Boys’ Diving: Seagondollar claims Division I title

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The winner of the Southern Section Division I boys’ diving final Tuesday morning was a bit of a no-name coming into this season.

Adam Seagondollar, a senior at Corona del Mar High, was consistent from his first dive to his last, totaling 530.90 points at the Mission Viejo Recreation Center to edge out Mission Viejo sophomore Kyle Kolar (526.35).

Seagondollar took up diving only 20 months ago. ‘My dad, actually, he forced me,’’ Seagondollar said.

Seagondollar did not compete last season because he was academically ineligible, but got it together this spring, both on the diving board and in the classroom. Kolar said he did not know of Seagondollar until this season.

‘I’d never seen him before,’’ said Kolar, who finished third in this event last season. ‘He has come a long way in a short period of time.’’

Seagondollar’s highest scoring dive came in the third of 11 rounds, when he was awarded a score of 60.20 after nailing a back 1 1/2 tuck off the three-meter board.

Kolar had a strong showing as well. He suffered a stress fracture in his back last summer while diving off the 10-meter board at the Mission Viejo Recreation Center. He resumed competition about four months ago.

The highest score of the event went to seventh-place finisher Ryan Smith of El Toro, who earned a 70.20 on a inward 2 1/2 tuck off the 3-meter board.

--Dan Arritt