Dumais Takes the Fifth for Family, Buena

Brice Dumais gave a goofy look when asked how it felt to win the Southern Section Division I diving championship on Tuesday.

“Well, to be honest, my brothers sort of threatened me that I better make it five in row,” Dumais said at the Heritage Park Aquatic Complex in Irvine.

Dumais, a senior at Buena High, became the fifth Dumais to win a section title in diving, joining his brothers, Troy and Justin, who started the streak in 1995. He finished with 577.35 points.

Justin, who is diving for USC, won the title in 1995 and 1996. Troy, who is at Texas, won in 1997 and 1998.

“My brothers told me the most important thing was to win a fifth title for the family,” Dumais said.

Junior Ray Vincent of El Toro finished second with 506.05 points and Erik Patton of Westlake finished third with 482.50. Ryan Southwick of Royal was fourth.

Before the competition started, Dumais was relaxed and confident, an approach he maintained throughout the competition. Taking advantage of his three-meter experience, Dumais devoted most of his 11 dives to that distance.

Vincent, who finished third to Dumais last year at section finals, was the primary challenger. But Dumais’s diving was consistent and kept the pressure on Vincent. By the fifth round, Vincent’s diving sagged and he trailed by nearly 100 points.

“I’ve been diving against Brice since we were kids,” said Vincent, a junior. “He’s a great diver. Today, I just didn’t have it. But he deserves it, and I feel good for him.”

After taking a year off from high school diving, Erica Sorgi of Capistrano Valley picked up where she left off, winning the Division I girls’ championship.

Demonstrating why she is world-ranked, Sorgi performed a near flawless program to win with 566.85 points. Her nearest challenge came from teammate Tiffany Manning, who had 458.20.

“Today’s diving was more of a battle for second,” said Huntington Beach Edison Coach Larry Brennan, whose daughter Allison finished third with 454.30 points. “Erica’s a national champion. I’m just glad she’s here this year to give the kids, and me, a chance to see her dive.”

Sorgi, a junior, focused on national and international diving as a sophomore, competing with a Mission Viejo diving club.

“I’m glad to be back and I’m glad to be competing in high school competition,” she said.

Sorgi’s 566.85 points narrowly missed the record performance of her freshman year, when she had 568.10 points.

The top girls’ finisher from the region was Valerie Day from Newbury Park in 17th place. Aaryn Leineke from Ventura was 18th and Rachel Miller of Simi Valley was 19th.