Aiming at States

By Derek Pyda
Eagle Staff Writer

		Butler senior diver Caitlyn Kaufman is hoping to finish among the top four at the WPIAL Class AAA girls championship Saturday at North Allegheny. Eagle File Photo

BUTLER TWP — Fire and water usually don't mix, but they've come hand in hand for Caitlyn Kaufman this season.
Butler's senior diver is preparing for her third and final trip to the WPIAL Class AAA girls championship, scheduled for Saturday at North Allegheny High School.
Kaufman won every one of Butler's dual meets during the regular season.
“She's been on fire lately,” said Butler coach Ken Bedford. “There's a lot of other divers out there that we haven't seen yet, but I have high hopes for her.”
“It took me by surprise at how well I've done this season,” said Kaufman, “but my confidence is high and I've been giving 100 percent in practice. I just need to focus on my dives.”
Kaufman placed 24th at WPIALs as a sophomore and 22nd last year. She enters the meet with a season-best score of 217.
The top four at this year's event advance to the state meet, to be held next month.
“I'm aiming for states, but I'm also looking to just have fun,” added Kaufman.
Kaufman's teammate, senior Amber Zanella, had to overcome an injury before she could think about qualifying.
“Just before Thanksgiving, I fell and injured my left elbow,” she said. “Right when it happened, I was nervous because I didn't know how long I would be out.”
After six weeks of rehabilitation, Zanella stepped back on the board for a Jan. 5 meet against Fox Chapel. She met the district standard in a meet at North Hills earlier this month.
“All I could think about was getting back and qualifying,” said Zanella, who competed at WPIALs as a freshman and junior. “I was so determined and it means a lot to me that I proved I could qualify.”
Seneca Valley junior Madison Lehman will be making her first trip to WPIALs with a score of 194.7.
“There are a couple of cuts and I believe she is capable of getting through all the rounds,” said SV coach Meghan Lewis. “Either way, I'm proud of her for making it this far.”
“I qualified in a meet against North Hills (Jan. 26),” said Lehman. “I was so happy about it and I'm just glad to be going to the WPIAL meet.”
n In the Class AA girls' meet, Mars' Allie Misenhelter wants another shot at states.
She qualified last season with a score of 316.35 at the WPIAL event, but bypassed the trip to PIAAs in order to take part in a gymnastics competition in Columbus, Ohio.
“She missed out on that because she got sick,” said Allie's coach and mother, Maria Misenhelter. “It's nice she made it back to WPIALs.”
In Class AA, the top six from the WPIAL are rewarded with a spot at PIAAs. Misenhelter has a season-best score of 193.
“If I make states this year, I'm definitely going to compete,” Allie said. “Over the last few years, my confidence has improved. It comes with experience, this will be my third trip to WPIALs.”
The Class AA event will take place Friday at South Park High School.
Class AAA Boys
Butler's Levi Cetti is a year older and wiser.
At last year's WPIAL meet, Cetti was disappointed in his 12th-place finish.
“I kind of choked on a few of my dives,” said Cetti, now a sophomore. “There was a lot of people there and I was nervous. I really didn't know what to expect.”
“He missed a couple of dives last year and it was tough to get him back into things,” said Bedford. “I'm hoping the butterflies are gone.”
With his initial WPIAL appearance under his belt, Cetti has a spot at the state meet in his sights.
“That's my goal, finish in the top four,” he said. “I just have to hit my dives and keep everything clean.”
Cetti's seed score stands at 291.
Butler also will be represented by senior Max Mook (191), who made WPIALs in his first and only year of diving.
Sophomore Tyler Wolford (169) heads into the district meet after a strong second half of the season.