Diving: Olentangy Orange’s Ness overcomes shoulder injury to finish 3rd at state
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
By Michael Rich
mrich@cbussports.com
Olentangy Orange senior Augusta Ness finished third in the OHSAA DI state diving championship at Canton’s C.T. Branin Natatorium Feb. 21. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Augusta Ness wasn’t sure what to expect at the Division I state diving meet on Feb. 21 at the C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton.
The senior diver from Olentangy Orange had competed in the showcase three before, but not under these circumstances.
Ness scored 435.05 points to finish third behind Avon Lake’s Isabella Pfeil (454.35) while battling a shoulder injury that will require surgery.
“I’m really stoked about finishing third with only three functioning limbs,” she said. “I talked and they told me to just be careful because it could easily slide in and out of place because of that disconnection between my labrum and my joint cavity.
“I haven’t been able to do much and I’ve been in a lot of pain because of it. So, practicing has been very different – very wonky and inconsistent. So, I’m just so happy with how this ended for me.”
The injury happened on a 10-meter dive in mid-January. Ness said she’s having surgery next week.
“I think Augusta does a really good job of taking care of her body,” said Olivia Reynolds, who coaches all four Olentangy programs. “She knows when to rest and knows when to take a break. I wasn’t worried (because) I have full confidence in Augusta. Obviously, today she did such a great job.”
Pickerington North’s Sofia Frangos somersaults during one of her dives at the OHSAA DI state championship in Canton Feb. 21. Frangos finished fourth. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Ness, a Virginia Tech signee, finished 10th last season, 12th in 2022 and 24th in 2021 tied Lauren Cheetham for the Pioneers’ best finish at state. Cheetham finished third twice – in 2016 and 2018.
“Last week, when we had districts, it very much affected me,” said Ness, who finished third. “(Today), I just wanted to go all out. If it hurts, I’m done (at the high school level). I’m putting all my effort into this because there’s nothing after this.”
Sofia Frangos, who scored 422.8 points to take fourth, also has experience competing at state after finishing 23rd last year as a sophomore.
“The nerves are crazy,” she said. “They’re just boiling through your body and it’s really (about whether) you can take it and push it down. I just knew that I had done this a million times and I’ve practiced.”
Last year, Frangos was the first from the Pickerington North girls program to reach state, though Clay White finished fourth for the Panthers in Division I boys.
How did Frangos deal with the pressure?
“I got a coloring book,” she said. “It kind of helped because I was chit-chatting with people the whole time. I think it really helped suppress the nerves and makes it like a practice.”
Upper Arlington’s Madison Vermilion was very happy with her finish – 419.2 points to end up fifth.
Upper Arlington’s Madison Vermilion finishes a dive in style during the OHSAA DI state championship Feb. 21 at Canton’s C.T. Natatorium. Photo: Kevin Rouch
“I had a pretty rough district and wasn’t so happy with that” said Vermillion, who was seventh last week. “Today, I told myself that I’m just going to be calm and do the best I can and I did. There’s a lot of great talent and it lived up to what I thought it would be. I just knew that I needed to do my dives well and consistently to get on the podium.”
Marysville’s Sophia Stamm was the top seed coming into the tournament, but left with disappointment for the second consecutive season.
Stamm fell on her final dive and didn’t score, falling to 13th with 384.2 points.
“She wanted this so bad and she worked so hard for it,” coach Jen White said. “It just wasn’t her day for it.”
Last year, Stamm finished second to Cincinnati Walnut Hills’ Elleka Boeres in a battle that came down to the final dive.
Stamm also placed fifth as a sophomore and eighth as a freshman at Division II Buckeye Valley.
“I’m proud of her,” White said. “It didn’t end the way she wanted. But it’s a learning experience and it’ll make her stronger.”
Olentangy Liberty sophomore Kylie Moreland (380.45) finished 15th and Olentangy freshman Evelyn Fitz (282.5) was 17th. Moreland finished 23rd at state last year.
Upper Arlington’s Mira Wiegman (177.7) finished 21st and Big Walnut’s Sarah White (131.25) took 32nd.
In Division II, Columbus Academy’s Elle Vahedian (347.1) finished 10th and Grandview’s Maura Yates (218.5) was 19th.
Columbus School for Girls had two representatives in Delaney Woods (138.2), who finished 25th, and Mackenzie Gibson (135.4), who was 27th.
Grandview Heights freshman Maura Yates looks at her entry point in the water during the OHSAA DII state diving championship Feb. 21 in Canton. Photo: Kevin Rouch