It's Miller's time at Jasper boys' diving regional
Bloomington North's Max Miller was back in his old neighborhood, pushing his score into the 400s again to take third at the Jasper boys' diving regional on Tuesday to earn a return trip to state.
Miller, a senior who had a 462.55 to win a Conference Indiana title back in early January, won a sectional title despite scoring just a 393.55. He finished with a 414.00, trailing only champion Colin Kruer of New Albany (467.80), who led from start to finish, and runner-up Nathan Deputy of Evansville Memorial (440.15). It took a 352.40 to make it out.
Edgewood's Quinn Balcam (316.05) settled for 12th and Bloomington South's Michael Tierney was 13th (207.85), as Balcam edged him out for the last spot in the finals by 3.2 points. Bedford North Lawrence's Kole Bailey was 15th (202.90) and Jaevyn Nikirk was 16th (201.20), switching places after the second round.
Miller moved on to the state finals on Saturday, where he will look to improve on his 18th place finish form 2022 and enters with the seventh best scores from all the regionals. Miller was third after the first five dives with a 209.35 and stayed there heading into the final three dives with a 311.25 and a six-point lead over fourth.
It was the best finish for a Cougar at regional since Domenic Santarossa was third in 2005.
"He worked really hard on this year’s goal of learning new dives with higher (degree of difficulty) so that he could maximize on his strength and skill, and this strategy is paying off," North diving coach Stephanie Lochbihler in an email. "I am confident he will be successful at State on Saturday.
"I am incredibly proud of him and his determination to make his senior year his best year yet. It has been amazing working with him and having him on the team throughout the last four years. He deserves all the success that he has worked so hard for."
Balcam, making his first regional trip was 12th at 144.15 after five dives and could not climb any higher. Tierney was in the same boat, 13th at 139.65, an unable to move up.
"Overall, I am so proud of Quinn and what he’s accomplished this season and in his two seasons of diving," Edgewood diving coach Juan Rivera said in an email. "Our goal going into this regional was to be able to perform all 11 of his dives.
"Heading into the semifinals, he was in 12th place. ... He managed to hold on to his position and qualify for finals. It was bittersweet because Michael Tierney from South just missed out on finals finishing in 13th."
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: It's Miller's time at Jasper boys' diving regional
