Laker duo dives into state

After finishing fourth in last year's Class 1A state diving meet, Detroit Lakes sophomore Kyley Foster knew she belonged with the elite in Minnesota.

This Thursday and Saturday, Foster will get another opportunity to prove she belongs after she qualified for her third-straight state diving meet, but this time, the DL sophomore is a bit more motivated.

Foster finished in second place during the Section 8-1A meet Friday-Saturday in Warroad, when she scored a 363.80, which was 21 points behind rival Kylei Grofield of Bemidji.

"(Grofield) did very well and I just dove well," Foster said. "I usually break 40 on my dives, Saturday I didn't. Yeah, I think I am a little more motivated now."

There are plenty of carrots hanging for Foster this week, as she dives in the state preliminaries at the University of Minnesota's Aquatic Center Thursday at noon.

One is the DLHS diving meet record, which is a 381 that's held by Shayna Dugger.

"My highest score has been a 380, so I am close," Foster said. "I'd love to reach 400 and so far, I've had several dives in a meet which have not gone my way, so I still have a ceiling to reach."

Competing in the big-meet atmosphere is also a strength of Foster's.

"Kyley is one of the best meet divers I've seen," said DL head diving coach Bobbi Jo Koons. "She goes into this meet mode and gets very focused at the task at hand."

Foster will also not be traveling alone, with first-year diver, eighth grader Thia Olds also qualifying for state.

Olds finished third with a 321.35, all this coming during her first-ever season as a competitive diver.

"I just thought I'd try something new this year and gave diving a try," said Olds, who qualified for the Class 1A state gymnastics meet last year. "I am familiar with the twisting and flipping (from gymnastics), so it was easier."

Koons has had other first-year divers who were also gymnasts that made state, as well.

"Diving is a tough sport, but gymnasts are already experienced in twisting and that's Thia's favorite thing to do," Koons said. "I just want her to have fun at state and do the best she can."

For Foster, having a younger teammate coming along to state is an advantage.

"It's going to be so nice having Thia with," Foster said. "I had a lot of confidence in her that she would do well at sections."

Although no Laker swimmers qualified for state, the team had a solid outing in the two-day section meet.

Senior Miranda Olson captured fifth overall in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:23.13, while Grace Livermore was eighth at 2:27.66.

Olson also was fourth in the 500 freestyle at 5:44.22.

The 200-yard medley relay of Grace and Clara Livermore, Olson and Maddy Schiller also had a strong race with a fourth-place finish at 2:03.65.

The young Laker team finished fourth overall out of 10 teams with 188.5 points. Bemidji took top honors with a score of 502.5.

The Class 1A state swimming preliminaries will start Friday at noon and finals for all swim events and diving will start at noon Saturday.

Laker results

Section 8-1A meet in Warroad, Friday-Saturday, Nov. 9-10.

Team results: Bemidji 502.5, Park Rapids 434.5, Fergus Falls 248, Perham/New York Mills 191, Detroit Lakes 188.5, Warroad/Roseau/G/MR 147, Crookston 118, Staples-Motley 110, Fosston/Bagley 94, Thief River Falls 63.5.

DL Finals event results (*State qualifier) -- 200-yard medley relay: 4. DL A (G. Livermore, C. Livermore, Olson and Schiller) 2:03.65...200 individual medley: 5. Miranda Olson 2:23.13; 8. Grace Livermore 2:27.66...50 freestyle: 15. Maddy Schiller 28.11...Diving: *2. Kyley Foster 363.80; *3. Thia Olds 321.35; 6. Hannah Brady 298.25...500 freestyle: 4. Olson 5:44.22; 13. Katie Larson 6:14.06...200 freestyle relay: 9. DL A (Alyssa Anderson, Jocelyn Skoda, Erica Nelson and Jen Bellware) 1:58.61...100 breaststroke: 13. Clara Livermore 1:19.41...400 freestyle relay: 6. DL A (Livermore, Schiller, Anderson, Olson) 4:07.03.