Butler diver Calhoun places 2nd at states

By Sam Tallarico
Eagle Staff Writer

LEWISBURG — Butler's Heath Calhoun knew he was up against greatness, but he had his parents and friends cheering for his opponent.
At Thursday's PIAA Class AAA Swimming and Diving Championships, where Calhoun finished second in 1-meter diving, North Allegheny's Connor Kuremsky had first place secured and was going for the state record.
"I dive with him at (the University of Pittsburgh) every week and he makes me better," said Calhoun, who also finished runner-up to Kuremsky in the WPIAL finals Feb. 27.
"His last dive he needed a good score to get the record. My parents brought six of my friends and I told them all to cheer for Connor," Calhoun added.
In winning the title, Kuremsky tallied 543.85 points, which broke the record previously held by North Penn's Steve Bohner, who had 541.60 points.
Calhoun finished with 469.25 points and Fox Chapel's Jakob Kolod was third with 452.20.
"I'm ecstatic how Heath did," said Butler diving coach Ken Bedford. "He was fifth going into the finals and to go from fifth to second was great."
"Going into it, unless (Kuremsky) messed up a lot, we weren't going to catch him," said Calhoun. "I told Ken, "Let's do what we did all year, to have fun.
"For the most part, my first five dives I was happy with. ... Then I messed up on one dive and I was eight points back for second place," he added.
After five dives, the field was cut to 20. When three more dives were completed, it was cut to 16.
It was the eighth drive that knocked Calhoun from second to fifth, but he was able to come back.
"I told (Bedford), 'Don't worry. I'll catch up to him,'" said Calhoun. "The two years before it came down to the last dive, so it's not worth it unless I put a little suspense into it."
"He drives me nuts, no matter how he does," said Bedford, jokingly.
Calhoun, who will compete at the University of Louisville next season, had finished fifth place two years ago and was third last year.
That puts him among the best in the history of the Tornado program.
"Heath's in a very elite class," said Bedford. "Dann Grindel, David Pichler, Nunzio Esposto, he's right up there with each of them."