One last time to make the perfect dive.

And one final chance to soak it all in.

That was how Tamaqua senior Vincenzo Valentine approached the Schuylkill League Diving Championships Friday at North Schuylkill’s Donald Bricker Natatorium.

“Going into it, I was just hoping to place the best that I could,” said Valentine. “I knew it would be my last chance. So, whatever I gave it would be all that I could give it. Since honestly, for the rest of my life, I won’t be doing this again.

“I was just looking forward to the whole competition, the fun of it and everything else about it.”

Valentine made the most of his final opportunity at the event, placing third in the competition. After three rounds – and a total of 11 dives, the senior finished with a total of 264.00 points.

“I’m very happy with his finish,” Blue Raiders dive coach Lisa Trubilla said. “He had one failed dive that didn’t go his way. So, he finished third with a score through 10 dives rather than 11.

“So, I’m very happy with his performance today. He was a bit bummed out there with getting the failed dive. But he came back strong afterwards.”

Trubilla noted Valentine’s resiliency came through when he needed it most to stay among the top three divers. He completed his best dive – in her eyes – immediately after things didn’t go his way. Trubilla believed his dive – an inward dive in pike position – in the third round was his best of the day.

Pottsville’s own Adam Klinger (444.60 points) and Colin Kline (289.85 points) finished first and second, respectively. It was back-to-back gold medals for Klinger.

“I’m pretty happy,” Valentine added. “But I don’t think I could ever be satisfied though. You know you always have to strive to be better. You know you just have to.”

And that’s the type of mentality Valentine will take with him when he competes at the District 11 Diving Championships in a few weeks, where Valentine has come away with bronze medals the last two years.

“At districts, I just have to focus more on each dive that I am doing,” Valentine stressed. “Learn to really focus only on the dive and maybe not the anxieties that I’m feeling at that moment .. or something like that.”

And Trubilla will make sure Valentine is relaxed and more than ready for the event Feb. 22 at Emmaus.

“We’re going to continue to practice,” Trubilla stated. “Work on his dive that he failed on, which he did it to excellence, but he twisted on the board before he left the board. And that’s the reason for his failed dive. So, we’re going to work on that dive for sure.”

EAGLES SOAR ... While Tamaqua didn’t have anyone in the girls competition, Blue Mountain was heavily represented on the podium. Hailey Scheuer and Shyanna White took home the gold and silver for the Eagles, while North Schuylkill’s Joyce Burian earned bronze.

MORE THAN THE COMPETITION ... “You go to these competitions, and you see these big teams, and they’re almost like a family,” said Valentine. “It’s also nice though because you can branch out by yourself and make all these new friends with all these different people from these different areas. It’s nice to have friends from all over.”

NOT DONE YET … “I am super proud of Vincenzo. He is a great kid and I will miss him,” said Trubilla. “But we have one more competition to go. Next up, the District 11 Diving Championships.”

Schuylkill League Diving Championships

BOYS

1.Adam Klinger (Pottsville) 444.60, 2.Colin Kline (Pottsville) 289.85, 3. Vincenzo Valentine (Tamaqua) 264.00, 4. Spencer Prestelio (Pottsville) 220.50, 5. Luke Smith (Schuylkill Haven) 218.45, 6. Brayden Tokonitz (Pottsville) 185.50.

GIRLS

1.Hailey Scheuer (Blue Mountain) 363.30, 2. Shyanna White (Blue Mountain) 318.45, 3. Joyce Burian (North Schuylkill) 299.10, 4. Kamryn Moran (Blue Mountain) 296.55, 5. Jaime Love (North Schuylkill) 255.40, 6. Taylor Fitzpatrick (Schuylkill Haven) 250.80, 7. Ana Oettl (Blue Mountain) 246.20, 8. Molly Stone (Blue Mountain) 240.95, 9. Lila Evans (Pottsville) 231.80, 10. Parker Drum (North Schuylkill) 216.55.