NORTHAMPTON — Jordyn Vandergrift has come a long way since her freshman year, when she placed ninth on 1-meter diving at the Western Massachusetts championships.
Now a senior, Vandergrift has delivered record-breaking performances and is well positioned for a run at the Central/West title, Sunday at Springfield College.
“It has been a great season to end my high school year with,” Vandergrift said. “It’s been really fun and has been nice to have great teammates and coaches.”
Vandergrift has been one of the top divers in western Mass. this season. She averaged a western Mass.-best 242.86. Haylie Calver, of Minnechaug, was second at 215.32.
Vandergrift broke the JFK Middle School pool diving record with a score of 270.85 in December, then broke it again in January with a score of 271.65. That score was also a western Mass.-best for the season.
“It was a great moment. I honestly wasn’t expecting it,” Vandergrift said. “All my dives fell into place that day, but I had been doing a lot of offseason training coming up to this season and it felt like it paid off in that moment.”
As a senior, Vandergrift has faced the pressures of applying for colleges, completing her high school requirements and enjoying the ride along the way. Northampton diving coach Lou Ann Bierwert said that she thinks Vandergrift has the potential to be a stronger diver when she adds some more difficult dives to her repertoire at Holy Cross. In the meantime, Bierwert feels comfortable with what Vandergrift can do this postseason.
“I’m perfectly pleased with where she’s at with having some really solid 11 dives that she can do really comfortably at Western Mass. and States,” Bierwert said.
Freshman diver Kailey Murphy also qualified for sectionals. For Murphy, this weekend represents an opportunity to follow in Vandergrift’s footsteps.
“She mostly just gave me someone to look up to. She’s been a really big role model for as long as I’ve known her,” Murphy said. “I have a sister who is on the swimming team and I used to always come to the meets and basically just watch (Jordyn). So, I’ve basically been looking up to her for two years and it’s been great to watch her grow as I grow as a diver.”
Bierwert is trying not to put too much pressure on her divers, aware that diving is as much a mental sport as a physical one.
“Kailey as a freshman to make Western Mass. is pretty exciting so I just want her to have fun,” Bierwert said. “And Jordyn, it’s her senior year, I want her to just kill it. I would love it if she won, it would be super exciting. It’s a goal I know it’s in her mind, but she’s trying to not have high expectations and let her be a little more relaxed about it. She has the potential and it could all come together this weekend.”
Vandergrift will compete for a title alongside Algonquin’s Lizzie Meschisen. Last year, Vandergrift finished 14.40 points behind Meschisen for second.
Vandergrift isn’t the only competitor to watch when the girls meet starts at 3:30 p.m.
Ruby Gottlieb, of Northampton, is the top seed in the 100-yard butterfly and sixth seed in the 50 free. Abbie Murphy, Kailey’s sister, is fifth in the 100 fly and seventh in the 100 breaststroke.
Vianka Acosta-McKenzie, of Amherst Regional, is third in the 100 breast. Amherst is third in both the 200 medley relay and 200 free relays.
Saige Harper, of Easthampton, is sixth in the 100 free.
Belchertown teammates Brooke Podsiadlo (500 free) and Nicole Beaumont (100 back) are each third seeds.
The boys championship meet starts at 9 a.m. Sunday at Springfield College.
Oliver Schalet, of Northampton, is first in the 100 free and third in the 200 individual medley.
Christopher Chumbley, of Belchertown, is second in the 200 free, with teammate Nathan Dragon fourth. Chumbley is also second in the 100 fly with teammate Aidan Endress third. Matthew Stelmokas is fifth in the 200 IM. Dragon is second in the 500. The Orioles’ 400 free relay is second.