JASPER — When Gabbie Meier shattered the Columbus East school record in winning the Columbus North Sectional diving event on Saturday, she was the first girl to dive in every round.
So when the freshman found out she would be the first of the 20 divers in the order in Tuesday’s Jasper Regional, she wasn’t fazed.
Although she didn’t put up as good a score as she did in the sectional, Meier was still good enough to make it to state. She finished seventh to earn a spot in Saturday’s diving portion of the Girls Swimming and Diving State Finals.
“I kind of like it now because after last meet, I was first to go,” Meier said. “I like being done first. It feels good once you’re done.”
Meier’s 11-dive score of 359.80 was about 40 points off the 399.00 she put up in the sectional. But as East diving coach Nancy Snyder pointed out after the sectional, diving judging can be different in different areas.
“She didn’t dive really well, but she dove solid,” Snyder said. “Diving comes down to a game of consistentcy, and Gabbie has been consistent all year. It’s being able to do every dive the same way. It’s just a matter of fine-tuning them and getting them where she wants them. Tonight was just an OK night, but it was enough to get her into the state.”
In regional competition, the field of 20 is cut to 16 after five dives and to 12 after eight dives. The top eight qualify for state.
Meier was in eighth place after five dives and seventh after eight dives. She remained in seventh after the ninth, 10th and 11th dives.
“I was really happy,” Meier said. “I was watching the scoreboard to see if I would make it, and I was really surprised that I did.”
Center Grove’s Mia Prusiecki won the regional with a score of 503.10.
Prusiecki will be among the favorites on Saturday when the diving competition begins at 9 a.m. at IUPUI’s Indiana University Natatorium. Unlike in previous years, when the top 16 divers took their final three dives within the normal place in the swimming finals, all of this year’s diving will be completed Saturday morning.
“I’m really happy that I made it,” Meier said. “I’m a little nervous, but it’s going to be a fun meet.”
