Snow uses meet to gauge progress

Outside, the region was getting its first measurable snow of the winter.

The evening was a different kind of measuring stick for Maddy Snow.

Competing in her first 11-dive meet since her surgery in the spring, Snow finished as the runner-up for the host Patriots on Friday night in the Jay County Invitational.

Snow’s 299.3 points put her behind champion Taylor Heaston (356.4) of Centerville. She edged Norwell’s Emerson Meredith by just 0.2 points for the No. 2 spot.

“It wasn’t the best that I could have done, but I’m still happy with it,” she said. “For me not being in this meet last year, I was just seeing where I was going to be at for sectionals.”

Bryden Carter of JCHS was fourth out of 10 divers in the boys competition with 234.95 points. Adams Central’s Damon Light won with 377.42.

    Jay County High School’s Bryden Carter spins over the pool during Friday’s Jay County Invitational diving competition. He finished in fourth place among the group of 10 divers. (The Commercial Review/Ray Cooney)

“I think it was great. I think they showed up and they were happy to be here, and that positive attitude made a world of difference,” said Jay County diving coach Sawyer Weitzel. “I think they did great. And they were motivating each other the whole time, and I think that positive spirit just helps them along.”

The invitational continues today with swimming events beginning at 10 a.m., weather permitting.

Snow battled through a hip injury for the bulk of her junior year, still managing to finish as the sectional runner-up to earn a regional berth. She had surgery to correct the issue following the season.

She was sitting third Friday night just 1.25 points behind Meredith after the preliminary round but pulled ahead by 5.3 in the semifinals. That margin proved just enough.

Snow was able to hold on thanks in part to her front one-and-one-half, her final dive.

“It’s always been something that I could count on,” she said. “I like to put that last because I know I can nail it.”

Carter had a consistent evening, putting himself fourth after preliminaries and holding that spot. He pulled away from Norwell’s Chavis Grayson and Centerville’s Sheldon Smith while finishing less than 12 points behind Sam Peterson of Norwell for third place.

The biggest key to him continuing to improve, Weitzel said, is simply time on the board.

“Really just getting reps in,” said Weitzel. “Last year he started late toward the end of the year. And then this year he’s had some hiccups. Really just getting, I think that’s the best thing that he can do. He’s got it all there. He’s got the tools.”