Lakewood – Sarah Cook has a simple philosophy when it comes to diving, and that is to stay steady and solid.
The Bear Creek senior edged Cori Swango, who attends Faith Christian and dives for Pomona, and younger sister Kelly Cook by fewer than four points at the Bear Creek Diving Invitational on Monday at the Carmody Recreation Center.
“I just try to be as consistent as I can on each dive. I didn’t do anything new, I just wanted to be consistent. … I’m happy with my performance,” Sarah Cook said.
The meet, coordinated by Bear Creek coach and former All-America diver Caty Cook, featured 10 divers from seven schools. Twenty divers were expected, but injury and illness took a toll.
“Sprained ankles, strep throat, you name it. A lot of the girls dropped like flies,” said Caty Cook, whose three daughters finished first, third and seventh.
The small numbers did not stunt the competition, as six of the 10 divers recorded state-qualifying scores.
Caty Cook said she plans to host the meet every year with more and more participants. The girls were judged on 11 dives, and runner-up Swango was surprised to say her best dive of the day was not one she normally sticks.
“I could have done better, but my inward dive was probably the best, and it usually isn’t,” said Swango, who placed third in the Class 5A state championship meet last season. “Going through 11 dives prepares me for state, but I’m pretty relaxed about it.”
Swango finished with 417.85 points, three points behind Sarah Cook. Kelly Cook took third place with a score of 417.05, and she thought that mark could have been better.
“I kind of choked in the finals. I saved my best dive for last, and I did really bad on it,” she said.
Kacie Miller of George Washington finished fourth, and Skyline’s Andrea Rhea was fifth. Shauna Neely of Summit placed sixth with a state- qualifying score of 360.60. Abby Cook, the youngest of the Cook sisters, missed qualifying by seven points and finished seventh.
Bear Creek Diving Invitational
At Carmody Recreation Center
1. Sarah Cook, Bear Creek, 420.85 (SQ); 2. Cori Swango, Pomona, 417.85 (SQ); 3. Kelly Cook, Bear Creek, 417.05 (SQ); 4. Kacie Miller, George Washington, 367.30 (SQ); 5. Andrea Rhea, Skyline, 366.75 (SQ); 6. Shauna Neely, Summit, 360.60 (SQ); 7. Abby Cook, Bear Creek, 343.50; 8. Christina Wood, Bear Creek, 339.25; 9. Robyn Bradley, Columbine, 314.95; 10. Brandi Gonzales, Arvada West, 263.95.
