New Albany’s Duperre second again
CANTON — It might appear that what Noah Duperre accomplished at the Division I state diving meet Saturday was a replay of 2017, when he finished as the runner-up to Shaker Heights powerhouse Lyle Yost.
Yost again was nearly flawless Saturday in accumulating 602.40 points over 11 dives on the 1-meter springboard to win the championship at Branin Natatorium.
Duperre was 23.35 points back, but the New Albany sophomore stepped off the awards podium thinking he has taken another sizable step in the sport. He was 24.85 points back last year.
“I’m really happy with my performance because I stepped up my dives,’’ he said. “I performed harder dives, and I did them well. I think I did way better than last year, even though I got the same place. I think it was my having experience. I was less nervous — calmer. I felt ready going into this.”
Duperre was strong through his final dive, when he scored 62.35 points on a backward 1½ somersault 2½ twist free.
Olentangy Liberty freshman Jack Matthews was third with 513.7 points, and Olentangy Orange junior Luke Cheetham got the eighth and final spot on the podium with 453.10 points.
Matthews was downcast.
“I really didn’t have the best meet of my life,” he said. “I had a couple of good dives, and I was happy with those. I’ll try again next year. It was really fun being around kids your same age and doing what you know how to do.”
Cheetham broke through for a medal after finishing 11th as a freshman and ninth last year.
“I definitely reached my goal this year,” he said. “I was shooting for a better score this year. I practiced the dives that I missed at states last year. I worked on my inwards and reverses. It was a year of experience that helped me. I’m really happy with this.”
Cheetham secured his medal by scoring 41.80 points on his final dive, a forward 1½ somersault one twist free.
Hilliard Darby freshman Hayden Apel finished 19th. New Albany freshman Jordan Rzepka did not compete because of a broken thumb suffered in practice.