Jaric’s 12th-place finish leads area divers

CANTON — A pair of sophomores — Elizabeth Wilkens of Canfield and Tricia Vallinger of Poland — and senior Kacie Jaric of Springfield competed in the girls 1-meter diving championships Thursday at the state swimming-diving tournament at C. T. Branin Natatorium.

Wilkens scored 326.20 points to place 15th in Division I. Akron Firestone seniors Leeanna Hoover (413.95) and Bethany Haver (401.85) finished first and second, respectively, in a field of 19 athletes.

Jaric scored 312.80 points to place 12th, while Vallinger (305.70) was 13th for in the girls Division II competition.

Sophomore Nikki Craft (456.85) of Bill Village Bay won the event. There were 24 girls entered in the event.

No area boys competed in diving.

Swimming events get underway this morning at 9:30 a.m., while Saturday’s competition is also scheduled for 9:30 a.m.