Sorgi’s Absence Leaves Door Open

With the Olympic Diving Trials only a month away, Capistrano Valley’s Erica Sorgi opted out of the Southern Section Division I finals Wednesday at Heritage Park, to concentrate on her training.

Sorgi, a senior, who also missed the South Coast League finals, won the title as a freshman, and again as a junior after taking her sophomore year off. She was the outright favorite going into the competition.

Section officials were unaware of her decision until moments before the meet began.

“At this stage in my diving, I’m spending a lot of time practicing,” said Sorgi, who was reached at home. “I practice over 4 1/2 hours a day, and I just can’t afford to miss any of that time.”

Sorgi’s absence opened the door for the rest of the competition, as the the top five finishers battled until the final round, separated by only 14 points.

Edison’s Allison Brennan came out on top with a score of 518.80, despite a nerve-racking final dive.

As Brennan got ready for her final dive off the three-meter board, officials announced that her assignment sheet listed the dive, a forward 1 1/2 somersault with two twists, on the one-meter board, a dive with a 2.8 degree of difficulty. Brennan tried to plead her case, but finally took the dive off the one-meter and earned an average score of 5.7. It was just enough to keep her ahead of Capistrano Valley’s Tiffany Manning, who finished second with 515.65.

“On the three-meter board that is usually her best dive,” said Curt Wilson, Brennan’s Crown Valley Diving coach.

“It didn’t matter to me,” said Brennan, who finished third last season, to Sorgi and Manning. “It didn’t affect me. I’m happy with how I did.”

Ventura Buena’s Leanne Dumais finished third (510.45), moving up from fifth place on her final dive, with a score of 7.5.

El Toro’s Ray Vincent won the boys’ title with a score of 610.45. Vincent, who finished second last season. The top six finishers all dive with the Mission Viejo Nadadores.

Mission Viejo’s Dae Don Cho was second at 581.25, despite cutting his heels on the board after an early round dive. The trainer recommended he drop out of the competition, but Cho, from Korea, refused. With his heels bandaged and taped, Cho went out and recorded a 10 on his next dive.

Freshmen Derek Starks of Capistrano Valley (570.00) finished third and Laguna Hills’ divers took the next three spots, with Brad Kern (526.25), Robbie Quinn (522.50) and Grant Mendiola (501.90.