By Brian FeesSouthern Tier Sports Report
ITHACA — A year ago Brenden Jardin-Reed didn’t make it through the cut at the NYSPHSAA Diving Championships at Ithaca College.
On Friday afternoon the Hawks senior was determined to improve on that performance and that’s what he did, tying for sixth in the state to earn a state medal.
“It was very special to medal at states,” Jardin-Reed said. “It has always been a goal of mine to place top five and after getting cut last year it was really reassuring to be able to place that high.’
Jardin-Reed, who tied for sixth with a score of 498.55, finished 23rd a year ago, missing the cut, after placing 17th as a sophomore.
The Hawks senior led through much of the early part of the competition.
“I was honestly shocked to lead that much through the first round,” Jardin-Reed said. “But, I do feel that it showed me that I can compete with the best of the best in New York.”
The Corning senior put more difficult dives into those first five this year to make sure he didn’t miss the cut again.
“I did purposely put more higher difficulty and higher scoring dives earlier in my lists specially after what happened last year,” Jardin-Reed said. “I was not going to let myself get anywhere close to being cut and I think with my better dives in the beginning it put me in a good headspace for my less good dives.”
While last year wasn’t what he wanted, the experience from the past two years just prepared Jardin-Reed more for Friday.
“Being at states before was a lot of help for this year,” he said. “I knew how to manage my time better, what headspace I should be in, and just having experienced the environment was huge.”
Having a top 10 finish as a senior is a special way to cap Jardin-Reed’s high school career.
“I think finishing top 10 is an amazing way to end my career, especially when the competition was so full of really high level talent, it’s always good to end on a high note.”
Earning a state medal has been a goal for Jardin-Reed.
“A state medal near the top has been my biggest season goal because I think it is really the only place where you can truly compare yourself with other divers in the state,” Jardin-Reed said. “Everyone is in the same pool with the same pressure and the same judges.”
The Hawks senior plans to continue diving beyond high school.
“I do plan on diving in college,” he said. “I’m not sure where yet, but I am super excited to be able to compete at the next level.”
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PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES
PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE MEET:
