Freedom senior Sarah Gill took first place at the East Penn Conference Diving Meet this past Saturday at Emmaus High School.

“I felt pretty good,” Gill said. “I was kind of worried because I knew I’d have some tough competition from the Easton girls.”

Gill sat atop the leader board after all three rounds of the 11-dive meet, but tried not to give it too much attention so as not to get caught up in points.

Gill’s first dive of the day was an inward dive.

“I usually do inwards first because sometimes my hurdles can be a bit off, so starting with a dive that doesn’t have a hurdle is better, and I like to stick some of my hardest dives at the end,” she said.

Gill did a back 1 1/2 flip 1 1/2 twist to end the meet. It had her highest degree of difficulty with a 2.5.

“I only did it once before this year,” said Gill. “I did better than I thought.”

Gill’s front double also has a high degree of difficulty, 2.3, which she also completed better than she expected.

“I tried a front 2 1/2 at practice, and my coach (Emily Kocis) put in a front double pike, but I’d only competed double tucks,” Gill said. “Today it was pretty straight.”

The District XI Diving Championships are scheduled for this Saturday at Emmaus High School where only the lone winner will advance to the PIAA State Diving Championships.

“It’s still kind of scary because only first place goes to states, so I’ll have to be at the top of my game and get through my dives at practice before we get more snow,” Gill said. “I need to do some more doubles.”

EPC Girls 1M Diving

1. Sarah Gill (FRE) 386.70; 2. Rachel Marcus (EAS) 342.30; 3. Madison Cunerd (EAS) 339.80; 4. Anna Petke (BC) 324.95; 5. Ally Roth (PARK) 306.85; 6. Keller Pooley (LIB) 306.30; 7. Nicole Stofko (PARK) 297.10; 8. Cailin Connelly (FRE) 291.50; 9. Morgan Belisle (EMM) 272.25; 10. Leah Webb (PARK) 241.85; 11. Katey Kunz (PARK) 221.70; Exhibition- Kenzi Reffle (SOLEHI) 347.40; Exhibition- Alexa Fegley (MORAV) 340.25

EPC Boys 1M Diving

1. Ethan Radio (PARK) 450.75; 2. Ryan Beltramme (PARK) 327.60; 3. Ryan Smith (EAS) 299.30; 4. JT Heinz (ACC) 280.65; 5. Matthew Blommel (PARK) 270.65.