NEW CANAAN, Conn. The Whirlwind Diving team from the New Canaan YMCA, with athletes from New Canaan, Darien, Stamford and Wilton leading the way, won the USA Diving Summer Regional Competition in New Jersey.
The meet last weekend featured 16 teams and 208 Junior Olympic athletes attempting to qualify for the Zone Competition from July 7 to 9 in Rockville, Md. Whirlwind Diving won the overall meet with 208 points.
In the youngest age group, Girls 9 and Under, Darien resident Piper Van Wagenen brought home a gold medal in the 1M event. Also of Darien was double gold medalist Sam Scribano, who won both the 1M and 3M 11U Boys events. Owen Stevens of Darien placed sixth and fourth in the events. Rachel Burston of Stamford placed second in the girls' 12-13 1M and sixth in the 3M events.
Tim Luz of Darien took fourth in the boys 12-13 3M and sixth in the 1M events. Another Darien diver, Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, brought home double gold medals and a high point award in both the 14-15 1M and 3M events with teammate, Kylie Towbin of New Canaan, getting fifth on 1M and fourth in the 3M events. Kirsten Parkinson made her Whirlwind competitive debut by taking home bronze in the 1M event.
Whirlwind Diving captured top spots in the Boys 14-15 1M event with gold medalist Sean Burston of Stamford and silver medalist Jackson McGoldrick of Darien. Lee Christensen won bronze on 1M and gold on 3M. McGoldrick won bronze in the 3M event. Jake Bowtell of Darien placed ninth the Boys' 16-18 1M event and 12th in the 3M event. Katie Warburg of Wilton placed sixth in the 16-18 girls' 3M competition and came back the following day to dominate and win gold in the 1M event.
In addition, the following Whirlwind divers made the Top 15 in their age group to qualify for zone competition: Amanda Pyne, Annie Farley, Allison Courteney, Cameron Rhind, Kylie More, Steven Kreuch, Kyle O'Donnell and Amanda Molinelli.
After returning to Connecticut, Katie Warburg and her fellow Whirlwind Diving teammates hosted the second charitable FLIP-A-THON event to raise money for the New Canaan YMCA program fund June 20. "The Y does so many terrific things for the community. It's so much fun to work hard at our sport and to do really well but it's really great when we can come together as a team to give back to our community," Whirlwind diver Elizabeth Fitzpatrick said. "Katie (Warburg) is a wonderful organizer and leader, and we will really miss her when she graduates next year."
Joe Somma and Allison Coleman coach Whirlwind Diving at the New Canaan YMCA.
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