Derry divers sweep gold during Westmoreland County Coaches Association championships
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Friday, January 26, 2024 | 10:51 PM
Derry’s Ella Silvis captured the girls diving title at the WCCA championships Friday.
Derry’s Ella Silvis enters the water during the WCCA diving championship Friday.
Derry’s Jacob Hauser flips through the air to complete a dive during the WCCA championships Friday.
Derry’s Jacob Hauser hits the water to complete a dive during the WCCA championships Friday.
Derry’s Chaeli Keenan starts her dive during the WCCA championships Friday.
Mt. Pleasant’s Ella Paul competes at the WCCA championships Friday.
Hempfield’s Kate Livingston competes at the WCCA championships Friday.
Derry’s Ella Silvis finishes a dive during the WCCA championships Friday.
Penn-Trafford’s Samantha Wolfe performs a dive during the WCCA championships Friday.
Mt. Pleasant’s Rayna Wisneski stretches out to complete during the WCCA championships Friday.
It was quite night for the Derry divers Friday during Day 1 of the Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association meet.
Derry had two champions and two others earn medals during the diving portion of the event. The swimming portion of the meet begins 10 a.m. Saturday at Derry.
Junior Ella Silvis edged teammate Chaeli Keenan, 396.20 to 378.80, to capture the girls title.
“Every day at practice, I’m trying to be consistent,” Silvis said. “I’m trying my best. I’m proud of what happened today. It made it special because the competition pushed me.”
Silvis said her last dive of the competition, her 11th, is what won the title. It was a reverse one-and-a half.
“It turned out well,” Silvis said. “I got an eight, which is pretty good.”
Junior Jacob Hauser won his second consecutive county title in taking the boys event. He finished with a 442.80 score. Second place went to Hempfield’s Tanner Collins with 322.55.
Kiski Area and Burrell did not have any divers compete.
The Trojans’ other placewinner was Timmy Miller, who finished fifth.
“Winning this for the second title was the goal,” Hauser said. “I definitely pushed myself in practice. It was a lot of work in the offseason.
“The key dives I hit were the front triple and the front two-and-half. They got me most of my big points as well as the inward double. The higher difficulties definitely helped.”
Silvis credited her teammates for pushing her in practice.
“I’m pleased with my effort,” she said. “I couldn’t have done it without the help of my teammates.”
Hempfield’s Kate Livingston was third, and Mt. Pleasant’s Rayna Wisneski was fourth.
Franklin Regional’s Mac Miller was third, and Ben Kudrick was fourth.
“All the Derry divers that competed are coming away with a medal,” Hauser said. “That’s pretty good.”
Hauser is ranked No. 2 in the WPIAL in Class 2A.
Hauser will be competing in the 400 free relay Saturday during the swimming events.
Westmoreland County Coaches’ Association
Swimming and Diving Championship at Derry
Saturday, 10 a.m. – Swimming
Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.
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