Hauppauge's Emma Casey captures Suffolk diving title
Hauppauge's Emma Casey competes in the Suffolk HS girls diving championships, Thursday, November 1. 2018 at Hauppauge High School. Credit: George A. Faella
Emma Casey had already secured her place at the state championships prior to entering the pool Thursday night at Hauppauge, but in her mind, there was still more work to do.
“I have never won counties before, the closest I have gotten is second,” Casey said. “I really wanted to win. Even though I made states, I wanted to compete like I know how to compete.”
The Hauppauge senior captured the Suffolk diving title with a school-record score of 539.00 in her 11 dives at the county championships.
“I am shaking,” Casey said. “I was freaking out before round nine, but I just focused in.”
Casey scored 508.00 at the Sachem Invitational on Oct. 8 to clinch her spot in the Nov. 16-17 state tournament at Ithaca College. After placing 16th at states last season, Casey is hoping to use her experience to earn a higher finish this time around.
“This year I want to make the top 10, I want one of those medals,” Casey said. “It is going to be helpful to have the experience of being there twice before.”
Hayley Beutel, who dives for the combined Smithtown team and attends Smithtown West, finished second with a score of 533.40. The junior scored three nine-and-a-half’s and two nines on her eighth dive.
“I have worked really hard all season,” Beutel said. “It is a huge accomplishment on my part.”
Beutel broke her own school record of 496.00 that she set at last season’s diving championship. She will be making her fourth appearance at the state tournament, after previously qualifying during the Sachem Invitational, scoring a total of 474.60.
“I want to make the final cut, because I have been cut the past two years,” Beutel said.
In addition to Casey and Beutel, three other divers will be heading to the state championships.
Megan Romano and Tarynn Boesch, who both dive for the combined Sayville/Bayport-Blue Point team and attend Sayville, finished third and fifth respectively. Romano scored 478.65 and Boesch scored 441.55. Caitlin Weiss of Connetquot finished fourth with a score of 462.45.
