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Betancourt-Reyes and Diamond win SAC titles

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By RICK HARMON

Tribune correspondent

Published: October 24, 2009

NEW PORT RICHEY - Because of a scoring error, the official results of the Sunshine Athletic Conference diving Friday at the New Port Richey Recreation and Aquatic Center won't be official until today. But the individual winners aren't expected to change.

Land O' Lakes junior Meredith Diamond and Zephyrhills senior Ken Betancourt-Reyes are this year's conference champions after completing 11 dives.

"I'm thrilled," Diamond said. "I've wanted to win conference for three years. I've never scored that high before."

Diamond's original score of 635.50 will change today. The meet was scored using five of the seven judges' scores, but the coaches had voted before the meet to only score three of the seven (throwing out the two highest and two lowest scores).

Currently, Elizabeth Tillman of Sunlake is second, freshman Amanda Maser of Mitchell is third and Megan Klebbe of Hudson is fourth. Tillman won last year's conference meet, while Klebbe was the winner in 2007.

With Land O' Lakes' Kody Kuhl graduated, the boys event was wide open and Betancourt-Reyes made the most of it. The senior finished with an official score of 528.35 to edge sophomore Austin Wachsman of Sunlake. Last year, Betancourt finished eighth at the SAC meet.

"I was surprised I was able to make it this far, and I'm happy I have the ability to show people what I can do," Betancourt-Reyes said. "I was very happy with my flying reverse, one somersault."

The divers don't get much rest, as all schools except Pasco will compete in the Class 2A-District 5 diving meet Monday at Land O' Lakes Recreation Center. Pasco's 1A-District 3 diving is Tuesday at Clermont Training Center.

SAC SWIMMING TODAY: The swimmers will take the pool today in the Sunshine Athletic Conference meet at New Tampa YMCA. The timed finals begin at 9 a.m.

A quick look at the entry times shows Land O' Lakes girls will be tough to beat. The Gators, undefeated in dual meets, have 18 girls entered in the final heat and all three relays are seeded in the top three. Sunlake, Zephyrhills and Mitchell will give the Gators the most competition for the team title.

On the boys side, Land O' Lakes and Mitchell were undefeated during the regular season. The Gators, defending Class 2A-Region 2 champions, have 19 seeded in the final heat, while the Mustangs have 11 individuals. The team race could come down to relays. Both teams are either No. 1 or No. 2 in all three relay events. Gulf is in position to finish third, with Hudson, Ridgewood, Sunlake, Wiregrass Ranch and Zephyrhills likely battling for fourth.

DISTRICT SWIMMING

CLASS 2A-DISTRICT 5

WHERE: At New Tampa YMCA and Land O' Lakes Recreation Center (Diving)

DIVING: Monday, 4 p.m. SWIMMING: Tuesday, 9 a.m., 5:30 p.m. (finals)

SCHOOLS: Anclote, Eustis, Gulf, Hudson, Land O' Lakes, Lecanto, Mitchell, Ridgewood, River Ridge, Sunlake, Tavares, Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass Ranch, Zephyrhills.

CLASS 1A-DISTRICT 3

WHERE: At Clermont Training Center

DIVING: Tuesday, 9:30 a.m. SWIMMING: Tuesday, 9 a.m., 3 p.m. (finals)

SCHOOLS: Bishop McLaughlin, Crystal River, Mount Dora, Gainesville P.K. Yonge, Pasco, Gainesville St. Francis, Ocala St. John Lutheran, Ocala Trinity Catholic, Umatilla, The Villages.

Correspondent Rick Harmon can be reached tampabaystringer@gmail.com.

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