Westfield divers Kelsey Veillette, left, and James Wagner, right, stand alongside Bombers’ diving coach Linda Rowbotham, center, at the western sectional diving championships Thursday night at Springfield College’s swim center. (Photo by Chris Putz)
SPRINGFIELD – It may have been a quiet western sectional championship diving meet Thursday night at Springfield College, but one local diver made some noise.
Westfield senior diver Kelsey Veillette drew some cheers from a small contingent of family and friends – and her coach Linda Rowbotham, of course – and a bronze medal at the diving championships. Veillette’s third-place finish (362.70 points) came just a few short hours after the team learned that the swim portion of the championships had been cancelled due to the impending snowstorm.
“There wasn’t much of a crowd, and there weren’t a lot of divers or swimmers here to support us,” Veillette said. “The all-around atmosphere is different (due to the shocking announcement), but I think it went okay.”
It went so well that Veillette even earned 22 points on two different dives (a forward 1-1/2 somersault pike; and an inward dive pike). She drew an 8.0 from one judge (two different judges) on each dive.
Veillette said she felt most comfortable with her forward somersault 1 twist free, good for a net total of 21.50 from the five judges. She finished behind Northampton’s Abbie Crescitelli (373.05) and Minnechaug’s Emily Murphy (369.05) in the final overall standings.
“Most of my dives were consistent,” the Bombers’ senior swimmer explained. “I’m happy with that, it’s a good way to end the season.”
Veillette will get one more chance to make her mark at states next weekend.
BOYS’ RESULTS
Westfield sophomore diver James Wagner got his feet wet, so to speak, in his first diving sectional. Wagner finished in 13th place with 254.25 points in the boys’ competition.
“I had a great time,” Wagner said of his championship debut. He said he felt his strongest during his 1-1/2 pike dive.
Brandon Archambault, of Chicopee, won the meet with 399.20 points.
“It was a good meet,” Rowbotham said. “There were a lot of good divers.”
Rowbotham said she was pleased with her two divers, noting Wagner’s debut performance. “He had a very good Western Mass. experience,” she said. “He still got four points for the team. Some kids didn’t even make it.”
