Hampton’s Gabriella Elk gets 3-peat; Mt. Pleasant’s Noah Lahm captures WPIAL Class 2A diving gold

By: Bob Orkwis
Friday, February 20, 2026 | 12:51 PM

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After finishing in eighth place last year, Noah Lahm had his sights set higher for his final high school diving season.

The Mt. Pleasant senior overcame a late stumble in the 10th round Friday, finishing with a score of 320.00 to capture the gold medal at the WPIAL Class 2A boys diving championships at North Allegheny.

“The power went out, and I kind of had a bit of nerves after that,” Lahm said. “I kind of biffed my second-to-last dive a bit and didn’t score too well. It was close, but it all worked out in the end.”

At the start of the finals, in round nine, there was a 20-minute power outage that delayed the competition.

Lahm led for most of the event, before Indiana junior Connor Fleming moved into first place before the next-to-last dive.

“I’ve been iffy on that dive (a forward dive for round 10) if I’m honest,” Lahm said. “It was a combination of nerves and that being one of my worst dives. I was sure I was finishing in second place after that.”

Fleming earned a silver medal with a score of 317.85.

“He’s really good,” Lahm said of Fleming. “I’m looking forward to going against him and the tough competition at states.”

Beaver senior Isaac Burtt (307.90) was the bronze medalist for a second straight season.

With only seven divers competing, the top six finishers qualified for the PIAA meet March 13 at Bucknell.

Joining Lohm, Pearson and Burtt will be Northgate freshman Simon Buzzard (269.70), Indiana sophomore Elias Herman (256.05) and Thomas Jefferson freshman Aiden Pearson (245.10).

Lahm, who placed first at the WCCA competition in January, is looking forward to his first trip to the PIAA championships, and may add to his dive set.

“I’m hoping, for states, I can get a triple front flip, a 2 and ½ pike, and I’m really excited about a 3 and ½ back twister,” he said. “I’ve done it in practice a couple of time, but it’s just not there yet for competition. But I’m hoping I can get that for states.”

Elk wins 3rd straight title

Gabriella Elk was the favorite heading into the WPIAL Class 2A girls diving championships after winning back-to-back gold medals as a sophomore and junior.

The Delaware-bound senior did not disappoint, capturing her third straight title with a score of 470.15.

“I was really happy with how I did today,” Elk said of the three-peat. “I think I was really consistent throughout the whole day.”

Elk said her dive set this year was close to the one she had set up when she won last year’s gold medal.

“Only one dive was different from last year,” she said. “Honestly, I was taking it one dive at a time, just working on my consistency and not really focusing on the end results.”

Outside of Elk, the battle for second and third place was the other highlight of the competition, as Derry junior teammates Gena Hoyle and Lidia Gamble played leapfrog with each other throughout the afternoon.

Hoyle edged Gamble, 355.40 to 344.30, to grab the silver, with Hoyle taking home the bronze.

Out of the 15 divers who participated, the top eight finishers will head to Bucknell for the PIAA championships March 14. Joining Elk and the Derry duo will be Union sophomore Ellie Carei (334.70), Knoch freshman Brooke Kobert (329.40), Greensburg Salem junior Kadence Keenan (310.80), Freeport senior Joy Beck (309.50) and Mt. Pleasant junior Ella Paul (296.60)

Elk, who also won a bronze medal as a freshman, snagged a score of over 50 points on her second dive, which she said is one of her top dives.

“My second dive, the inward 1 and a half, has definitely become one of my favorite dives,” she said.

Elk now heads to the state meet where she will try and defend her PIAA gold medal.

“I think just working on my confidence and my consistency will be key,” she said. “Just knowing that I can control how I do and not worrying about anything else and just focusing on myself.”

Elk also earned a PIAA bronze during her career at Hampton.

The WPIAL Class 3A boys and girls diving championships are set for Saturday.

Tags: Beaver, Indiana, Mt. Pleasant, Northgate, Thomas Jefferson