High Dive Champions are Finalists at AAU National Diving Championships 

John Paul Flangos leads team with 8^th Place at Nationals in Orlando

John Paul Flangos, of Bronxville, NY, representing the High Dive Champions springboard diving team, placed eighth among 11-year-old boys at the AAU National Diving Championships in Orlando, Florida on July 24, 2007.  John Paul was the highest finisher among his teammates of the High Dive Champions who train everyday at Purchase College, New York. 

There were other strong finishers on the team.  Theo Bodor of Larchmont, New York placed 10^th in the 14-year-old boys event.  Theo places 11^th in the 3-meter springboard competition.  Theo’s high degree of difficulty made him a contender in his events, completing dives like a back two and one half somersaults and an inward two and one half somersaults from the 3-meter springboard. Alex and Andrew Bologna, brothers from Greenwich, Connecticut also had strong performances in their events.  Andrew Bologna placed 10^th in the 11 year old boys 3-meter competition, and 11^th in the 1-meter competition.  Younger brother Alex placed 13^th in the 9 and under boy’s 3-meter competition and 14^th in the 1-meter event.

Manita and Bianca Herlitz-Ferguson, twins from Larchmont, New York, along with Madison Darland from Larchmont competed in the 15-year-old girls events.  Manita, Bianca and Madison were the only divers from the High Dive Champions to compete in 3 events, 1-meter springboard, 3-meter springboard and the Platform event where the divers dove from the 5-meter height.  Manita Herlitz-Ferguson placed highest among her teammates in all three events, placing 20^th in the 1-meter event and 18^th in both the 3-meter and Platform events.  This was a great performance by Manita since there were about 50 strong competitors in each of these events.  Head Coach Mike Darland also noted the elite level to competition in the Platform event.  “This Platform competition is only performed by the best of the best in the sport of diving.  Platform diving is not for the faint at heart, it takes a lot of courage, determination and a real competitive spirit to compete at this height and to complete the required number of dives.  It is instant respect among divers who compete on tower, and that goes double for those who compete at the National Championships, says Darland.”

United States AAU Diving Championships 7/24/07-7/29/07

Orlando, Florida

Individual Results

Event                                                  Diver                                       Place               Points             

9 & Under Boys 1 meter              Alex Bologna                                  14                    70.85

9 & Under Boys 3 meter              Alex Bologna                                  13                    57.75

11 Yr. Old Boys 1 meter              Andrew Bologna                   12                    107.75

                                                            John Paul Flangos               13                    106.50

11 Yr. Old Boys 3 meter              John Paul Flangos               8                      111.40

                                                            Andrew Bologna                   10                    109.75

15 Yr. Old Girls 1 meter             Manita Herlitz-Ferguson            20                    245.70

                                                            Bianca Herlitz-Ferguson            34                    223.20

                                                            Madison Darland                  40                    199.25

15 Yr. Old Girls 3 meter             Manita Herlitz-Ferguson            18                    269.40

                                                            Bianca Herlitz-Ferguson            21                    262.75

Madison Darland                        26                        248.50

15 Yr. Old Girls Platform                  Manita Herlitz-Ferguson            18                    183.75

                                                            Bianca Herlitz-Ferguson            19                    164.55

                                                            Madison Darland                        20                        156.65

14 Yr. Old Boys 1 meter             Theo Bodor                          11                    233.10