Liva calmly wins MSL title
Prospect freshman diver Dana Liva packs a lot of athleticism into her small frame.
A lot of composure, too.
Trailing Fremd senior Stephanie Uhrich by 7 points entering the final three rounds of the Mid-Suburban League girls diving competition Friday at Barrington, Liva looked quite at home in her first conference championship event.
She ended up getting mostly 5’s on her final dive, a back somersault with 2½ twists in the free position that carries a degree of difficulty of 2.7.
After the last round had been completed but before the final places had been calculated, Liva calmly took a philosophical view of things.
“What you do,” she said, “is what you get.”
In this case, she gets a conference championship.
Liva, who had already rewritten the Prospect record book this fall, finished at 364.45 to edge Stephanie Uhrich (361.60) and Elizabeth Uhrich (344.05).
It wasn’t much of a disappointment for the Uhrichs, though. Everyone knew Liva would be tough to beat, so Fremd coach Kara Waddell looked at the league meet as an opportunity to tune up for the sectional and — hopefully — state meets. Both Uhrichs have already been there before and would like to go out with their best-yet finishes.
In the meantime, Waddell isn’t much looking forward to coaching without the Uhrichs under her tutelage. They’ve spent the last four years together.
“They are just the best kids,” said Waddell. “They’re responsible, they’re focused, they’re committed — and they see the big picture.
“Our idea for this meet was to compete and hopefully place well, and of course we’re happy with our points that go toward the team total. But mainly it’s to try to find a couple of spots where we can improve our list for the sectional meet, and I think we did that.”
Elk Grove senior Natalie Przybylski placed fourth at 332.30, just ahead of Palatine senior Stephanie Hamer (32.130).
Barrington was pleased to pick up some points in the team race as sophomore Tiffany Soto took a big leap forward to place sixth (304.5), just ahead of senior teammate Francesca Krohn (304.0).
Soto’s score wasn’t quite a season-best, but she’s pleased to be making progress.
“Little by little,” she said, “it all just seems to be coming together for me.”
The competition continues today with the swimming events, which begin at 11 a.m. at Barrington.