Vallinger eyes medal at state meet
By Joe Scalzo
This is the third straight year the Poland junior has qualified for Canton.
Two years ago, Poland’s Trisha Vallinger was a wide-eyed freshman when she made her first trip to the state diving meet.
“I was really nervous,” she said. “But it turned out OK.”
Vallinger placed 14th that year, then 13th last winter. She’s hoping to continue that progression in the Division II competition on Wednesday with an eighth-place (or better) finish, good enough for the medal stand.
“That’s my goal,” she said. “It’d be great if it happens.”
Vallinger, who is the only Mahoning Valley diver to qualify for Canton, is seeded 10th entering the competition after placing fifth at last week’s district meet.
“It’s pretty hectic this week,” she said. “Just a lot of practice. Hopefully I’ll have a good meet.”
Vallinger, who competed in gymnastics for 12 years, comes from an athletic family.
She followed her older sister Mary (a former state qualifier who now dives for Mount Union) to the pool and her cousins, Trent and Tyler, are well-known to Bulldog fans for their football and baseball prowess.
She practices five times a week with YSU coach Nick Gavolas and said she’s improved a lot over the last two years.
“I have a lot of new dives since then and I think my dives have gotten a lot cleaner,” she said.
The Division I diving competition takes place Thursday, with swimming on Friday and Saturday.
Poland sophomore Anna Sabol was ninth at last week’s district meet and Canfield junior Elizabeth Wilkens was 10th in Div. I as both nearly qualified for the state meet.
Although Vallinger would have liked some company, she said she’s proud to represent the Valley and is looking forward to competing.
“You get to compete against the best,” she said. “It’s really exciting.”