New Canaan YMCA Whirlwind Divers Dominate at Winter Weekend Invitational

While the Olympic athletes were competing in Sochi this past weekend, the New Canaan YMCA Whirlwind Diving Team kept busy earning medals at home. Whirlwind divers once again captured the team first place prize at the annual Whirlwind Winter Weekend Invitational Diving Meet held at the New Canaan YMCA on Feb. 7-9th.  There were 214 registered divers competing for 18 teams at the meet.  Although the competition was stiff, Whirlwind easily won in both the boys and the girls team competitions for a total combined score of 483.50 points, besting the 2nd place team, High Dive Champions of Purchase, NY, by over 65 points!

Whirlwind Diving had individual double winners at both ends of the age range.  Representing the 9under boys, Whirlwind diver August Hibler of Pound Ridge, NY, took 1st place in both the 1 Meter and the 3 Meter events with personal bests in both events.  Local high school All American diver Kirsten Parkinson of Stamford captured the win on both 1 Meter and 3 Meter in the 16-18 girls competition., also with a personal best score on 3M.  Other Whirlwind event winners included Timothy Luz (Darien, 14-15 boys) on 1M, high school All American Sean Burston (Stamford, 16-18 boys) on 3M, Allison Courtney (Wilton, 14-15 girls) on 3M, Hannah Craley (Redding, 12-13 girls Novice) on 1M, and Gail Heaslip (Ridgefield, Masters Gold) on 1M.

Also representing Stamford, Shannon Rust (11U girls) placed 13th on 1M and 8th on 3M,  Rachel Burston (16-18 girls) placed 6th on 1M, Vahram Tchakmakjian  (9U boys) received bronze medals on both boards, Sawyer Neyer (9U boys) placed 6th on 1M and 4th on 3M, and Sean Burston  (16-18boys) finished 6th on 1M.

The meet on Whirlwind’s home boards was a great success for the Whirlwind team, as the divers gear up to compete at the USA Diving Region 1 Championship Meet on March 14-16.  The New Canaan YMCA will also host this Regional meet, which will include teams from the Mid-Atlantic states and New England. 

For additional information about the New Canaan YMCA Whirlwind Diving Team, contact Coach Joe Somma at jsomma@newcanaanymca.org.