Diving: Greeley's Kasulka and Somers' Wilkinson finish top 10 at NYSPHSAA championships
Horace Greeley senior Michelle Kasulka and Somers junior Julia Wilkinson came into Friday's NYSPHSAA and Federation championships looking for a little bit of redemption.
After last year's 'off' performance, both the reigning Section 1 champion and silver medalist were able to finish with in the top 10 at the Webster Aquatic Center at Webster High School.
"This year's states showed what Section 1 is capable of and how well we can do," Kasulka said. "Last year didn't go the way we intended but we came back this year ready and prepared to do even better."
Kasulka finished sixth overall scoring 485.20 points, the highest finisher for Section 1.
"Sixth-place in New York State feels amazing," Kasulka said. "I'm so happy that I was able to make the finals and place well in my last high school meet."
Wilkinson finished ninth overall scoring 481.75 as a member of the combined Yorktown/Somers team.
"Making it into the top 10 exceeded my expectations for this meet," Wilkinson said. "I had a good mindset going into it not focusing on the placing or the high scores. I was focusing on the pure feeling of each dive and how much it meant to hit every one."
Jericho's Rachel Yang won the meet, scoring 571.15 points setting a new state and federation record. Fairpoirt's Sophie Meuwissen finished second and Manhasset's Victoria Wang finished third.
Rounding out the Section 1 finals trio was Quakers junior Sarah Agdern finishing 19th scoring 430.60 points.
"Michelle and I are both really proud to be in the top 10, and with Sarah being a finalist," Wilkinson said. "Overall we all worked hard for this and really represented Section 1 ."
Mamaroneck's Ellie Sundin, Quakers Lucy Johnson and Bronxville's Kayla Tatarian completed their first five dives.
Swimming preliminary update
Earlier in the day, the NYSPHSAA and Federation swimming preliminaries took place and the Section 1 swimmers made their presence known.
Nyack junior Cornelia Fox (100-yard freestyle) and Pearl River senior Mary Grace Guzzino (100 breaststroke) will be the top seeds in both events going into finals.
Results: Check how Section 1 and Section 9's swimmers did here
Others individual swimmers who will be competing in the championship final (the final heat) on Saturday in at least one event include Edgemont's Kate Anderson, Ursuline's Rory Sheridan, White Plains sophomore Sasika Aikman, Jessica Crane and Ashley Piacentino of John Jay-Cross River, Horace Greeley senior Kelly Byrne, Eastchester's Lucianna Gutierrez, Clarkstown's Isabella Budnik and Laura Arciniegas, Briarcliff's Annabelle Kung, and Dobbs Ferry's Lucy Walker.
In the relays, the combined Briarcliff/Pleasantville/Westlake/Valhalla, Clarkstown (2), Eastchester (2) and John Jay-Cross River all have relays that will vie titles in the championship final (final heat
The top 30 individual swimmers and relays advance to Saturday's championship finals at the Webster Aquatic Center.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Diving: Greeley's Kasulka and Somers Wilkinson finish NYSPHSAA top 10
