Diving district capsule

When:

Feb. 12 (Division II; 11:30 a.m. boys, 6:30 p.m. girls) and Feb. 13 (Division I; 11:30 a.m. boys, 6:30 p.m. girls)

Where:

Cleveland State’s Busbey Natatorium, 2451 Euclid Avenue

In Division I, the top six boys and top seven girls advance to state. In Division II, the top 10 boys and top five girls advance to state.

What’s next: Division I:

The most realistic chance of advancing out of CSU comes from the Benedictine/Euclid duo of Charlie Malberti and Luke Faulisi. Malberti and Faulisi are in the same boat — Benedictine students, but because their school dropped swimming and diving this winter, they represent Euclid in diving.

Faulisi, a two-sport athlete during the winter playing as a defenseman for Benedictine’s hockey team and diving for Euclid, commendably gutted out sectional competition. Battling a bruised right rib suffered during the Bengals’ GCHSHL Red game against Rocky River, and in turn using low degree-ofdifficulty dives, Faulisi still managed a 311.65. Malberti encouraged with a 394.15.

After the graduation of Shaker Heights’ Lyle Yost, whose 600-plus ability impressed even the most seasoned observers, it may not be as challenging to get out of CSU. But it’s still highly formidable.

State berths out of each district fluctuate by the year, and in 2020, it’s six for D-I boys. That means at least a 400 is a must, and with some of the sectional scores, it may even take 450.

The top two will be strong with non-area standouts Jackson Salisbury (Solon) and Ezra Dykema (Shaker Heights), and a 32-diver field will make it a long day. So Malberti and Faulisi will need to be on, especially in the pivotal semifinal round, to fend off a large field for a top six.

Division II:

With Kenston moving to D-II this winter in swimming and diving, one of the biggest benefits is the depth it adds to The NewsHerald coverage area diving ranks in D-II, depth that was already strong. Kenston’s Mary O’Neill, a three-time state qualifier in D-I, is a talented performer who can get deep into the 400s with her ability. Chagrin Falls’ Kate LaMonica, a returning two-time state qualifier, logged the best seed score going into district with a 475.00 at the Chagrin Valley Conference meet, recorded despite a lingering sinus infection.

Another premier area returning state-qualifying diver, Beachwood’s Amanda Leizman, with her 400-plus ability and postseason experience, will also push this race for a district crown toward a high scoring pace. Hawken’s Ariana Khan, who edged into a state berth in 2019, and Kenston’s Courtney Keane could also be in state contention. But the margin for error has dropped with Northeast state berths decreasing from six to five in 2020. Unfortunately, longtime West Geauga standout Hannah Zahniser, who would have been a key part of that area depth here, is slated to miss district competition due to injury.

Boys D-II state berths have spiked all the way to 10, with a 32-diver field at CSU. Hawken’s Angus Williams, in his first year of high school diving as a junior, is likely to be the favorite for a district crown after his 435.20to win the CVC meet. Beachwood’s Seth Warner has grown immensely and benefited in the first half of his career from having 2019 D-II state runner-up Spencer Bystrom as a teammate. Warner should be in line to make another stride this winter.

Kenston’s Clay Foster is a promising young diver as a sophomore who could go for around 400 at district. University’s Michael Holtz, who also doubles as the No. 1 goaltender for US’ hockey team and is a returning D-II state diving qualifier, is back eyeing a repeat berth.