UMS-Wright High School junior Mae Elliott, St. Paul’s Episcopal senior Reagan Costello, St. John Paul II Catholic sophomore Isaac Whetstone, and Fairhope junior Cooper Brechman won individual championships as the diving competition kicked off the 64th AHSAA State Swimming and Diving Championships on Friday at the James E. Martin Aquatics Center at Auburn University.

The swimming competition began with preliminary races, and finals start Saturay at 2 p.m.

Elliott spotted UMS-Wright 20 points in its bid to claim the 1A/5A girls’ state title by winning the diving competition with a 349.90 score. Runner-up was teammate senior Jillian Ngando, who posted a 230.50 total to claim 17 team points. St. Paul’s diver Costello totaled 357.90 to win the 6A/7A girls’ diving crown. Grissom juniorLanie Salvail was second with a 321.65 score.

Whetstone took first place for St. John Paul II Catholic in the boys’ diving competition in Class 1A/5A with a 347.55 score. John Carroll Catholic senior Michael Helton was second scoring 324.95 overall. Fairhope’s Brechman won the boys’ 6A/7A diving championship with a 404.65 score, the best score for all classes. Grissom freshman Casey Sapp finished second at 355.60.

In the swimming prelims, Huntsville’ 200-yard medley relay team set a new state record and will have a chance to better that time Saturday in the finals.

AHSAA 2023 DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

at James E. Martin Aquatics Center, Auburn U.

GIRLS FINAL RESULTS

CLASS 1A/5A

Name Yr. Semis Finals Score

Mae Elliott, UMS-Wright Jr. 231.20 349.90

Jillian Ngando, UMS-Wright Sr. 136.75 230.50

Caroline Cofield, Boaz Fr. 155.45 222.15

Lilly King, St. John Paul II Catholic 7th 152.80 208.15

Emerson Barnett, UMS-Wright Fr. 120.90 184.05

CLASS 6A/7A (Top 5)

Name Yr. Prelim Finals Score

Regan Costella, St. Paul’s Episcopal Sr. 255.10 357.09

Lanie Salvail, Grissom Jr. 221.15 321.65

Lucy Benoit, Hoover Jr. 223.80 315.35

Natalie Devoll, Oak Mountain Sr. 216.50 290.10

Laurel Hunter, James Clemens So. 220.95 286.10

BOYS FINAL RESULTS

CLASS 1A/5A

Name Yr. Prelim Finals Score

Isaac Whetstone, St. John Paul II So. 246.30 347.55

Michael Helton, John Carroll Cath. Sr. 224.55 324.95

Harrigan Weston, UMS-Wright Sr. 220.30 322.60

Matthew Johnson, Whitesburg Chr. Sr. 180.65 265.25

John M. Taylor, Whiteburg Chr. 8th 176.70 241.80

CLASS 6A/7A (Top 5)

Name Yr. Prelim Finals Score

Cooper Brechman, Fairhope Jr. 285.55 404.65

Casey Sapp, Grissom Fr. 238.05 355.60

Cole Hopkins, Huntsville Fr. 216.90 316.20

Lincoln Benner, Northridge Fr. 188.15 260.80

Parker Wright, James Clemens Sr. 179.20 248.25