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Matthews shatters six-dive state record
Matthews not only broke Hoover's eight-year record in North's 65-36 win over Sweet Home last Tuesday but also set the New York State record. The North senior finished with 354.05 points to break Hoover's school-record mark of 306.10 set in 1999 and the state record of 322.65 set in 1996 by Cassandra Cardinale of Section II's Shaker High School. Matthews' highest point total prior to the meet was a 303 in her sophomore year against Orchard Park. "It was crazy," said Matthews, who won state titles in 2004 and 2006. "I absolutely could not have done it without my teammates and my coaches' support." Matthews said breaking the state record was a goal, but she never thought she could have broken it by over 40 points. Matthews' dives were a forward 2.5 tuck, inward double tuck, back 1.5 somersault with a 1.5 twist, front 1.5 somersault with one twist, inward dive, and back 1.5 pike. "I was relaxed and confident and dove the way that I can and it ended up paying off," said Matthews, who had wanted to break Hoover's record since eighth grade. Matthews' record-setting performance could not have come at a better time. She will not be competing in North's final home meet on Friday against Lancaster because she will be on a college recruiting trip at the University of Notre Dame. Plus, Hoover was sitting in the bleachers with Matthews' mother, Julie. "She told my mom after my third dive that her record was coming down," said Matthews. "She was really happy for me and glad that meet was the one that I did it." The meet was also dedicated to 2003 North graduate Jacquie Hirsch, younger sister of North diving coach T.J. Hirsch, who was diagnosed with leukemia days before the meet. Hirsch dove for North from 2000 to 2002. The entire North team wrote "JH" in magic marker on their shoulders and arms in honor of her. "I told her mom that I would break the record for Jacquie," said Matthews. "It was really inspirational and one of my favorite moments of diving for Williamsville North." "After she got out of the water after breaking the record, I gave her a big hug and said 'just so you know, you broke the state record for Jacquie'," said North coach Doug Cassidy. "She started crying, then I started crying. It was an unbelievable performance." "Casey is just so remarkable," Cassidy added. "She was away on the weekend and didn't know about Jacquie until I told her at the end of school on Monday. I said T.J. would not be at practice and she would have to be as much a coach as a captain. She taught our new diver, Molly Ferguson, three dives on that day." Ferguson scored 132 points in her first high school meet, a 73-29 win on Friday at West Seneca West. In addition to visiting Notre Dame, Matthews will visit Purdue University the weekend of Oct. 27. She's already visited Auburn University, Indiana University and the University of North Carolina. Matthews would like to pick a college by the early signing period at the beginning of November. Sweet Home's Paige Gutowski set North pool records in the 500-yard freestyle (5:15.81) and 100 breast (1:07.24). Earlier in the season, Gutowski set pool records at Lancaster (200 individual medley) and Sweet Home (200 free). In other swimming news: Williamsville East improved to 3-0 with a 136-36 win over West Seneca East at Transit Middle School on Oct. 2. Winners for East included Sara Rogers (200 free, 2:16.13), Cari Cardinale (50 free, 27.88; 100 free, 1:02.20), Taylor Castle (1-meter diving, 152.50), Britany O'Dea (500 free, 5:42.12) and Julie Hsieh (100 back, 1:08.34). East swam at Clarence on Tuesday but results were unavailable before The Bee went to press. They swim Amherst at 4:30 p.m. Friday at Sweet Home. e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com |
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