Recap The First Day of the AHSAA Swimming & Diving Championships
Auburn, AL – The 64th edition of the AHSAA State Swimming and Diving Championships made a splash on Friday at Auburn University’s James E. Martin Aquatics Center. The event was kick-started by the diving competition, where four students emerged as individual champions, setting the tone for the remainder of the championships.
Mae Elliott, a junior from UMS-Wright, Reagan Costello, a senior from St. Paul’s Episcopal, Isaac Whetstone, a sophomore from St. John Paul II Catholic, and Cooper Brechman, a junior from Fairhope, each clinched individual titles in their respective divisions.
Elliott gave her school, UMS-Wright, a substantial head start, earning 20 points towards the 1A/5A girls’ state title with a remarkable diving score of 349.90. Her senior teammate, Jillian Ngando, followed suit, bagging the runner-up spot with a commendable total of 230.50, contributing an additional 17 points to the team’s tally.
In the 6A/7A girls’ diving championship, Costello stood atop the podium with a score of 357.90. Lanie Salvail, a junior from Grissom, came in second with a score of 321.65.
On the boys’ side, Whetstone secured the top spot in the 1A/5A class with a score of 347.55. Michael Helton, a senior from John Carroll Catholic, trailed closely behind with a score of 324.95. In the 6A/7A division, Brechman dominated the pool with the highest score of the day across all classes – an impressive 404.65. Grissom’s freshman, Casey Sapp, clinched the second spot with a score of 355.60.
Following the diving competition, preliminary races for the swimming competition took place. The highlight of these prelims was the 200-yard medley relay team from Huntsville, who shattered the state record in their event. They will have the opportunity to further improve their time in the finals on Saturday.
The championships will conclude with the swimming finals scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday. The NFHS Network will live stream all racing finals, with veteran broadcaster Jerry Young providing commentary.
AHSAA 2023 DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
at James E. Martin Aquatics Center, Auburn University
GIRLS’ FINAL RESULTS
CLASS 1A/5A
Name Yr. Semis Finals Score
Mae Elliott, UMS-Wright Jr. 231.20 349.90
Jillian Ngando, UMS-Wright Sr. 136.75 230.50
Caroline Cofield, Boaz Fr. 155.45 222.15
Lilly King, St. John Paul II Catholic 7th 152.80 208.15
Emerson Barnett, UMS-Wright Fr. 120.90 184.05
CLASS 6A/7A (Top 5)
Name Yr. Prelim Finals Score
Regan Costella, St. Paul’s Episcopal Sr. 255.10 357.09
Lanie Salvail, Grissom Jr. 221.15 321.65
Lucy Benoit, Hoover Jr. 223.80 315.35
Natalie Devoll, Oak Mountain Sr. 216.50 290.10
Laurel Hunter, James Clemens So. 220.95 286.10
BOYS’ FINAL RESULTS
CLASS 1A/5A
Name Yr. Prelim Finals Score
Isaac Whetstone, St. John Paul II So. 246.30 347.55
Michael Helton, John Carroll Cath. Sr. 224.55 324.95
Harrigan Weston, UMS-Wright Sr. 220.30 322.60
Matthew Johnson, Whitesburg Chr. Sr. 180.65 265.25
John M. Taylor, Whiteburg Chr. 8th 176.70 241.80
CLASS 6A/7A (Top 5)
Name Yr. Prelim Finals Score
Cooper Brechman, Fairhope Jr. 285.55 404.65
Casey Sapp, Grissom Fr. 238.05 355.60
Cole Hopkins, Huntsville Fr. 216.90 316.20
Lincoln Benner, Northridge Fr. 188.15 260.80
Parker Wright, James Clemens Sr. 179.20 248.25
Cover Photo: St. Paul’s Episcopal senior Reagan Costello dives her way to the 6A/7A girls’ individual AHSAA state title Thursday at Auburn University. (AHSAA PHOTOS | David Holtsford)
