HHH diver Savit sets a county record

In the final regular-season meet of his high school career, Half Hollow Hills diver Ryan Savit broke a 30-year-old Suffolk County record on Monday with a six-dive total score of 344.76.

"I feel ecstatic," Savit said. "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.

"I couldn't be more proud if it were my own son," said Hills diving coach Chris Blumenstetter, who has coached Savit since he joined the team as an eighth grader. "He's put so much time and hard work in. Nobody in the world deserves this more than him."

The Thundercolts won Monday's meet 94-84 to end the season with a 7-1 record. Head coach Jason Wiedersum noted Savit's leadership as a reason for the team's success this year.

"He's been able to mentor the younger divers that are behind him," Wiedersum said. "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 forced him to sit out for two months. Once he got back into the groove, he said breaking the county record became one of his top goals this season, but he's not finished yet.

"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."

Last weekend Savit competed at the Eastern States regional dive meet and finished in second place, missing first by just under four points.

After finishing in the top three in the county diving championships every year since he started competing, Savit won his first county title last year with a score of 479.65 on 11 dives. He also finished in third place at the state Federation championships with a score of 498.90 on 11 dives.

After he broke the county record, Savit dedicated the achievement to Brumenstetter's second son Carter, who was born Jan. 20.