HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS' DIVING: CORNING'S TERWILLIGER EXCITED FOR ANOTHER TRIP TO STATES AS SHE LOOKS TO EARN ANOTHER MEDAL (2022-11-17)

By Brian Fees
Southern Tier Sports Report
A year ago Brooke Terwilliger had her best meet of the year at the right time, earning a state medal.

This year the Hawks junior heads into states as one of the higher seeds, sitting sixth in the pre-meet seeds at 536.20, just .15 away from the fifth-seed at the meet for the NYSPHSAA Championships at the Webster Aquatic Center tomorrow.

“I’m really excited to be back and compete with the same people I did last year,” Terwilliger said. “It was a really good experience because all the divers I competed against were all very talented, and they had the same skills I did and it was real fun.

A year ago Terwilliger surprised herself a bit by medaling at states, and this year she’s been working hard to get back.

“I wasn’t really expecting to get on the podium last year,” she said. “It was definitely a surprise. But, I’ve been working hard on my skills and trying to improve so hopefully I can do better than I did last year and hopefully place again.

One of the big keys for Terwilliger this year has been the consistency. Terwilliger had some great meets last year, but this season she’s made that an every meet occurrence.

“I have tried focusing more on my mindset this year and I think that affects how I dive to,” Terwilliger said. “Because, if I start out with a bad dive it gets in my head and for the rest of the meet I’m not doing so well. I think this season I’ve tried staying more open minded about my dives so I can overall have a good meet and I’ve been practicing a lot to try and be more consistent.

“I have been really trying to focus on staying consistent and trying to perfect some of those dives that maybe I’m not so tight on, or going in the water I’ve been trying to work on my entries. Kind of preparing and getting myself ready.”

The results have been impressive this year, even for Terwilliger.

“It’s very surprising, I was getting scores in the 500s and I was very surprised with myself,” she said. “It’s very exciting and it makes me feel very accomplished.”

And, this year Terwilliger comes into states as a sectional champion. A year ago she was runner up to Emma Bacchert of Horseheads at Sectionals, but had hit the state standard. This year Terwilliger hit the state standard at the start of the year and has hit it each invite since.

“Last year I think what happened after sectionals, I was kind of really focused on trying to do better,” Terwilliger said. “I think winning sectionals this year, it really helps because it makes me feel like I’m more consistent.”

The Hawks junior is excited to have Angie McKane in states in multiple events, and two Corning relays making the trip to states as well.

“I think it’s really exciting, it shows how everyone works hard, it’s so exciting how some other people on my team get to go to states so there are other people os support and cheer on and they are supportive too.

“It’s definitely very exciting because I never get to watch them (the swimmers) and they don’t get to see me, so it’s exciting I get to cheer on my teammates.”

Having Bacchert there also helps, because it’s someone else from the area Terwilliger is used to diving with.

“It’s really nice, having someone you know there to also support you, it’s a lot more comforting than going by yourself and not really knowing anyone,” Terwilliger said. “It’s a lot more comfortable and it’s not as scary because there are people I have been competing with all season and it’s nice to see them again and see them compete too.”

For Terwilliger this will be her first time diving at the Webster Aquatic Center.

“I don’t know it too well, but going up the day before is definitely going to be nice so I can get used to the boards,” Terwilliger said. “I have been to Ithaca (where states was last year) the past like four summers, so I had been on their boards a lot so it was definitely nice to be a t an environment I have practiced at, but I’ve never been to Webster so I don’t know what it’s going to be like.”

What’s special with the meet in Webster is that Terwilliger and her teammates get to stay overnight for the meet.

“This is the first time I’ve gone away for a meet, which is very exciting and I think spending time with my teammates is going to be really fun,” Terwilliger said.
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STSR FILE PHOTO.