The gold was decided in the final round, as Ek executed a spectacular dive, which yielded a score of 54.60. Mahoney, who was unaware of Ek’s dive and consequently the score the needed to win, recorded a 42.0, which was just enough to take first place.
Those two competitors, who also claimed the top two spots in 2016, each increased their score by a notable margin from last year.
Meanwhile, Beaver Area’s Andrew Cestra clinched third place, scoring 360.10. Dylan Rice, also of Laurel Highlands, came in fourth, with a total of 286.30, while Elizabeth Forward freshman Gavin Guern finished fifth, and South Fayette’s Shane O’Donnell sixth.
As a result of the much smaller field, all six divers automatically qualified for the PIAA Class AA Championship at Bucknell University next month.
2017 Boys Class AA Diving Championships:
1. Trevor Mahoney (South Fayette) – 427.05
2. John Ek (Laurel Highlands) – 426.15
3. Andrew Cestra (Beaver Area) – 360.10
4. Dylan Rice (Laurel Highlands) – 286.30
5. Gavin Guern (Elizabeth Forward) – 272.10
6. Shane O’Donnell (South Fayette) – 208.65
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