New Albany’s Skinner places third at state

On Feb 24, 2022

New Albany's Emma Skinner competes in the girls OHSAA Div. I state diving championships at the C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton Thursday, February, 24, 2022.

Anticipating a tight leaderboard in the Division I girls diving state meet Feb. 24, Emma Skinner saved two of her best dives for last.

It was a lesson the New Albany senior said she learned throughout a prep career that ended in three consecutive state appearances and a long-awaited trip to the podium.

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Skinner totaled 88.55 points on her final two dives — a front double pike and a back flip 1.5 twist — of the 11-round competition and finished third at Branin Natatorium in Canton. Second for most of the day, Skinner scored 469.65 points to place behind Cincinnati Walnut Hills’ Elizabeth Noble (491.8) and Cincinnati Ursuline Academy’s Mallory Hanna (480.75).

“I’m pretty comfortable with saving my front double toward the end because I know I can do it pretty well and it’s easier than some of my other dives. I put that there strategically,” said Skinner, a Wisconsin recruit who finished 17th at state last year and 13th in 2020. “I learned how to score high in high school meets the past two years and how to order my dives and just be smart about approaching meets. …

“I stayed pretty consistent. Consistency is always important. The scores are so close that you can’t have a bad dive or you’ll drop down a few places.”

Hanna scored 54 points on her final dive to erase a .35 of a point deficit to Skinner, whose contributions should give New Albany a strong start in pursuit of its second consecutive team state championship.

Hilliard Darby senior Keira Porter finished eighth (431.35) and Olentangy Orange sophomore Augusta Ness was 12th (406.8). Porter was 16th at state last year and Ness was competing for the first time.

“I think I was really consistent and did most of my dives really strong,” Porter said. “I was really happy that I got to end my high school diving on a high. I just went into the meet trying to have fun and relax and it was a great addition to make it to the podium. It was super exciting.”