Eight members of the Parkland Diving Club recently returned from the 2017 AAU Diving National Championships in Huntersville, NC. Competing against over 500 of the nation’s top divers, four Parkland divers returned from the meet as national champions.

Parkland High School divers Lexi Lehman (Orefield) and Alexa Brinker (Allentown) teamed up to win the 14-15 girls’ synchro event, winning by over 40 points. Ryan Beltrame (Allentown) and JT Heinze (Allentown) paired up to win a close 12-13 boys synchro event.

“We had such a great meet competing against some awesome divers from across the country,” said Leahman. “To win the national championship, especially with my teammate, was such a great way to finish the season. Alexa and I have always dove well together, but we were really good at this meet.”

Individually, five divers qualified for the finals of their events and earned medals. Those finishers included Lehman (fourth place), Kole Cannon (Fogelsville, seventh place), Ethan Radio (Allentown, sixth place), Beltrame (fifth place) and Heinze (fifth). Other Parkland Diving Club participants at the national meet included Kaitlyn Smykowski (Laurys Station, 25th) and Cora Hochstettler (36th).