Published in 2/7/08 Rome News-Tribune
Landon Watters' coaches at Darlington had a goal for the senior diver this season. That goal was met Wednesday [Feb. 6] in the GHSA Swimming and Diving State Championships at Westminster School in Atlanta when she closed out her prep career finishing third in the Class A-AAAA competition.
"She had a really great day," Darlington diving coach Pat Waddell said of Watters, whose best showing in the state meet was a sixth-place finish. "It's hard to compete with those big Atlanta schools."
Watters competed against 26 other divers in Class A-AAAA, which put her up against divers from bigger schools. She was able to step up to the higher level of competition, compiling 417.6 points to earn the bronze medal. Her score also qualified her as All-America.
"She is one of the most dedicated, hart-working and courageous divers I've ever had," Waddell said. "If she misses, she says, 'I can get that dive.' It makes her stronger. She's very coachable. You don't find that very often. I'm just proud of her."
In almost three years of diving, Watters holds the 6-dive and 11-dive records at Darlington.
The boys' 200-meter freestyle relay team of Scott Travis, Jason Lu, Jack Lynch and Kristopher Bryant competed in the state competition on Friday, Feb. 8. All freshmen and sophomores, they were the first boys to represent Darlington in state since 1994. The team had a time of 141.5, which placed them 42nd out of 48 schools.
“There was no disappointment,” said head swimming coach Alan Parish. “This is the start of things to come.”
Bryant also competed in two individual events, placing 21st 21st in the 100-butterfly and 24th in the 200-individual medley.
"Kristopher broke the school record this season in the 200 I.M.," said Parish. "It had stood since 1984. He is the first Darlington male swimmer to break a school record in 14 years."
Landon Watters
