Arceri Preps for State Diving Championships

Huntington's Tricia Arceri, pictured, is headed to the state championships. (Photo / Darin Reed).

Tricia Arceri knows she’s going to be put to the test at Ithaca College this weekend. The Huntington High School junior is prepping for the state diving championships the only way she knows how, by working hard.

Two weeks ago, Arceri won the Suffolk crown with a record-setting score. But, that was then and this is now. She has a new goal, and that’s getting all of her attention.

“Tricia walked onto the deck for the county diving championships knowing she was already headed to the state championships [after earlier meeting the qualifying standard],” said Meg McConnell, who coaches Huntington’s divers and serves as assistant to Blue Devil head coach Christopher Helmke.

McConnell continued, “She completed an undefeated dual meet season, won the Sachem diving invitational as well as handily winning the six dive event at the League I championships. With an inspiring quote in her bag and a solid 11 dive list ready to go, it was time to get the county championships win.”

Arceri’s first dive on Nov. 4, a required back dive that’s a favorite, was nearly flawless, garnering the teenager four 10s out of a possible five.

“As the preliminary round continued she remained in the lead solidly hitting all her dives, even her least favorite reverse 1 and a half somersault,” McConnell said.

As the semifinal round began, Arceri started with another favorite required dive, her inward and she scored 10s across the board. Two dives later the semifinal round concluded with the Huntington star still leading the exceptional field.

“To start the final round, Tricia chose her forward 2 and a half somersault, her hardest dive,” McConnell said. “With an imperfect take off it didn’t come out great, but luckily the higher degree of difficulty helped offset the lower scores of the judges.”

Arceri continued holding the lead through nine dives, but on her 10th, which also earned all 10s, she dropped into second place due to the lower degree of difficulty it was assessed.

The meet concluded with Arceri performing another favorite dive that carried a higher degree of difficulty. The inward 1 and a half impressed the judges, who awarded the teenager 9.5s and 10s, sealing her first Suffolk championship and helping the Huntington great set a new county scoring record.

“One meet, two goals achieved,” McConnell said. “Now we are focusing on the last competition, the state championship.”

The state championships are scheduled for Friday, Nov. 18, and Saturday, Nov. 19, at upstate Ithaca College.