Chagrin Falls' Samantha Holtz reigns as Division II girls diving state champion
Feb. 22—CANTON — When she was two divers away from stepping on the board Feb. 22 during Division II girls state diving, Samantha Holtz waited patiently next to a staircase.
Something with ascension seemed apropos, given the coronation of podium royalty that was soon to come.
It is a crescendo for which the Chagrin Falls junior has long toiled — and something which has seemed almost inevitable over these last three winters came to pass in Canton.
Holtz reigned as D-II state champion at Branin Natatorium in a no-doubt performance with a score of 454.95.
#NHdiving Here are all 11 dives by Chagrin's Samantha Holtz as she takes 1st with a 454.95 during D2 girls state diving
Recorded a bit longer in Round 11 for obvious reasons
Story will be tweeted soon pic.twitter.com/OpVt1xNSae
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) February 22, 2023
From freshman bursting on the scene in a dynamic 1-2 punch with 2021 state runner-up Kate Lamonica, now a sophomore at Minnesota, to three-time district champion and two-time top-four state placer to the best Ohio has to offer in girls D-II.
"Absolutely exhilarating," Holtz said. "I have my team behind me. They're cheering me on. I can't be prouder for how I got here and how I competed today."
#NHdiving Chagrin's Samantha Holtz gets her gold medal & heads to the top of the podium after D2 girls state diving pic.twitter.com/vOUTIjs6yO
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) February 22, 2023
The history abounds as a result.
She is the third girls diver from a News-Herald coverage area school all-time to capture a state crown, joining Mayfield's Carrie Hoehnen (1991) and West Geauga's Kami Goodrick (2017), and ninth overall including boys dating to the first in 1979.
For Chagrin, she is the third girls state champion in swimming and diving — the first two, of course, were not too shabby in their day: all-time swim greats Diana Munz and Lauren Preyss. And she is the Tigers' sixth swimmer or diver overall to take home gold in Canton, the first diver since Jamie Englhardt in 2010 and the first in any swimming or diving event since Austin Quinn's 200 IM win in 2013.
"It's incredible," Holtz said. "Chagrin is such an amazing school. I'm so proud to be representing them here today and competing under their name."
Holtz had the proceedings pretty well under control from prelims on.
Her primary competition, Napoleon's Mara Cashman, was already nearly 14 points down after five. Holtz brought her high degree-of-difficulty early, including her usual postseason high scorer with this dive structure, a 49.20 on an inward 1 1/2 pike.
Rounds 6-8 in the semifinals was where Holtz obliterated any fractional doubt that might have remained. She increased her advantage over Cashman to nearly 28 points, including a sneaky-good — at least given her caliber and propensity for 40- and 50-plus dives — 37.60 in Round 8 on a back pike.
"Yeah, definitely one that I've been working on," Holtz said. "It's a little far from the board, definitely still working on it for next year hopefully for high school season getting a little closer and scoring a little higher. But I was very happy with that dive."
Holtz capped her state title culmination the same manner in which she has seemingly done in any invite or postseason event over the last three years — with panache in the final three dives. She went 44.00 and 41.40 into her final attempt, a trademark inward 2 tuck that elicited a 47.60.
When Holtz stood by those steps prepared to dive, she could be seen mouthing lyrics. As it turns out, it wasn't anything in particular — just like her diving, it was hit after hit.
There is time, after all, when there's a 32-diver prelim.
"It's definitely very difficult," Holtz said. "I've mastered throughout my years kind of creating a routine in between dives that really fits for me. So for me, I love bringing out a folding chair. I bring out my knitting — knitted two rounds. I listened to some music, anywhere from K-Pop all the way to metal. It's a crazy range, but it keeps me in it and keeps me energetic for the entire 11 dives.
"It's any song that I've previously been listening to. Right now, I'm really liking 'War Pigs' by Black Sabbath. That is my go-to song right now. It's absolutely incredible. But definitely listening to music gets me through these meets."
Holtz isn't an evil mind that plots destruction like in "War Pigs," but she can plot eyeing a repeat in 2024 as a senior now.
Unsurpisingly knowing her attention to detail, how long she will enjoy this title will be brief.
"I'm thinking," Holtz said with a laugh, "tomorrow, I start practicing.
"I'm excited, but I will savor this moment for a long time."
Hawken's Cristianna Reineke placed a career-best ninth as a senior with a 331.15. She was in the podium contention into the finals with a rock-solid semifinal stretch that featured a 37.40 in Round 6 on a forward 2 tuck.
#NHdiving Here are all 11 dives by Hawken's Cristianna Reineke for a 331.15 to take 9th at D2 girls state diving pic.twitter.com/n7q6w0Se7S
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) February 22, 2023
Kenston's Mary Cowan (136.05) and Beaumont's Riley Becker (128.75) competed but did not advance out of prelims.
#NHdiving Here are the 5 prelim dives by Kenston's Mary Cowan for a 136.05 at D2 girls state diving pic.twitter.com/JJruXYKnZv
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) February 22, 2023
#NHdiving Here are the 5 prelim dives from Beaumont's Riley Becker for a 128.75 at D2 girls state diving pic.twitter.com/0p2WWlhEgE
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) February 22, 2023
