Latrobe divers strong again entering WPIAL championship meet
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Sunday, February 10, 2019 | 8:21 PM
Latrobe has another bumper crop of divers.
Four Wildcats qualified for the WPIAL Class AAA championship meet Feb. 23, the same number as last season. Two rank among the league’s best.
Junior Jordyn Miller (264.40) and sophomore Lauren Bisignani (251.35) stood second and fourth in Class AAA girls 1-meter 6 dives as of Jan. 31.
Latrobe diving coach Trish Brownlee said Miller and Bisignani have traded wins, stepping up after the departure of Miller’s sister.
Taylor Miller, an Ohio freshman, placed third in the WPIAL last season. She went to to finish 10th in the state.
“Jordyn has learned to be a graceful diver with plans to increase her degree-of-difficulty dives,” Brownlee said. “Lauren is (an) achiever to get degree-of-difficulty dives and working on cleaning them up for WPIALs.”
Jordyn Miller said Bisignani has helped ease the loss of her sister.
“This year without Taylor is very different,” Miller said. “We always have had such a special bond.
“After she graduated, (Lauren and I) have gotten very close. We push one another and have a very competitive relationship, which helps us both.”
Bisignani said she and Jordyn Miller have known each other for a long time, and the Millers are the reason she started diving.
Brownlee hopes Miller and Bisignani stay in the top five so they qualify for states. Top finishers at the WPIAL championship will advance to the PIAA championship in March at Bucknell.
Jordyn Miller came in 11th in the WPIAL last season, and Bisignani finished 20th among the boys.
Brownlee said Bisignani competed with the boys to gain experience.
“The boys are all very friendly and funny, but I’m happy to get to compete with the girls,” Bisignani said.
Other Wildcats making qualifying cuts were junior Clay McClintock and sophomore Emmaly Held.
McClintock (193.85) ranked 23rd in boys 1-meter 6 dives.
“We are looking forward to the competition at WPIALs, and with the right training, will be ready for anything,” Brownlee said. “All I expect from my kids is to do the best (they) can, be consistent, perform clean dives and show the judges (they) are worthy of competing at states.”
Karen Kadilak is a freelance writer.
Tags: Latrobe
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