FRESNO, Calif. – Sophomore Stella Cassidy placed 28th in the girls' 1-meter competition as the lone St. Francis diver at the CIF State Swimming & Diving Championships, held at the Clovis West Aquatics Center Thursday morning. Cassidy qualified as one of four representatives from the Sac-Joaquin Section championship meet.
The Troubie sophomore competed in five dives before the field was reduced to 16 semifinalists. She enjoyed her two best scoring pushes in the second and fourth rounds, respectively. Cassidy logged 29.90 points on her 104B, or forward 2.0 somersaults, pike position; then picked up another 29.40 on a 5231D (back 1.5 with a half twist, freestyle) in the fourth round.
Oak Ridge's Mimi Poort was the lone SJS diver to move on to the semifinals, grabbing the 16th and final spot. St. Mary's Francesco Avansino finished 24th (150.80) while Oak Ridge's Sophia Gatlin bowed out in 27th (141.15).
Mater Dei senior and Kentucky commit Gianna Kenrick dominated the field with a 520.70 total, with future NC State student-athlete Hailey Tipton in second at 487.00.
The girls' and boys' diving events take place in Thursday's portion of the meet, with the swimming trials and finals running on Friday and Saturday. St. Francis advanced its 200-yard medley squad plus junior Lilla Kapinya in the two sprint freestyle events.
