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Divers Spring Into Action - Noblesville
Written By: Brian Beck - Noblesville Times
Moving up an age group to the 14-15 division, Noblesville Middle School eighth-grader Katie Bittner wasn’t sure what to expect going into the Spring Region IV Championships in Bloomington.
“I wasn’t trying to get my hopes up too much,†said Bittner.
The Starz diver had little trouble in her new age group, producing impressive performances which landed her in the Spring Junior East National Championships on April 27-29 in Coral Springs, Fla. The top six finishers in each event advance to the East Nationals.
Bittner placed fourth in the 3-meter with a personal best score of 265.60 and placed fifth in the 1-meter with a 263.25. She was the top Indiana finisher in both events and qualified for her fifth East/West national meet. “We knew going in she would be the youngest in that age group,†said Noblesville Starz coach Doug Hartley. “Some of the 15-year-old girls are throwing some higher difficulty dives but Katie has proved she can hang with them. These are long meets and the kids get kind of tired, but she came out the second day and was on fire.â€
Last spring, Bittner advanced to nationals in the 1-meter and placed ninth. She hopes to improve on that place in April. “For spring nationals, this is my first year going on 1-meter and 3-meter,†said Bittner. “I could probably move up a couple places on both boards. I just want to do my best and get a new high score.â€
Bittner said she is confident on both the 1-meter and 3-meter boards. “I’m probably equal on both boards,†said Bittner. “I’ve gotten a lot better on the 3-meter over the past year. I guess I’m pretty good at both. “My reverse 1 ½ on the 1-meter was going pretty well (at the regional meet). I need to improve my front twist on the 3-meter.â€
Bittner is one of five divers from the Starz club team based in Noblesville to advance to nationals. One of her teammates, 10-year-old Andrew Porten of Fishers, placed third on the 1-meter board (181.30) and second on the 3-meter (183.55) in the 11-and-under division. Steele Johnson, of the National Training Center in Indianapolis, won both the 1-meter (204.30) and 3-meter (243.45). Also advancing from the Noblesville-based Starz team are Alex Jones (Ft. Wayne, 14-15), Bethany Jones (Ft. Wayne, 12-13) and Morgan Meixmer (Indianapolis, 11-under).
Hartley recently took on more divers following a coaching change at one of the other Starz satellite locations. “Some of the kids I haven’t worked with very long,†said Hartley. “As a whole, they surprised me. They’ve all worked really hard just to be able to go to the regional meet. To be able to qualify (for nationals) shows how dedicated they are to the sport.†Hartley has been with the Starz club for about six years, previous running the satellite team in Kokomo.
Spring Region IV Championships At Bloomington
Note: Results for county divers
14-15 girls
1-meter
1. Seymour (Windy City Patriot Diving – Ill.) 279.60, 2. Blank (Moss Farms Diving Tigers – Ga.) 275.80, 3. Wilson (Rip Entry Diving – Tenn.) 275.00, 4. Corbett (Cardinal Diving Club – Ky.) 270.65, 5. Katie Bittner (Starz) 263.25.
3-meter
1. Blank (Moss) 304.00, 2. Corbett (Card) 303.75, 3. Seymour (WCPD) 295.25, 4. Bittner (Starz) 265.60
11-under boys
1-meter
1. Johnson (National Training Center – Ind.) 204.30, 2. Vozzola (Metro Atlanta Diving – Ga.) 190.60, 3. Andrew Porten (Starz) 181.30, 4. Zachary Cooper (Starz) 142.35
3-meter
1. Johnson (NTC) 243.45, 2. Porten (Starz) 183.55, 3. Vozzola (MAD) 146.35, 4. Cooper (Starz) 131.70.
Posted 3-11-07 |
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