Ceres High's James Carswell and Bailey MacArthur brought home medals from the Sac-Joaquin Section diving championships, held at Rocklin High School on Saturday. The top three finishers were rewarded.
Carswell, a junior, placed second in a field of 16 with 391 points in the varsity boys diving competition.
"He had the best meet of his life," said Ceres coach Glen Simonds.
The winner, a freshman from Christian Brothers who has been diving for more than six years and placed 10th in the western half of the nation in his age group at the winter nationals, scored 521 points.
"If that other guy wouldn't have been there, James would have won sections by more than 50 points," Simonds said. "He beat third place by 55 points."
Carswell, who is just a first-year diver, earned an All-American qualifying score.
He had to earn 380 points or higher to be eligible.
"It's a major honor to even qualify," Simonds said. "That puts you in an elite class."
Carswell qualified for the section finals by placing second at the section trials on Friday. He also won the Central California Conference title.
MacArthur won the JV girls diving competition with a score of 351.50. The freshman finished ahead of 15 other athletes.
"She was by far the best," Simonds said. "She would have placed third or fourth in varsity."
MacArthur finished first at the section trials and claimed the varsity girls league championship. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier
Carswell, a junior, placed second in a field of 16 with 391 points in the varsity boys diving competition.
"He had the best meet of his life," said Ceres coach Glen Simonds.
The winner, a freshman from Christian Brothers who has been diving for more than six years and placed 10th in the western half of the nation in his age group at the winter nationals, scored 521 points.
"If that other guy wouldn't have been there, James would have won sections by more than 50 points," Simonds said. "He beat third place by 55 points."
Carswell, who is just a first-year diver, earned an All-American qualifying score.
He had to earn 380 points or higher to be eligible.
"It's a major honor to even qualify," Simonds said. "That puts you in an elite class."
Carswell qualified for the section finals by placing second at the section trials on Friday. He also won the Central California Conference title.
MacArthur won the JV girls diving competition with a score of 351.50. The freshman finished ahead of 15 other athletes.
"She was by far the best," Simonds said. "She would have placed third or fourth in varsity."
MacArthur finished first at the section trials and claimed the varsity girls league championship. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier
