Jericho diver Tristan Yang earns second state championship
Tristan Yang of the Jericho diving team. Credit: James Escher
ITHACA — To wrap up his high school career, Jericho’s Tristan Yang is back on top.
The UPenn commit earned his second state title in 1-meter diving with a score of 582.6 at the swimming and diving state championships on Friday at Ithaca College.
Yang began his varsity career with a bang, earning his first state title in 2023 as a freshman. Finishing in second and third place for the following two years, Yang decided he wouldn’t settle again.
“The past two years really motivated me to work harder,” Yang said. “I showed up every day and the consistency paid off. I knew this was my last go so I wanted to be my best.”
Coach DJ Volosevich said Yang’s career will go down as one of the best in Nassau history.
“The way he stepped up after two rough patches really shows the work ethic he has as a young athlete,” Volosevich said. “He put in the extra time in the weight room and in the pool and he got what he wanted. He wanted to win the state and he did just that.”
All three of Long Island’s state qualifying divers earned top-10 finishes at the meet. During only his second year competing, Garden City senior Julien Crampe earned his second straight third-place finish with a score of 511.15.
“It’s amazing to represent my school at this level,” Crampe said. “I try not to distract myself with scores while I’m competing, but finding out my numbers at the end and seeing my placement was really exciting.”
Coach Anne Sullivan said Crampe’s swift progression to the top of the state rankings is a testament to his love for diving.
“He’s so driven and compassionate about this sport,” Sullivan said. “He’s a leader and a team player. His development in such a short time is really impressive and it shows when he gets up on the board.”
Lindenhurst seventh-grader Arthur Palladino made a splash in his varsity debut, finishing in sixth place with a score of 464.15. The podium finish comes a month after Palladino secured his first Suffolk title — the start of a career coach Tom Cornelia said he is excited to watch unfold.
“He’s nonstop,” Cornelia said. “He’s a perfectionist but only because he loves the sport so much. I can’t wait for the future for him. He’s just going to get bigger and stronger and even better. He’s a coach’s dream.”
The credit is all his, but Palladino said he is most excited to share the experience with his support system.
“I couldn’t do it without my coaches and my family supporting me,” Palladino said. “The people are my favorite part. They’re so supportive and they keep me up and happy.”
Tess Ferguson is a reporter on Newsday's high school sports staff. She joined the team after graduating with a journalism degree from Ithaca College in 2025.
