Salisbury senior Tyler Keller didn’t leave much doubt as to whether or not he would be going to Bucknell University later this month to compete in the PIAA Diving Championships. After just two dives at the District 11 Championship meet at Emmaus High School on Saturday, Keller moved into first place in the Class 2A competition and didn’t look back. Before long, he pulled out to an almost insurmountable lead to take one of two guaranteed spots in states, with Central Catholic’s Sam Stringer finishing second to get the other guaranteed spot.

“My diving has been pretty strong lately,” said Keller. “But definitely in this meet there were a couple of dives that I wasn’t completely happy with and I’m going to work on for the state competition.”

After moving into first place, Keller cemented his position in the fifth round with a 55.90 score, turned out to be the highest score in the boys competition in both the 2A and 3A classifications. The fact that Keller expanded his lead as the meet went on came from a shift in strategy.

“I did something different this year,” he said. “I put the dives that I’m more confident in towards the end of the meet, so I can get the harder things done early and then get back into it.”

Keller will be making his third trip to states, having gone in each of the past two seasons. As a sophomore, Keller finished sixth in states and last season, he placed seventh. Keller is hoping that his experience in the high profile meet will help him this season.

“It’s shown me what the state competition is like and what the competitors there are like and what the competition is all about,” Keller said. “It’s good to have that experience.”

The meet was delayed for approximately 40 minutes early in the ninth round of dives, as severe storms went through the area, briefly knocking out power at Emmaus High School, where the meet was held. Power was restored fairly quickly, but the high intensity lights needed to cool completely before they could be turned back on, and then needed time to come up to full power. Divers were given two practice dives before the competition was resumed.

Keller has been one of the more dominant divers in District 11 throughout his diving career. As a freshman, Keller finished fourth, with teammates Dennis Bonner and Daniel Bujcs finishing second and third respectively. The following season, Salisbury swept the top three spots, when Bonner took the gold, Keller got the silver and Daniel Bujcs took the bronze medal.

Last season, Keller captured the top spot, winning district gold for the first time.

The points earned by divers in districts count toward the total team points used to determine the District 11 Swimming and Diving Champion. The swimming portion of the meet takes place this weekend at Parkland High School. Tamaqua currently leads 2A with 42 points after placing third, fifth and seventh in diving. Central Catholic divers finished second and fourth for 32 points and Keller, as the lone Salisbury diver, picked up 20 points for his team heading into the swimming competition.