PIAA Swimming: Marple’s Pastris reps Delco with rare diving medal

LEWISBURG — When diving wrapped up at the PIAA Class 3A championships Friday afternoon, Alexandra Pastris decided to get the news, beauty pageant style.

With coach Kayla Murray, the Marple Newtown freshman huddled at the far end of Kinney Natatorium, tentatively keeping an ear out as the finish order was read. When the announcer got to ninth place, and Pastris’ name still hadn’t been called, she knew a medal was hers.

Pastris finished eighth with a score of 407.95, seven points clear of the ninth-place finisher to secure a states medal, which required a hasty dash from the genuinely shocked Pastris to the medals podium.

“I was running down the deck and everything,” she said. “Everyone was really excited.”

Pastris is the first Delaware County girls diver to medal in 3A states since Haverford’s Alli Butera in 2013. She was eighth entering the final round; just making the final 16 to get all 11 dives met her hopes for the trip to Bucknell.

But she solidified her grasp on a medal with a stellar ninth dive, an inward double tuck that scored 46.20 and briefly nudged her within three of the sixth- and seventh-place divers. She scored at least 34 points in the last two rounds to earn eighth.

“My goal was just to make it to all the rounds. I didn’t know I was going to get this,” Pastris said, holding up her medal. “I’m very happy.”

Pastris wasn’t alone on deck, with a handful of club teammates competing. As at the District 1 meet, she was the top finisher from the district not on North Penn, which monopolized the top four spots, led by champ Paige Burrell.

“I was very nervous, but I think it’s an honor competing against everyone because they’re all so good,” Pastris said. “… I just listen to music and stay in my zone. Anything with a happy beat to it.”

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Marple Newtown freshman Alexandra Pastris poses with her medal for finishing eighth in diving at the PIAA Class 3A swimming and diving championships at Bucknell University Friday.