BY Thomas Zuck

The WPIAL Class AAA diving championship at North Allegheny on Saturday was not a good place for defending champions or long-standing records.

North Allegheny freshman Connor Kuremsky won his first WPIAL title in convincing fashion against defending champion junior Ryan Koter of Franklin Regional. Kuremsky's score of 528.45 points broke the record of 522.55 set in 2000 by Seneca Valley's Chris Rebholtz.

Franklin Regional sophomore Samantha Pickens dominated the girls bracket with a score of 542.25 to break the record of 516.65 set in 1999 by North Allegheny's Jamie Tomazich. Defending champion Amanda Lohman of Upper St. Clair finished second with 490.10.

The top-five finishers in both brackets advance to the PIAA championships March 11-15 at Bucknell University.

"I don't really think that today's score says who the best diver is," Kuremsky said. "It just says who did the best today. I definitely need to work on my takeoffs because they were a little shaky today. I was nervous today because I had never done a WPIAL meet like this, so I didn't know what to expect, plus it was at our home pool."

Although he did not defend his championship, Koter was not totally displeased.

"I think I did well today," Koter said. "I did better than last year, and there were no dives that I really missed. The difference was that Connor was really good. He's always been good."

Last season, Lohman won the WPIAL title, but Pickens won the PIAA championship. Still, Pickens said she did not feel pressure at the beginning of the event.

"I definitely did a lot better today than I did last year at WPIALs," Pickens said. "I was just a lot more confident. I don't know why. Maybe it's because I was not in first place coming in. I think I was fourth, so I didn't have any pressure.

"As for getting ready for states, now I know I can dive this well, so I just have to prepare for that. In my second round, I had a dive that just was not good, so I know I can do better."

The second-round dive that Pickens missed allowed Lohman to take her only lead of the day in the 11-dive competition.

"I think today she was just a better diver," Lohman said. "Today the dives I was nervous about I hit, and the ones I was not, I didn't. I just have to get better for states."

There was much jockeying for the final three PIAA berths behind Pickens and Lohman. Eventually, they were won by Dianna Rocco of Seneca Valley, Emilie Foley of North Allegheny and Kiski Area sophomore Tori Brungo.

The top five in the boys saw little change throughout the event, but the final three spots were taken by Heath Calhoun of Butler, John Szott of Bethel Park and Ed Deming of Franklin Regional. Deming moved into fifth with just two dives remaining.

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