Liberty junior Keller Pooley took first place in the diving event of the Hurricanes’ opening day swim meet against Nazareth on Dec. 14 at Nazareth and during the ‘Canes’ home opener against Pottsville on Dec. 15.

Pooley scored 182.70 at Nazareth, ahead of the Blue Eagles’ Molly Laslo who had a score of 135.87.

“My reverse semi, which is just a reverse flip; I got a seven on that one. I love sevens. I always get super excited,” Pooley said. “Today it wasn’t as good because I was falling to the side on my approach, but I still had to go for it.”

Pooley’s score was 161.55 in the meet against Pottsville.

“Today I did a new dive. It was my first time ever competing it, a back one-and-a-half flip,” she said. “I might be thinking about a reverse one-and-a-half soon, but I don’t think that will be too soon.”

Pooley’s teammate and first-time diver Jasmyn Valdez took second place in the Pottsville meet with a score of 122.10 and placed third at Nazareth with a score of 120.50.

“Oh my gosh, yesterday and today I was very nervous,” said Valdez. “I got one seven yesterday, and I was very proud of that. I’m looking forward to getting better because even the coaches have pointed out I’m just starting out, but they think I could be good, so I’m hoping to get better and work on more dives so I can make it to districts.”

Valdez is also a cheerleader and is finding that, although the two sports are similar, they do have significant differences.

“For cheerleading, there’s a certain form you have to have, so for diving I had to tweak it and make changes and adjustments, but I figured it out,” she said. “[Coach Emily Kocis] definitely helped me out on my approach, and then she pointed out the little things that I needed to know, and that’s what helped me to get to where I am right now.”

Liberty’s next home meet is scheduled for Dec. 27 when the Hurricanes will host Southern Lehigh. Unlike last year, fans are back in the stands and swimmers are free to interact on the pool deck between events.

“It’s so much more real with the other team being here, and plus I like to make friends with the people on the other team, so it’s fun talking to the other divers,” said Pooley. “I’m definitely happy that’s back.”