Salinas
– San Benito’s Jason Andrade delivered the first strike two
months ago, but Salinas’ Sam Figueroa had the last laugh Wednesday
at Alvarez High.
Salinas – San Benito’s Jason Andrade delivered the first strike two months ago, but Salinas’ Sam Figueroa had the last laugh Wednesday at Alvarez High.
After Andrade beat the three-time Tri-County Athletic League champion in the league duel meet opener March 8, he couldn’t duplicate that feat in the league finals and settled for second place with a score of 425.45. Figueroa won with a score of 442.35.
“He came out to play,” Andrade said of Figueroa. “But it was fun.”
Several factors added to the challenge of Wednesday’s event. Andrade’s previous victory came in a six-dive league event, while the finals are an 11-dive event. Additionally, the diving boards at San Benito are out-dated and have a much different feel than the newer standard equipment.
“They have firmer boards here,” coach Leif Nordstrom said. “Our boards in Hollister are by far the worst in the league. It’s been to our stronger divers detriment. Our boards are so slippery that their cadence is tentative.”
Andrade’s first dive proved to be his best when he earned a score of 22. Three other dives on the afternoon earned him scores of 20.
“You’re never happy. You always feel like you can do better,” said Andrade, who had long since met the qualifying score for the Central Coast Section championships May 19 at Stanford. “There’s always something to improve.”
Nordstrom believes Andrade will fair better at CCS, where he won’t be so focused on trying to beat Figueroa.
“I think there were too many things on (Andrade’s) mind,” Nordstrom said. “Having beat Sam in the duel meet, that was more of his focus. At CCS, it’s just him. He won’t have to worry about everything else.”
Andrade is personally looking to improve on his 11th place finish from a year ago.
“Last year I took 11th and was one spot away from being on the podium,” Andrade said. “That’d be really exciting to be on the podium. I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me.”
Joining Andrade at CCS will be sophomore Jeff Scibuola, whose score of 313.55 was good enough for third in TCAL. Scibuola closed the day strong, earning a 19 1/2 on his second to last dive.
“Jeff had a hard time today, but it might be a good wake up call for CCS,” Nordstrom said.
Ryan Whiteside, another San Benito sophomore, was fifth in the boys competition with 258.65 points.
The Haybalers’ Valerie Nicolaysen had a strong final dive and finished third with a score of 258.60. On her 10th dive, the senior slammed hard into the water, but came back on her final attempt with an impressive dive that earned her a score of 21 from the judges.
“The dive before had to sting, so to finish with a good dive felt good,” Nordstrom said. “For a graduating senior, that’s the way to end it.”
Salinas’ Ali Osgood took first for the girls with a score of 283.55 and teammate Natalie Cruz was second at 279.50 – finishing a half-point shy of qualifying for CCS. San Benito sophomore Claire Badger was seventh at 221.50.
