Columbus East’s Gabbie Meier performs a dive during Saturday’s Girls Swimming and Diving State Finals at IUPUI’s Indiana University Natatorium.
Chris Williams | For The Republic
By Mark Ambrogi
For The Republic
INDIANAPOLIS — It isn’t easy in the state meet, but Columbus East junior diver Gabbie Meier is making progress.
Meier placed 14th in the 1-meter diving in the Girls Swimming and Diving State Finals Saturday at the IU Natatorium at IUPUI.
“Last year, she finished lower, so we moved up in spots and we made progress,” East diving coach Cordell Glass said. “I’m proud of how she placed. She made a lot of progress.”
Meier made it to state as a freshman, but didn’t make the cut to the final 16 divers. Last year, she placed 16th.
On Saturday, Meier was in 17th place after the first five dives, when the field was cut to 20. She moved up to 15th after eight dives, when the field was trimmed to 16.
“I”m glad I made finals. It started as a pretty rough meet. They judge a lot harder here,” Meier said. “It’s hard to stay happy when you don’t see the scores you want. But overall, it was pretty good.”
Columbus East’s Gabbie Meier performs a dive during Saturday’s Girls Swimming and Diving State Finals at IUPUI’s Indiana University Natatorium.
Chris Williams | For The Republic
Columbus East’s Gabbie Meier performs a dive during Saturday’s Girls Swimming and Diving State Finals at IUPUI’s Indiana University Natatorium.
Chris Williams | For The Republic
Meier, who didn’t start diving until her freshman year, said she feels like she is getting a little better each year.
Meier was the lone state qualifier from Columbus this year. Jennings County junior Avery Witt finished 26th in the 100-yard backstroke and 29th in the 200 freestyle in Friday’s preliminaries.
