Feb 23, 2025 By Jonathan Guth 4 min read

Wyatt Dean started his diving career like all kids … at the “Flatwoods Pool.”

Technically, the pool’s official title is Franklin Township Community Park, and it’s unlikely most divers begin their careers at community pools, but the Uniontown senior did spend plenty of summers enjoying the diving board at the popular local attraction near Franklin Elementary School in the Uniontown Area School District.

“I grew up right next to the pool, and that’s where I spent most of my summers,” Dean said. “When I got to high school, I took Mr. (Ed) Yauger’s swim class, he used to tell me, ‘You’re really good at doing that,’ and my friends convinced me to give diving a try because they needed divers on the team. They really pushed me to join the team. I also swam and did diving my freshman year, but I really started focusing on diving my sophomore year.”

Dean took his coach’s advice and gave diving a try.

The hard work paid off Friday at North Allegheny High School during the WPIAL Class 2A Boys Diving Championships, as Dean broke a score of 300 to finish fourth and qualify for the state meet as a top-six finisher.

Dean had his best score of his career with a 308.15, which was well ahead of last year’s mark of 250.

Dean’s favorite dive is a forward 1 ½ somersault pike, and the dive he performs with the greatest degree of difficulty is a forward 2 ½ somersault tuck, which is rated at 2.4 on the degree of difficulty scale.

“The more difficult dives really helped push my score up to fourth place,” Dean said. “I just went into the meet and competed against myself. I didn’t really want to worry much about score and all that, and it turned out to be my best score because I didn’t really think about that stuff. I just went in and did my dives.”

The state meet will be held from March 12-15 at Bucknell University’s Kinney Natatorium, which gives Dean plenty of time to practice.

“I am fine with the time before the state meet,” Dean said. “It will allow me to really polish my dives so they are 100 percent, and even if I want to change something up a little bit, it gives me a couple of weeks to practice it.”

Dean will not be continuing his diving career, as he takes HVAC (Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning) courses at Fayette County Career & Technical Institute, and plans to use that experience to help with his uncle’s business.

One difference between the regular season and WPIAL championships is the amount of dives performed in a competition. Dean normally had six dives, but that number increased to 11 on Friday.

“Diving is very mental, so when you have 11 dives, depending on how many guys are competing, it can take some time,” Dean said. “You have to keep yourself in a certain mindset between dives, which is hard to do, but you learn that with practice over the years.

“I also want to give credit to Coach Joe (Carei). I wouldn’t be where I am at in diving without him and Coach Yauger. Coach Joe also helped work with me on staying loose and relaxed between dives.”

Mount Pleasant’s Noah Lahm came up two places short of qualifying for states after taking eighth with a score of 258.85.

Frazier’s Gavin Adametz qualified for the WPIAL meet but didn’t score.

Derry’s Jake Hauser won the event with a score of 405.45. Indiana’s Matthew Blystone (339.10) was second and Beaver’s Isaac Burtt (312.20) was third.

Ringgold’s Gavin Brake (5th-296.35) and Indiana’s Connor Fleming (6th-269.05) all qualified for the state meet.

Lady Red Raider freshman Eleanor Carei was 11th in the girls Class 2A competition with a score of 278.55.

“It was great to compete with her,” Dean said.

Mount Pleasant’s Ella Paul was 10th with a score of 280.95.

Hampton’s Gabby Elk won her second-straight title with a score of 444.25. Quaker Valley’s Ruby Olliffe was second in 431.95 and Derry’s Chaeli Keenan was third in 4:14.30. Teammate Ella Sylvis will also make the trip to Lewistown for the state meet after placing fourth (372.85). The Lady Trojans’ Genavieve Hoyle (338.65) and Lidia Gamble (326.00) finished sixth and seventh to earn a berth at states.

Winchester Thurston’s Leila Monahan was fifth in 356.05.

Connellsville’s William Gillott competed in the boys Class 3A championships and had a five-dive score of 128.85.