Farrah, Rousey Win District Titles

— Erin Farrah and Tyler Rousey patiently waited for their time to come on the 1-meter diving board when both earned state runner-up marks as freshmen last year.

On Tuesday, the two sophomores showed the waiting game is over.

Farrah of Fayetteville and Rousey of Bentonville won in convincing fashion in the girls and boys competition, respectively, at the North District Diving Championships, held at the University of Arkansas Natatorium.

NORTH DISTRICT DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

At UA Natatorium

TEAM STANDINGS:

BOYS

Bentonville 37

Springdale Har-Ber 16

Siloam Springs 15

GIRLS

Springdale High 46

Bentonville 40

Fayetteville 32

INDIVIDUAL 1-METER DIVING RESULTS:

BOYS

Tyler Rousey, Bentonville 397.35

Austin Passmore, Bentonville 317.85

Ethan Wilson, Springdale Har-Ber 246.60

GIRLS

Erin Farrah, Fayetteville 381.80

Cadi Stair, Springdale High 304.80

Zoey Catteneo, Springdale High 300.15

Farrah scored 381.80 in Tuesday’s event, with high marks of 22 from the three judges on a back dive and 21.5 on both a reverse dive and an inward dive. Her total left no doubt, with second-place finisher Cadi Stair of Springdale High scoring 304.80.

“I was pretty satisfied,” Farrah said. “A couple of dives I was a little nervous, but I’m comfortable here. This is where I train so I’m used to diving here.”

Farrah finished second at the 2012 state 1-meter diving meet behind Bentonville’s Melanie Ripple, losing by less than 15 total judged points. But this time around, Farrah appears to be the clear favorite.

“I try not to make a big deal out of the meets,” Farrah said. “But my goal is to win.”

Rousey, like Farrah, has his goals set high as he prepares for the state meet. In Wednesday’s competition, the Bentonville sophomore scored very well with a total of 397.35 to blow past the rest of the field.

Austin Passmore of Bentonville was second with a 317.85, while Ethan Wilson of Springdale Har-Ber took third with a 246.60.

“I want to break the state record, that’s my goal,” Rousey said. “I want the record and I want to win.”

The North District Championships continue today with the swimming events being held at the Jones Center. After the conclusion of the diving competition, Springdale High — led by Stair’s second-place finish and a third-place mark from Zoey Catteneo — lead in the girls team standing with 46 points. Bentonville is next with 40 points.

The Tigers lead the boys standings, thanks to Rousey and Passmore’s 1-2 finish, with 37 points. Springdale Har-Ber will enter today’s swim meet with 16 points and Siloam Springs is next with 15.

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