STOCKTON, Calif. – Freshman Stella Cassidy finished third overall with a score of 172.30 points while sophomore Rose Buffleben and Piper Bates finished sixth and seventh, respectively, leading St. Francis at a non-league high school diving meet at St. Mary's Cortopassi Aquatics Center Tuesday.
The meet closes out the dual season for the Troubadours, although Tuesday's meet was non-scoring.
Cassidy overcame a relatively slow start, holding just 41.80 total points after under-rotating on a 203C, or back 1.5-somersault tuck dive. But she rallied to four straight 30-plus scores down the stretch, including a 34.50 in the fourth round on a 104B (forward 2.0 pike).
Buffleben compiled a career-high 164.40 for her six dives, with Bates less than point back at 163.60. Buffleben scored 37.40 in the fifth round, thanks to 6.0-5.0-6.0 awards for her 104C, or forward 2.0 tuck. That effort followed a strong 6.5-6.0-6.5 panel one around earlier on a 103B (forward 1.5 pike), which accounted for a 32.30-point push. Buffleben's previous dual score was the 158.35 she notched at home against Davis on March 19.
Senior Maya Hamilton finished 11th (149.30), Hana Beauchamp 12th (144.45), Alex Suter 15th (124.50) and Lily Olsen 22nd (77.15) in the meet. Keira Chandler of Mountain House ran away with the meet win with 271.80 ponits, well ahead of Center's Rebekah Parent and her runner-up total of 187.75.
Cortopassi Aquatics Center serves as the site of the Sac-Joaquin Section diving championship on May 5. The Troubadours return to action in their portion of the Sierra Foothill League championships, held on Tuesday at Granite Bay.
