Troy Dumais Not Happy, but Remains Champion

Troy Dumais was about as agitated as the chop on the pool water during a blustery Wednesday afternoon at Heritage Park.

The Buena High senior, with a long family tradition of diving success, missed his final two dives--badly--at the CIF Southern Section Division I springboard championships.

It didn’t matter, that is, to anyone but Dumais. He built such a big lead with his first nine attempts--even receiving a 10 from one judge midway through qualifying--that not even his younger brother’s strong finish could catch him.

Troy Dumais was first with a score of 573.95. Junior Brice Dumais finished second (538.65) and Lake Forest El Toro’s Raymond Vincent (479.5), who finished strong with a fine back one-and-a-half somersault, two-and-a-half twist, was third.

Ryan Southwick of Royal, fifth after eight dives, moved up a spot in his final three attempts when Anaheim Esperanza’s Michael Tocco faltered. Tocco, fourth after eight dives, slipped to sixth in the overall results behind Erik Patton of Westlake.

But it was the angst of the older Dumais that took center stage shortly after he didn’t extend well on a back, two-and-one-half somersault. Then he appeared to hit the water face first on a twisting two-and-one-half reverse--his final dive.

“For some reason, I fell apart,” he said. “I have no explanation. I tried to extend my body on that last dive and my body just didn’t let me.”

When reminded that he had won the competition anyway, Dumais was even more critical.

“It matters to me how I do,” he said. “I like to try to hit all of my dives. If I did that in the normal part of a meet, I wouldn’t have won anything.”

The Dumais brothers, who are following in the footsteps of brother Justin, a USC freshman, added the fourth consecutive section title to the family. It was third in a row for Troy.