Local divers gain experience at Viking Invitational

None of the divers in the Morning Journal coverage area may have won at the 40th annual Viking Invitational on Dec. 20 at Cleveland State’s Busbey Natatorium, but they all gained valuable experience of what they need to improve upon heading toward the sectional, district and state meets.

“It really helps me prepare for the championships because of the competition,” Amherst senior Holly Lamb said. “It

Swimming lets me see where I stand with the girls because a lot of the divers out here today I’m going to face again in the sectional and district meet. It’s just a good chance to see what I can do with 11 dives since most meets are only six.”

Julia Oppedisano of Strongsville, who finished fourth at the Division I state meet in February, claimed first in the girls meet with an 11-dive score of 446.35. Freshman Alex Claus of St. Ignatius claimed first in the boys meet with a score of 430.15.

Avon Lake sophomore Megan Peepers topped the Morning Journal finishers with an 11-dive score of 339.10, good enough for fourth place.

“I honestly didn’t think I would finish that high,” Peepers said. “Everybody here is just so good. Like, about half of them went to state last year and I didn’t. I learned a lot of new dives, so I think that really helped. My final three dives were ones that I hadn’t done in competition before, and it helped me stay in the top four.

“I really just came to have some fun and see where I’m at compared to everyone else. I definitely had a good time.”

Heading into the final dive, Peepers held a slim lead over Lamb, 319.15-308.80, for fourth place. Lamb’s final dive ended up being disqualified, and she fell from fifth to 10th with a final score of 308.80.

“I failed that dive and it was rough,” Lamb said. “I actually had just learned it two days ago and failing it was something that I definitely don’t want stored in my memory. I just slipped out of my tuck. I just don’t think I had practiced it enough to have it ready for this meet.”

Peepers, who trains with Lamb, said that she was just enjoying having a tight competition with Lamb.

“We’re friends,” she said. “It was just a really good friendly competition. I felt bad when that last dive didn’t work for her, but I know she’ll bounce back.”

Other Morning Journal area girls divers included Erica Henrichsen of Perkins, and Ryleigh Macalla of Rocky River, who tied for sixth with 322.95 points, Emily Lampert of Avon Lake (311.80, ninth), Morgan Jedrezejek of Olmsted Falls (302.25, 11th) and Jessica Mosier of Bay (276.40, 15th).

For the boys, both Morning Journal representatives came from Westlake in sophomore Matt Akers and junior Dominic Campo. Akers finished fifth with 302.25, while Campo took eighth with 268.75.

“I could have done better,” Akers said. “It was a big meet, but I was really just looking at it as something that was more for fun. It’s nice knowing what dives I need to work on now, though. Some of my bigger dives I need to work on getting in cleaner. I just need to keep working on them. A ton of repetition. I just need to keep doing them over and over and over again.”