News & Press :: Greenwich YMCA Divers Win at West Point

Greenwich, CT—February 20, 2008… On Sunday, February 17, Greenwich YMCA Marlins Diving Club competed at the Crandall Pool inside the West Point Military Academy against five teams, including the West Point Divers. All 18 Marlins divers gave stellar performances; they won the meet, and three divers qualified for AAU Nationals.

On Sunday, February 17, 2008, the Greenwich YMCA Marlins Diving Club competed at the Crandall Pool inside the West Point Military Academy against five local teams, including the West Point Divers. All 18 Marlins divers gave stellar performances, which placed them in the top three for most events. Notable divers included seven-year-old Carolina Sculti who once again finished first in both her events, repeating her feat from the Whirlwind Invite in New Canaan, CT a week ago.

The highlight of the day for the Marlins, besides winning the meet, was having three divers qualify for AAU Nationals. Lauren Cunningham, 11, and Kirsten Parkinson, 11, both of Stamford, CT competed in the Girls 12-13 age group and were the top two finishers in the one-meter event respectively. Both scored high enough to qualify for nationals; Lauren scored a 237 and Kirsten a 213. The qualifying score for their event is 205.

James Mastoloni, 15, of Rye, NY qualified for AAU Nationals in the Boys 14-15 age group three-meter event. Mastoloni had previously qualified on the one-meter and is now eligible to compete in all three events, including platform, at the AAU meet. James surpassed the event’s qualifying standard of 270 with a score of 283.

Head Coach, Billy McGowan, credits his coaching staff and the divers’ hard work for their achievement. “I’m lucky to have such a great supporting staff in Kevin Thompson and Maureen Arnold, my assistant coaches,” said McGowan. “Most of all, it has been the hard work of the divers and their determination at practice [that resulted in] a great meet this weekend,” McGowan continued. “It’s a credit to them and I’m very happy for the divers and the team. We had a lot of fun this weekend at West Point–we looked good together as a team.”

For all three divers who qualified this will be their first experience diving at the national level. The AAU National meet will be held in late July at the Olympic Hall of Fame Pool in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

Greenwich YMCA Marlins divers Kirsten Parkinson, 11, (left) and Lauren Cunningham, 11, (right), both of Stamford, CT, with Head Coach, Billy McGowan, near the YMCA’s new Olympic-size pool. Kirsten, Lauren and fellow Marlins diver James Mastoloni, 15, of Rye, NY (not pictured) qualified for AAU Nationals at the West Point Military Academy diving competition on Sunday, February 17, 2008.

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