KENNEBUNK — Kennebunk H.S. diver Tori Leonard saved her best for last this season.
In her final dive of her career at the Class A State Championships in late February, Leonard executed a front two and half that pulled her away from Bangor’s Elizabeth Huber, as she successfully defended her title with a 343.30 to 321.65 victory. That dive also capped her second-straight undefeated season, and for that, she has been named the Journal Tribune’s 2012-13 Swimmer/Diver of the Year.
“That was definitely my hardest dive I have,” Leonard said. “I saved it for last.”
This season wasn’t just about winnin, she said. It was about perfecting her dives and improving. She also set personal records along the way, she said.
In the six-dive format, she set a school record with a score of 220.45, and she set another school record in the 11-dive format with a score of 411.15.
“I am so proud of her,” Leonard’s swim coach Heidi Randall said via email. “She worked hard all season to keep improving on her own scores and pushing herself to perfect her dives and learn new ones.”
Leonard didn’t face a lot of competition during the regular season dual meets, but competing at Southwesterns and states was a different challenge, Leonard said.
“During the regular season, it felt more like practice because a lot of times I didn’t have anyone to compete against,” she said. “When I got to the championships, that all changed, and I knew the divers I was facing were going to be tough.”
Leonard bore down in the Southwesterns, scoring 346.75 points for the conference crown. Her nerves grew as the states drew closer, and each practice she became more determined to win, Randall said.
“She was putting a lot of pressure on herself,” Randall said. “It was hard not to being the previous champion and now, as a senior, wanting to defend it in her final high school meet.”
The other divers’ scores were also intimidating, especially Huber’s, Leonard said.
“She’s a tough diver,” Leonard said. “It was one of my biggest challenges of my career.”
Leonard, who didn’t start diving until her sophomore year, will take her talents to the University of Maine in the fall where she will continue diving. She also said she might study engineering.
She said she knows she wants to continue to improve as a diver, and she might compete off the 3-meter platform.
“I just want to keep diving,” she said. “I might try the 3-meters, but it’s a little scary being up there that high. But, I think I’m going to have to dive and get over the fear.”
— Contact Al Edwards at 282-1535, Ext. 323.
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