Mt. Lebanon diver repeats as WPIAL runner-up
By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Owen Johns (left) and Lucas Bumgarner (right) finished second and fourth in the WPIAL diving championships and qualified for the PIAA finals to be held March 14-17 at Bucknell University.
By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Owen Johns comes out of his tuck to enter the water after completing a dive during the WPIAL Class AAA championships. For the second year in a row, the Mt. Lebanon junior took runners-up honors to Fox Chapel’s Jonah Cagley.
By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Owen Johns completes a twist during a dive during the WPIAL Class AAA championships. For the second year in a row, the Mt. Lebanon junior took runners-up honors to Fox Chapel’s Jonah Cagley.
By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Lucas Bumgarner comes out of his tuck to enter the water after completing a dive during the WPIAL Class AAA championships. The Mt. Lebanon senior finished fourth in the competition and qualified for the PIAA finals set for March 14-17 at Bucknell University.
During the WPIAL Class AAA boys’ diving championships on Feb. 24, Owen Johns and Lucas Bumgarner shared the same strategy. The Mt. Lebanon duo saved the best for last.
On their final three attempts from the 3-meter springboard at North Allegheny, Johns and Bumgarner vaulted into the top four slots and earned berths in the PIAA championships set for March 14-15 at Bucknell University. For the second straight season, Johns claimed runner-up honors while Bumgarner finished fourth.
“They both made remarkable comebacks,” Lebo swim coach Tom Donati said. “I am so proud of their fight. They continue to amaze me.”
By Harry Funk
Staff writer
hfunk@thealmanac.net
Mt. Lebanon divers place high in WPIAL championship
Bumgarner, who fought back after having as many as 20 points deducted from his score for an infraction, racked up a 482.50 score while Johns matched his school-record performance of 514.70 points. They scored big on their final three dives after having already completed eight other dives in the opening and semifinal rounds of competition.
“While I like to spread it out because it is so hard to predict whether you will reach the final round, you want to save your best dives because the last three are obviously so important because that’s when the score gets tight,” Bumgarner said.
Johns agreed. “I put all my best dives in the last round so I can really finish it off well,”
By scoring a whopping 62.40 on his final attempt, Johns prevented a 1-2 sweep by Fox Chapel’s tandem of Jonah Cagley and David Manelis. Cagley won his second straight title with a 536.85 score while Manelis took third with a 501.80 mark.
“I knew we were neck and neck so I just went back to the basics and did what I needed to do to make it my best,” Johns said. “I was nervous but it’s just diving. There are no excuses. If you go out there and try your hardest, hopefully the outcome comes to you.”
The outcome favored Johns after he completed his inward, one-and-one-half pike. That coupled with a strong showing on a reverse one-and-one-half, one-and-a-half also pushed Johns into second position. He also performed well on a forward, one-and-a-half with a double twist and a reverse pike dive.
“My last dive is one of my favorites and one of my best,” Johns said, then quickly added, “one of my hardest, too.”
What helps Johns is the competition with Cagley. His rival is also a junior.
“I’m pushing him and he’s always pushing me and that gets us to our best selves,” Johns said.
Bumgarner also provides incentive for Johns. The senior will dive at Emory University next season.
“It’s really special to be able to do this with my teammate,” said Johns of medaling at WPIALs. “Not everyone gets to go through this and have someone cheer you on the entire way but we have that bond. We push each other always.”
A front, one-and-one half as well as an inward double dive pushed Bumgarner into the top field of four. The former is his favorite the latter not so much. “It’s hard. A lot harder,” explained Bumgarner.
Staying relaxed is not hard for Bumgarner. It’s imperative to his success.
“For me, I just try my hardest and have fun because when I tightened up, I get stressed. So that’s the best thing to do is stay loose,” he said.
The best thing for the Lebo pair now is to dive well at the state championships.
“We want to go out there and have the best meet that we can,” they said.
“Make podium, hopefully,” added Johns.
Last year, Johns placed ninth at the PIAA meet. That was one spot away from a podium position.
In the Class AAA girls’ competition, no local female climbed onto the awards’ podium.
Sydney Donati was the top finisher. The Mt. Lebanon senior secured ninth place.
Other top performers included: the Bethel Park duo of Sadie and Samantha Coda, 10th and 12th respectively; Ali Hays from Upper St. Clair, 15th; Mary Sadlek from Canon-McMillan, 17th and Ally Palucis of South Fayette, 18th.