McCook diver comes up just short of placing at state meet

LINCOLN -- Josh Stevens is probably looking ahead to next winter.

Stevens, a McCook High School sophomore, competed Thursday at the Nebraska state high school swimming and diving meet for the first time. Stevens had a successful experience in his first state meet competition, and he is likely looking forward to the next two years.

Stevens missed qualifying for the finals by just over five points in the one-meter diving event Thursday at the state meet held at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln.

Josh was 13th after the semifinal round with a total score of 201.65 points on eight dives. The top 12 divers qualified for the finals, and David Bunker of North Platte nudged Stevens out of a finals berth. Bunker earned the 12th and final spot in the final round with his score of 206.85 points on eight dives. Bunker moved up two spots to tenth in the finals, finishing with a total of 290.25 points on 11 dives.

Addison Buschult of Ralston/Omaha Gross won the state title with a score of 413 points. Kory Swarbrick of Bellevue West finished second with 391.35 points.

A total of 25 divers opened the state diving competition Thursday afternoon. The top 16 competitors after the first round of five dives advanced to the semifinals.

Stevens was on the bubble in 12th place after the opening round with 133.30 points, with Bunker one spot ahead with 135.75 points, and Seth BeBoer of Beatrice 13th at 131.75.

Matthew Kreutzer of Kearney moved from 14th after the first round with 129.75 points, to 10th after the semifinals with 216.85 points to help push the Bison diver out of the top 12.

Bison swimmers

McCook has a handful of senior girls competing in swimming events at state. Girls preliminary events were held Friday afternoon at the Devaney Center pool in Lincoln.

Whitney Korgan qualified for the consolation finals in both the 50-yard freestyle and the 100 freestyle. Korgan competes in the finals Saturday in both event, and she can place as high as seventh in both races.

The Bison girls also have two relay teams qualified for state. The foursome of Jayde Aufrecht, Katie Latta, Madeline Shaddock and Korgan was scheduled to enter the 200-yard freestyle relay. The McCook team of Aufrecht, Sydnie Stamm, Shaddock and Korgan was also entered in the 400 freestyle relay.