Moravian Academy junior Alexa Fegley and Bethlehem Catholic sophomore Anna Petke are hopeful for another chance to compete at the PIAA Class 2A Diving Championships this March after qualifying last year but never contending due to the meet’s shutdown at the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

“I was upset, sad,” Petke said. “I was ready to go. It was going to be a cool experience, but it was disappointing.”

Petke is the 2020 District XI Class 2A runner-up, and Fegley is the 2020 District XI Class 2A champ.

“I was very upset,” Fegley said. “I had learned new dives between districts and states, and I was looking forward to competing those, and honestly, going to states for the first time, in general, so I was upset, to say the least.”

Now with the start of 2021, Fegley and Petke are moving forward with Coach Emily Kocis, perfecting some dives and learning new ones during practice time at Liberty High School’s pool.

“As soon as we were able to practice here at Liberty, we started right away,” Petke said. “I hope we have districts, and I’m excited to keep on competing and practicing as long as I can.”

Fegley and Petke also compete in the diving event during Liberty’s virtual swim meets against teams from within Northampton County.

“I struggled a little bit in the beginning of this season, not majorly; I just wasn’t really happy with how I was performing in the first two meets,” Fegley said. “My reverse dive is scoring me fairly high this season along with my inward dive and my front 1 1/2. I just learned a reverse 1 1/2 about a week ago.”

Petke feels confident with her inward 1 1/2, back double, front double, and back 1 1/2 somersault.

Said Fegley, “I’m hoping this season ends somewhat similar to last year. Anna and I have been neck-and-neck the whole season. We’ve both improved a lot.