SOUTHERN SECTION 2-A DIVISION DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS : Calabasas’ Dahl Wins Title for 2nd Year in Row

Calabasas High sophomore Matt Dahl won the Southern Section 2-A Division diving championships on Thursday at Rancho Simi Community Park, claiming the title for the second consecutive year.

Dahl scored 432.60 points in the one- and three-meter springboard competition to edge Walnut junior Toby Reclusado, who scored 422.05 points and placed second for the second year in a row. Reclusado won the title as a freshman.

Dahl successfully defended his title with a strong effort on his final dive, a 1 1/2 somersault with a triple twist that allowed him to increase his seven-point lead. Reclusado expressed confidence that Dahl would perform what he called the “triple twister” without much problem.

“I knew he had had trouble with it before but I was pretty sure he’d hit it,” Reclusado said. “After winning (the title) my freshman year and taking second last year, I wanted to be sure I didn’t take third.”

Jeff Nichols of Laguna Hills was a distant third with a score of 381.60. Mike Troy of San Luis Obispo was fourth at 377.30 and Scott Curry of Santa Maria Righetti was fifth with a score of 322.45. Chad Adam of Quartz Hill was the final medalist, finishing sixth at 318.80.

Dahl, who had a minimal lead after eight rounds when the field of 18 divers was cut to 12, said he was nervous before the meet because he did not have a good workout the previous day. “Coming in, I didn’t really know how I’d do. I knew I had some tough competition,” Dahl said.

Dahl dives for the Rose Bowl Aquatics Club in the off-season with Royal’s Ricky Wood, who broke a Southern Section 4-A Division record Wednesday with 605.05 points.

In the girls’ 2-A Division, Erin Mosher of Marlborough won the championship with a score of 451. Susie Dorrough of Louisville was second at 429.25.

Mosher, a senior who finished second last year, led throughout the 11 rounds. Her top dive came in the fifth round on an inward, two-somersault tuck.

Dana Semonser of Morro Bay was third with a score of 382.35 and La Serna’s Missy Pignatelli (368.75) and Jennifer Miller (363.60) placed fourth and fifth, respectively.