"Overall we had a pretty good meet," Clearfield diving coach Chad Gearhart said. "There were a lot of nerves coming out because this was our first real big contest. Hopefully they know what to expect now going into regionals.

"This meet is very good because it's like a stepping stone for regionals and then, hopefully, into states. Right now we have a week to polish up our dives, bring our scores up a little bit more and get some divers to states this year."

Steven Williams and Jason Maines put up the best performances of the night for the red-and-black, as Williams led from the start and grabbed the top spot with a total score of 408.35 after 11 dives. Maines finished in third.

Williams claimed his stake of the top prize quickly, nailing his second dive - a 403B inward dive with one-and-a-half somersaults in the pike position. The tough dive (2.4 degree of difficulty) gave him the top individual dive of the night with a score of 46.80.

Williams then settled in the rest of the way, notching five scores of 40 or better while attempting a relatively difficult slate of jumps.

His final dive stamped an exclamation point on the performance, grabbing a 44.85 for a 5124B forward dive with one somersault and two twists at a 2.3 degree-of-difficulty. The judges awarded him a 6.5, 6.5, 7, 6.5 and 6 for the dive.

"Steven gave another solid performance," Gearhart said. "The big thing for Steven now is he's got his dives. We just have to do all the little things. Make things look as pretty and clean as possible."

Maines' second dive also proved critical, although it looked disastrous at first. The Clearfield junior looked to gain some momentum after a decent first dive, but instead failed his attempted 5221D backward dive with one somersault and a half twist in the free position.

Suddenly in a hole, Maines scraped through the preliminary round in fifth place but began to pick up steam. He scored 30 or better on dives No. 7 through 10, and vaulted himself onto the podium with a 31.50 in the final round for his 5111A forward dive with a half twist in the straight position.

"Jason, after failing that second dive, it did bring him down a little bit, but he came back pretty strong," Gearhart said. "It's hard to fail a dive early and come back, and he gave a very good performance after that failed dive."

The rest of the Bisons showed their team depth, as junior Nathan Brzenzinski saved his best dive for last (27.50) and finished in fifth overall. Freshman Garrett Lauder soaked in his first postseason experience by scoring a sixth-place 209.55.

The girls also made a splash with an array of dives, and senior Christie Pizzella was the Lady Bisons' top finisher in the sixth spot.

Her best dive of the night was her second, when she scored a 28.50 for a 5122D forward dive with one somersault and one twist in the free position and finished with a total score of 249.55.

"The girls mainly need to polish up some of their dives and have a little more faith in (their ability) to do them," Gearhart said. "They're just a little skeptical of themselves."

Sophomore Katie Guth completed her second D-9 go-around with a 195.25 for ninth place. Her best individual score came on her fifth dive - a 23.80 for a 511B forward dive with a half twist in the pike position for a 1.7 degree-of-difficulty.

Newcomer Sarah Lowder looked to make a bang as a freshman, starting off very strongly and sitting in fourth place through the semifinal round, but two failed dives in the final round derailed her and she was ultimately disqualified despite notching a score of 222.60.

"Sarah's a very good diver and it is her first year, and this was a real big first tournament for her," Gearhart said. "I think nerves got her a little bit, but I think she'll come back much stronger next week."

Lowder compiled a 29.75 on each of her first two dives - a 301B reverse dive in the pike position followed by a 201A backward dive in the straight position. Both dives were rated a 1.7 degree-of-difficulty.

The swimming portion of the D-9 League event will take place tonight at Clearfield's Robert L. Shearer Natatorium. Races get under way at 6.

Results

Team Key

Brookville (B); Clearfield (C); DuBois (D); St. Marys (SM).

Boys

1. Steven Williams, C, 408.35; 2. Justin Huey, SM, 337.05; 3. Jason Maines, C, 271.90; 4. Tucker Beatty, B, 268.65; 5. Nathan Brzenzinski, C, 253.30; 6. Garrett Lauder, C, 209.55; 7. Josh Reed, D, 204.35; 8. Jimmy Westman, D, 202.20; 9. Nicholas Black, B, 164.05 (DQ).

Girls

1. Kristen Day, D, 354.00; 2. Jamie Hays, B, 341.80; 3. Kayla Bishop, D, 323.95; 4. Maria Holm, SM, 282.50; 5. Sarah Hetrick, B, 256.20; 6. Christie Pizzella, C, 249.55; 7. Erica Syktich, D, 238.00; 8. Jessica Williams, B, 227.35; 9. Katie Guth, C, 195.25; 10. Shylee Kornhauser, B, 189.45; 11. Katie Gore, D, 152.55; 12. Sarah Lowder, C, 222.60 (DQ).