Matthews shatters section dive record
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Casey Matthews added another title and record to her outstanding high school diving career.

The Williamsville North senior broke the 11-dive Section VI record with 550.15 points en route to winning her fifth straight section title at last Wednesday's diving sectionals at Fredonia State College. The second-place finisher, Lockport's Ashley Jones, finished 132 points behind her.

Matthews' highest point total for 11 dives prior to sectionals was 535.35, which she set at ECICs two weeks ago.

The previous section record for 11 dives was 536.75 set by Fredonia's Sarah Schuster in 1978.

"It meant a lot to me, especially with it being my senior year," said Matthews.

Matthews said she performed the same dives as last year but improved them by getting more height off the diving board, which allowed her to rotate more times in the air before she hit the water.

"She does everything really well," said North coach Doug Cassidy. "Afterward, the officials kept saying how much they love to watch her dive because she's so technically sound... If you close your eyes, you could almost not even know she was diving. She's so silent on her approach and works the board so smoothly that she hardly makes any noise at all. Plus, she really gets high off the board."

Matthews was excellent on most dives, earning scores ranging from 7 to 9. She also got three 10s on her ninth dive, an inward 1.5 pike (face diving board, dive in head first), which gave her 45 points. It was her first perfect score for a dive in her high school career.

Matthews needed 50 points going into her last dive to break the section record and she beat it with 64.8 points on an inward 1.5 somersault.

"As soon as she took off from the board, (North diving coach) T.J. (Hirsch) said to me, 'she's got it,'" said Cassidy.

Her only dive she didn't score her best in was her 10th dive, a back 1.5 somersault with a 1.5 twist. She got 6s and 7s.

Matthews, a two-time state champion, will look to break the state diving record of 561.80 set in 1998 by Casandra Cardinall of Section II's Shaker and win her third state title this weekend at the New York State Championships at the Nassau County Aquatic Center (Section VIII).

Matthews broke Cardinall's six-dive record of 322.65 this year with a score of 354.05 in a regular season league win over Sweet Home.

"My ultimate goal is to get the state record," said Matthews.

In Matthews' way will be Section IX's Kristen Meier, who beat Matthews for the state title in 2005. Matthews beat Meier for top honors last year.

"I'm going to treat it like every other meet," said Matthews. "Pressure is something I've dealt with my entire diving career. I feel like I dive better when I'm under pressure."

Matthews' teammate, senior Dana Gradl, was 10th at sectionals with a career-best score of 326. Her previous high score was a 310.20 at ECICs this year.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com