Miller 6th in state (02/16/04)

INDIANAPOLIS — Jay County senior Sarah Miller finished her high school diving career Saturday. She did so in a fashion befitting her years of hard work.

Miller placed sixth in diving at the IHSAA State Finals at the Indiana University Natatorium at IUPUI with a final score of 409.90.

Sophomore Brittany Feldman of Indianapolis Broad Ripple took the title with 431.80 points, and Crown Point senior Daryl Packard was second with 431. Andra Egenoff placed third with 413 points, followed by Tien Tran of Center Grove (410.80) and Indianapolis North Central’s Ashley Greene (410.35).

“I dove very well,” said Miller. “I’m happy about the meet.”

With her sixth place finish, Miller became just the second person in the history of the Jay County girls swim team to reach the podium (top 8) at the state meet. Kathy McBride was the only other Patriot to earn the honor, finishing fourth in the state in diving in 1976.

The meet also served as a bit of redemption for Miller. After finishing 10th in her sophomore season she didn’t make the final cut last year, placing 19th overall.

There was never any worry about making the cut Saturday, instead there was hope of winning the title. Miller was second at the end of rounds two through four, and first in rounds five and six before slipping to her sixth-place finish.

“I think she had a goal of top five,” said Arnold, “but I don’t think she can be upset. I’m not. I’m very proud of her.”

Miller had a little extra riding on the meet as well. Her parents promised her a jeep if she met her state goal.

“I was supposed to get top five,” she said, “but my dad looks pretty happy.”

As well he should.

Miller was excellent all day, establishing herself as a contender for the title by racking up 34.85 points on her reverse pike opening dive. She is not a stranger to early success, having led after the first round during her sophomore season.

This year she stayed near the top, quickly climbing to second place on her second dive.

It momentarily looked as if Miller and Packard might pull away from the field, but things tightened up. At the end of the first round (five dives) Miller had 189.30 points, leading a group of nine divers with at least 180 points.

The senior threw her highest scoring dive in round six, pulling down all 7s and 7.5s on her back pike to maintain a one-point lead over Tran. Her dives remained consistently solid, but she slipped to fourth in round seven and never reclaimed the top spot.

Miller finished the day nicely for her sixth place finish, scoring between 5.5 and 6.5 on her forward 2 1/2 somersault tuck. Just five days earlier she had only managed 2s and 3s on the dive as the regional diving title slipped from her grasp.

Her finish gave Jay County 13 team points, tying it for 30th in the standings. Carmel won its 18th consecutive championship with 316.5 points.

“My comments through the preliminaries were ‘nice dive, nice dive, nice dive,’” said Arnold, who was also one of the seven diving judges Saturday. “She was on. I think part of that was a good attitude she had today.

“I saw her smile a few times today, especially on that last dive. That was great, especially after regionals.”

Miller’s second top-10 state finish completed an outstanding career, which includes school, pool and sectional records for 11 dives. She is also a three-time sectional champion and a three-time Olympic Athletic Conference champion.

She went undefeated in dual meets in each of her final three seasons.

Miller will attend Indiana University next year. Although she has said in the past she doesn’t plan on continuing her diving career, Arnold said she certainly has the talent.

“Even though she has said she’s not interested in diving in college I told her its never too late to change her mind,” said Arnold. “She can be very competitive at the college level.”

No matter what she decides about her future Miller has left quite a legacy at Jay County. She ranks as one of the best athletes who has ever — and will ever — wear a Patriot uniform.[[In-content Ad]]