Published in the February 24, 2016 edition
SOPHOMORE diving sensation Sabrina Bunar earned an impressive first place finish in the 1-meter diving competition with a score of 558.70 during the Division 2 Girls’ Swimming and Diving Championships at Boston University Feb. 21. (Courtesy Photo)
By DAN TOMASELLO
BOSTON — Sophomore diving sensation Sabrina Bunar earned an impressive first place finish in the 1-meter diving competition during the Division 2 Girls’ Swimming and Diving Championships at Boston University Feb. 21.
Bunar finished with a score of 558.70. According to Pioneers head coach Jeff Boyd, Bunar’s score was only 20 points away from setting a new state record. Bunar finished second at states last year.
Bunar finished first in the 1-meter diving competition in sectionals with a score of 547.25 at MIT recently, which was 31 points better than the second place finisher. Bunar received a score of 401.65 in the semifinals and had a preliminary round score of 254.60. Bunar finished first in the semifinal and preliminary rounds.
Boyd commended Bunar’s strong performance during states and sectionals. He noted she has been battling through a “significant back injury all season and has not been 100 percent all year.”
“Sabrina stormed onto the scene last year as a freshman,” said Boyd. “She shocked the entire state diving community last year when she finished second. This year, she carried the pressure of having to live up to her freshman performance and go into the season as the likely favorite to win the state championship. That kind of pressure can really get to some kids, especially someone as young as her. But Sabrina is so mentally strong in addition to being so physically gifted. Just when I think she can’t possibly do any better, she goes out and has a meet like this. She attempted more difficult dives than anyone else there and established from the very beginning that she was unquestionably the best diver in the state. I definitely saw her winning a state championship this year, but to break the meet record? That was just incredible. She left no doubt that she’s the best diver in the state, and with two more years and a state meet record already under her belt, she just might establish herself as the best diver in state history.”
Boyd continued: “What I can’t emphasize enough, though, is how great of a kid she is. All everyone got to see at BU was an incredibly talented athlete. As great as she is on the board, she’s an even greater person. She’s quite possibly the nicest kid I’ve ever coached and unlike in diving, she’s got a heart that you just can’t apply a score to. I’m so excited to see what the next two years have to bring. This type of recognition truly could not go to a better person.”
Bunar wasn’t the only diver to compete at states. Junior Erika Glowik finished 20th in diving at states with a score of 265.65.
Glowik gave a strong performance in the 1-meter diving competition in sectionals as well. Glowik finished 16th with a score of 352.70 in the finals. Glowik finished 15th in the semifinals with a score of 263.70 and finished 17th in the preliminary round after receiving a score of 168.10.
“Erika just continues to get better and better each time she gets out there,” said Boyd. “She works so hard and really wants to be the absolute best she can be. As proud as I am of Sabrina and all that she has accomplished, I’m just as proud of Erika and how far she has come as a diver.”
Sectional results
Senior captain Lindsay Barrett and the 200-yard freestyle relay team joined Bunar and Glowik at the sectional meet recently.
Barrett finished 22nd in the 200-yard individual medley (2:26.65), which was a two-second improvement over her personal best time. She finished 23rd in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:15.08), which was also a two-second drop off her previous time.
“Both times were under a half-second from state qualifying times,” Boyd said about Barrett’s performance in sectionals.
The 200-yard freestyle relay team featuring Glowik, Bunar, Alyssa Stelman and Barrett finished 22nd (1:52.71).
“That’s a five-second drop from their previous best time and only one second off of the state qualifying time,” said Boyd. “Erika and Sabrina were the only two divers at sectionals that also qualified in a swimming event.”
Boyd said Barrett has been an invaluable member of the swim team for the past four years.
“As a father of two little girls, I tend to have an even greater appreciation for the young women on our team, especially when they are a captain,” said Boyd. “I get to see these kids grow over four years and develop into great athletes and even better people. Lindsey Barrett has demonstrated the type of character I try to emphasize with these kids. She’s been a leader for our team since she got here four years ago. I’m so glad that she went out the way she did. She saved her best for last and had the best meet of her life. Her leadership, determination, and overall presence will be missed next year.”
