Keck finishes in third place

Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry

Another year and another step up the podium for Coldwater's Caleb Keck.

The junior, who placed fifth in the state as a freshman and fourth as a sophomore, finished third at the 2016 Division II boys state diving championships held Wednesday at Branin Natatorium in Canton.

Keck, who was seeded fourth in the field, bettered his district score of 466.45 to finish the 11-dive state competition with a total score 472.85.

"I think that's a personal record for me, if I'm not mistaken," Keck said via telephone. "I was happy with my overall performance."

After the first round of five dives, Keck was third in the standings but moved up to the top of the diving order and had early leads in each dive afterwards. He was eventually overtaken by Isaac Karn of Piqua and Indian Hill's Noah Vigran.

"It was a lot of fun," Keck said. "I like competing with them. They have a good time. They keep me on my toes."

After dropping to sixth after eight dives, Keck finished his day with three dives with high degrees of difficulty, which put him second to Vigran down the stretch. But Karn, the last diver in the field, finished strong and scored 527.55 points to win over Vigran by 31.70 points and Keck by 54.70.

Celina seniors Chandler (C.J.) Kimmel and Jake Browder made it to the final round in their final run to state. Kimmel, only the second male diver and third Celina diver overall to make state all four years, finished 12th, a drop from his podium finish of seventh last year, with a total score of 362.85. Browder, competing in his third state meet, was one place behind in 13th with a score of 354.70.

In the girls' Division II competition, Celina's Sawyer Weitzel earned her highest finish in three years of state competition by finishing 10th with a score of 395.05. Weitzel placed 11th as a freshman at state and was 13th last year.

Celina's Brooke Steinbrunner and St. Marys' Alison Sandberg were unable to make it past the first round of dives. Steinbrunner finished 22nd with a score of 150.50 and Sandberg was 23rd with a final score of 144.15.

Kettering Alter's Claire Schuermann became a three-time state diving champion with a final score of 478.35. Schuerman was state runner-up as a freshman before her final three state appearances.

The Division II swimming preliminaries takes place this evening starting at 5 p.m.