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EASTCHESTER, N.Y. Day one of the 87th Annual Westchester County Swimming Association Counties Championships began Monday in Eastchester and 12-year-old diver Carolina Sculti stole the show.
Sculti shattered the 24-year-old county record in the girls division with a score of 205.25. Leann Gallagher set the previous record in 1988 with a 197.30.
Sculti also dominated the competition in the pool on Tuesday. The Westchester Country Club diver finished nearly 52 points ahead of second place finisher Chloe Best from the Larchmont Yacht Club. Best registered a score of 153.60.
Westchester Country Club diving coach Theo Bodor said Sculti actually gave her worst performance of the year on Monday by approximately 30 points. Despite that, she still handily defeated the other 29 competitors in her age bracket.
The Rye native still managed to critique her own performance afterwards despite the dominating win.
I think I did really well. I had a couple of dives that were off and then I had a couple of dives that were really good, Sculti said. So they kind of made up for each other.
Sculti competed in the Counties for the first time in her six-year diving career. She ordinarily competes in a national meet that conflicts with the Counties but that event was postponed this year, which allowed her to take part in the Westchester event.
The 12-year-old said she does not get nervous anymore when she steps on the board. She also prefers to look inward during meets.
I dont like to watch my other competition. I like to focus on myself when Im competing, Sculti said.
Bodor is an 18-year-old who used to dive for Westchester Country Club but started coaching there earlier this year. He competed in the Counties last year and used to dive with Sculti at Marlins Diving Club in Greenwich, Conn.
He has only worked with Sculti as a coach for a short time but she has already impressed him greatly.
Carolina has a natural talent for diving and she found it very early, Bodor said. If you start diving at six and you dive six days a week for six years, youre going to be incredible no matter what. Its a privilege to watch her at these meets. Its beautiful.
Bodor said he hoped Sculti would break the boys 17 and under county record on Monday.
Lake Isle Country Club in Eastchester hosts this years championships. Divers from throughout Westchester County stepped onto the board and plunged into the 13-feet deep pool for nearly two hours. Day two of the championships is Tuesday at 2 p.m.
Here are the top eight finishers in the girls ages 10-13 category:
1. Carolina Sculti, Westchester Country Club, 205.25
2. Chloe Best, Larchmont Yacht Club, 153.60
3. Katie Laverty, Rye Golf Club, 145.85
4. Niamh Klein, Greenburgh, 141.60
5. Jennifer Bell, Pelham Country Club, 134.50
6. Kathleen Rooney, Orienta Beach Club, 131.70
7. Holly Lombino, Coveleigh Club, 129.45
8. Jayne Levy, Briarcliff Manor Club, 126.15
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