By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After posting a third-place Class 6A state finish in one-meter diving a year ago, Washburn Rural senior star Rhiannon Good would love to equal or surpass that performance in this week's state meet at the Shawnee Mission District Aquatic Center.
Washburn Rural senior diver Rhiannon Good has fought back from ACL surgery last August to compete in this week's Class 6A state meet. [File photo/TSN]
But Good, who will begin her state quest in Thursday's 4:30 p.m. 6A prelims and semifinals, has already posted her biggest victory just by being in the field.
Good, also a cheerleader for Washburn Rural, suffered a cheer injury last spring and competed at state with a large brace on her right knee but nobody knew how serious her injury was until much later.
"It actually happened in the middle of last year's dive season,'' Good said. "I was doing tryouts for our club cheer team and I tore my ACL and my meniscus. We didn't know it was hurt last season.
"They just kept telling me it was a sprain and then when I went in for my sports physical over the summer they told me to get an MRI and then they told me it was torn and I had to have surgery, so I had surgery in August.''
At that point Good's senior season was in severe jeopardy, but nine months later she was able to return for one regular-season meet before competing in the city and Centennial League championships.
"I was not sure,'' Good said. "They told me my window was that I could be cleared in time or I could be cleared months after the season was over, so I was hoping to be cleared by now, but I didn't want to rush anything. But I'm here now.''
Good is not only back on the diving board, but has quickly regained her status as one of the state's best.
Good won the city championship and then finished second in the Centennial League behind two-time state champion Allie Weiss of Emporia.
Good's 11-dive score of 446.40 in the league meet puts her second in 6A behind two-time defending state champ Irene Gettya of Olathe East.
"I'm just happy to be back,'' Good said. "I wasn't guaranteed to even be able to compete at city or league, so I'm just happy that I was able to compete at city and I did really well, first time ever winning city and I qualified for state.
"It was definitely easier to come back than I thought it would be, but I'm still working out some of the kinks. It is definitely like, 'Man, I haven't done anything for a year and I'm definitely feeling it.' ''
And no matter what happens at state, Good, who will cheer next year at the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, has already surprised herself.
"Absolutely,'' she said. "I wasn't expecting to qualify for state. Honestly, I had kind of put that out of my mind. I decided I wasn't going to stress about it, I just wanted to complete the dives I was able to and have fun.
"Then I qualified at city and it was my best scores I think I've ever had and I was shocked. I was like, 'Wow,' so I would love to do well at state but I'm trying not to stress myself out too much because I wasn't even expecting to be able to do this. So everything's just a bonus now.''
The 6A swimming and diving finals are scheduled to get under way at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Avery Rosenow, Cair Paravel Latin
Cair Paravel's Rosenow looking for 5A-1A state medal
Cair Paravel Latin freshman Avery Rosenow is ranked seventh in the state among Class 5A-1A one-meter divers and is scheduled to compete in the preliminaries and semifinals at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Shawnee Mission District Aquatics Center.
Rosenow posted an 11-dive score of 359.95 in the Centennial League meet, finishing third behind Emporia's Weiss and Good.
Rosenow will be looking to advance to the 10 a.m. finals on Saturday.
Kaelyn Gerdel, Hayden
Clara Sobba, Shawnee Heights
Hara Del Castillo, Topeka High
Gerdel, Sobba, Del Castillo to compete in multiple events
Hayden junior Kaelyn Gerdel, Shawnee Heights junior Clara Sobba and Topeka High senior Hara Del Castillo are all scheduled to compete in two individual events in Friday's state prelims at the Shawnee Mission District Aquatics Center.
Gerdel will compete in the Class 5A-1A 200-yard freestyle and100 breaststroke while Sobba will compete in the 50 free and 100 free, with the 5A-1A prelims scheduled for for 10 a.m. Friday.
High's Del Castillo will compete in the 100 free and 100 backstroke, with the 6A prelims set for 4 p.m. Friday.
