White Reaches Finals in Diving at Festival

Diver Perry White of Van Nuys is still around for today’s U.S. Olympic Festival springboard finals.

But just barely.

In Thursday’s prelims, the 23-year-old White, a graduate of Notre Dame High School, collected 530.94 points to place him 11th behind leader Greg Louganis (721.38).

The top dozen advance to the finals at Raleigh’s Candler Swim Club.

White graduated from the University of Alabama two months ago after a senior year that saw him named the Southeastern Conference’s Diver of the Year. He was SEC champion in both the 1-meter and 3-meter competition this past season.

With opening ceremonies concluded Friday night, the Festival begins in earnest today for most of the 3,000 athletes on hand.

And that means many of the 74 athletes and coaches from the San Fernando Valley area also go to work.

In cycling, that would be Derryl Halpern of Encino. Other sports starting today are: canoe/kayaking (Susan Bragg, Newbury Park; Fred Spaulding, Newbury Park; Gus Peterson, Agoura), softball (Sheila Cornell, Encino; Karen Walker, Canoga Park; Barbara Jordan, Northridge; Debbie Langevain, Northridge), table tennis (Carol Davidson, Studio City; Kim Gilbert, Sepulveda), basketball (Trevor Wilson, Reseda), figure skating (Lori Blasko, Westlake Village; Todd Sand, Van Nuys), baseball (Scott Sharts, Simi Valley; Joel Wolfe, Chatsworth) and women’s soccer (Kristina White, Camarillo).