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Record setter

‘Billies’ Pucci-Schaefer sets new section, pool, CCAA dive total at 579.15

Fredonia junior Elizabeth Pucci-Schaefer flips in the air during one of her dives in her record-setting performance at the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Diving Championships on Thursday at Olean Middle School. OBSERVER Photo by Tim Frank

OLEAN — It didn’t matter that her diving coach was overseas, Elizabeth Pucci-Schaefer turned in an out-of-this-world performance anyway Thursday at the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Championships at the Olean Middle School pool.

The Fredonia junior broke the Olean pool, CCAA and Section VI records with 579.15 points for 11 dives to better her qualifying score for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Championships next month.

For comparison, last year’s state champion Rachel Yang, then a junior from Section VIII Jericho, set a meet record with a score of 571.15.

Other state qualifiers yesterday were Frewsburg’s Elayna Pitts (472.20) and Fredonia’s Leah Marsh (441.45), who finished second and third, respectively.

“The girls did a great job tonight,” Fredonia/Dunkirk/Forestville/Pine Valley swim coach Allie Saye said. “Their diving coach, John Crawford, is in Italy so they’ve been practicing on their own while I’m working with the swimmers.

Pucci-Schaefer soars backwards toward a score of 579.15 for Fredonia/Dunkirk/Forestville/Pine Valley which set the Olean pool, CCAA and Section VI record en route to first place. OBSERVER Photo by Tim Frank

“Leah was nervous heading into tonight’s competition, as she still needed the state cut. Going into the last dive, she needed 43.65. She beat the stress and pulled off a 45.10. We are all very proud of her.”

As for Pucci-Schaefer?

“Hard to believe she’s only a junior and we get to watch her continue to grow in the sport for another year.”

Other results were Anelia Pitts, Frewsburg/Falconer, 390.50; Melody Hayes, Allegany-Limestone/Ellicottville, 312.95; Logan Potter, Allegany-Limestone/Ellicottville, 301.65; Ava Chapman, Frewsburg/Falconer, 274.15; Emelyn Campion, Frewsburg/Falconer, 269.10; Gabriella Bly, Salamanca, 264.25; and Rileigh Hutchison, Salamanca, 253.90.

The next diving event will be the Section VI Class A Championships next Thursday, followed by the Section VI Championships on Nov. 2 at SUNY Fredonia. The NYSPHSAA Championships will be held Nov. 16-18 at the Webster Aquatic Center.

Fredonia/Dunkirk/Forestville/Pine Valley’s Elizabeth Pucci-Schaefer shows off her form at the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Diving Championships on Thursday at Olean Middle School. OBSERVER Photo by Tim Frank

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