Blackhawk senior, Hampton sophomore win WPIAL Class 2A diving championships

By: Triblive
Friday, February 23, 2024 | 6:55 PM

Blackhawk senior Brecken Finkbeiner maintained the same spot on the podium as last year. Hampton sophomore Gabby Elk moved up two steps.

Both left North Allegheny with WPIAL Class 2A diving championships Friday.

Finkbeiner finished with a final score of 425.75, outpacing runner-up Jacob Hauser of Derry (395.05) and becoming the first Class 2A boys diver to repeat as champion since South Fayette’s Trevor Mahoney in 2016-17.

The top seven finishers advance to the PIAA meet March 15-16 at Bucknell.

Finishing behind Finkbeiner and Hauser were Northgate’s Ryan Hartle (376.25), West Allegheny’s Caleb Gnoth (351.90), South Park’s Grant Newell (343.30), Indiana’s Matthew Blystone (332.85) and Connellsville’s Will Gillott (323.55).

Elk took the title with a score of 441.05 after finishing third last season, becoming Hampton’s first diving champion since Nikki Perrella in 2005.

Quaker Valley junior Ruby Olliffe (405.55) was the runner-up for the third straight season. She was followed by teammates Kate Blackmer (405.25) in third place and Ruby Krotine (358.75) in fifth place.

Other girls state qualifiers were Northgate’s Lilia MacKenzie (383.05), Derry’s Chaeli Keenan (351.15) and Beaver’s Lilia Mackenzie (340.10).

The Class 3A boys and girls diving championships are scheduled for Saturday at North Allegheny.