SOUTHERN SECTION 3-A DIVING : Zubrin Makes It Look Easy

IRVINE —  Sandy Zubrin’s opponents watched in amazement during Friday’s Southern Section Division 3-A girls’ diving championships at Heritage Park.

“She makes it look so easy ,” one diver said.

And Zubrin, a freshman at Corona del Mar, won the championship, finishing with 464.85 points, safely ahead of second-place Sheri Takeuchi of Upland (386.05) and third-place Caroline Kelly of Santa Margarita (377.20).

Zubrin didn’t make a big fuss over winning a Southern Section title because last July, Zubrin won the three-meter and tower events . . . at the U.S. Diving Junior Olympic Championships in Clayton, Mo.

“Winning this is not as big as Junior Nationals, but this is an important one to win,” said Zubrin, who also competes with the Mission Viejo Nadadores. “But I didn’t know what to expect since it was my first big high school meet.”

Zubrin dominated the meet, and led Takeuchi by 47.65 points going into the final round.

Santa Margarita was the top county team, placing three divers in the top 12 with Erin McGinty placing fourth, just 2.45 points behind Kelly, and teammate Wendy Chase placing eighth with 336.40 points.

Millikan’s Dawn Burton placed seventh, but almost didn’t finish the meet.

On her fourth dive, while attempting an inward somersault dive, Burton hit her lower back on the diving board. She was treated for minor abrasions and finished with 343.15 points.

In the boys’ competition, Redondo Union sophomore Grant Currie won handily, finishing with 415.30 points, ahead of second-place finisher Brian Lawson (334.65) of Buena Park.

Sonora had three finishers in the top 12, including third-place David Revere, eighth-place Aaron Jenkins and 11th-place Gary Revere.