Savit breaks 30-year-old county diving record

Before Monday’s meet against West Islip, Half Hollow Hills diving coach Chris Blumenstetter just knew it would be a historic day. His prediction came true, as senior diver Ryan Savit broke the 30-year-old Suffolk County diving record with a six-dive total score of 344.76.

“I feel ecstatic,” Savit said. “Thinking about everything I’ve been through to get to this point, all my training has paid off. When I first started diving I never thought I could get to this point, so it’s a great feeling.”

The previous record was 333.98, set by Brentwood’s Glen Barroncini in 1982.

Blumenstetter has coached Savit since he joined the swim team as an eighth grader, and the two have developed a great relationship over the years.

“I couldn’t be more proud if it were my own son,” Blumenstetter said. “He’s put so much time and hard work in. Nobody in the world deserves this more than him.”

Blumenstetter said he considers Savit a part of his family and he admitted there would be a hole in the pool next year after Savit graduates.

The Thundercolts won Monday’s meet 94-84 to end the season with a 7-1 record. The meet was Savit’s last chance to break the county record, and Blumenstetter said he would not end his high school career without doing so.

“He would’ve probably tried to get left back if he didn’t do it,” he said.

“It’s a well-deserved honor for Ryan,” Hills head coach Jason Wiedersum said. “He’s been very committed and he's been training hard for it.”

Wiedersum also noted Savit’s leadership: “He’s been able to mentor the younger divers that are behind him. Our diving squad this year is the strongest it has ever been, and that’s thanks in large part to Ryan’s leadership.”

Savit suffered a stress fracture in his back over the summer that caused him to sit out for two months. Once he got back into the groove of things, he said breaking the county record became one of his top goals this season. Now that he’s accomplished that goal, he noted that the season isn’t over and the team still has more to do.

“I want to end my senior year on a high note,” he said. “We want to win Hills’ sixth-straight league and county championships, and I believe we will do it.”

This past weekend Savit competed at the eastern states regional dive meet and finished in second place, missing first by just under four points. He entered the final round leading by more than 40 points, but received low scores on his final dives. However, Savit didn’t hang his head after missing out on first place.

“It was a huge learning experience for me,” he said. “I have to remain focused the whole meet, and I will use that experience going forward in the league and county championship meets.”

After finishing in the top three in the county diving championships every year since he started competing, Savit took a big step forward last year by winning his first diving title with a score of 479.65. He also finished in third place at the Federation state diving championships with a score of 498.90.

After he broke the county record, Savit said he wanted to thank his family, teammates, and coaches for helping him reach this point. More importantly, he dedicated the record to Brumenstetter’s second son Carter, who was born on Friday night.