Local divers recently returned from the season-ending Junior Olympic Summer Nationals in Coral Springs.
It was the fifth summer national for St.Petersburg's Austin Hampton, the third for Largo's Alex Tillbrook, the second for Largo's Katie Smolen and the first for Amanda Smolen.
All four train at Largo's Southwest Pool with Tony Perriello, head coach for West Florida Lightning Aquatic Diving.
Tillbrook, a 17-year-old Largo High School senior, placed eighth in the 3-meter competition despite being sidelined four weeks by a back injury.
"I had to limit my pikes and the 1-meter event, as well as lower the degree of difficulty," Tillbrook said.
"At nationals, if you want to place, you have to be on. You have to have the repetition in the water to be ready to compete," he said.
Tillbrook's performance qualified him for the Pam American Junior Trials. The event was in Coral Springs for divers who finished in the top 16 at nationals.
Tillbrook was fourth on the 3-meter in the trials. The top two advanced to the Pan American Games.
"Alex has another year in his age group and will only do better then," said Jerrod Mills, WFLA's age-group coach.
"This time, he was just a dive or two away from making it to the Pan Am."
Hampton, 16, diving the past nine years, was 20th on the platform and 31st on the 1-meter board.
"The first time I went to nationals, I didn't know what to expect," Hampton said.
"Gaining the experience in a big event like nationals is so helpful when you compete there again. Plus, you're diving among the best."
Hampton recently transferred to WFLA for training after traveling to Brandon the past few years.
"We're really excited to have Austin on the team," Mills said. "He has a very strong work ethic, and others will feed off of it.
"To have a high-level diver like Austin with us creates an extremely positive atmosphere on the team," Mills said.
Amanda Smolen took 34th in the platform competition.
"Being at summer nationals, my eyes were opened to what I need to do to get more in shape," said Smolen, a Largo High senior.
"It was inspiring to see all the divers, and it motivated me to work more."
The former Level 5 and 7 state gymnastics champion is rehabilitating from an injury sustained on a skiing trip more than a year ago.
"I've really just gotten back into diving after about a year," Smolen said.
"I was surprised to make nationals and didn't really expect to place in the top group, since many in my group are now off to college.
"I'm still healing and planning on being ready for high school diving," she said. "This year, I hope to finish in the top three."
Mills said: "We're extremely proud of Amanda's performance, especially considering her coming back from a shoulder and back injury. Many of those she dived against have dived the last eight-nine years."
Largo 10th-grader Katie Smolen finished 21st among 39 competitors on the 3-meter.
"The experience at nationals is great," Smolen said. "It's a lot harder because you're competing with the top divers from every zone.
"I was surprised I qualified because I've just been back a month, but it was good because now I know what I need to do.
"After nationals, I went out and learned some new dives and plan on keeping that up."
The four athletes are preparing for the prep season, which begins next month.
"Every year at state, I seemed to have bombed on one dive," Tillbrook said. "This year, my senior year, I'm going for the win.
"I haven't decided on a college yet, but I definitely want to dive in college."
Hampton, who finished third in state last season as an Admiral Farragut Academy freshman, is focusing on a win this time.
Amanda Smolen also is expecting to improve.
"My freshman year, I won districts, then fell off the board at state," she said. "My sophomore year, I hit the board before districts and had a bad state meet.
"Last year, I didn't compete because of my injury. This year, I want to place in the top three."
Her younger sister, Katie, is looking forward to topping last season's third-place district performance and her state showing of eighth.
"I won all my dual meets last year and hope to do better this year," Katie Smolen said.
"I want to do well in the PCAC, the North County Invitational and districts.
"Of course, I'll be competing against my older sister, but we support each other."
Tillbrook was among five divers receiving All-American recognition after last season.
Others selected for the honor were the WFLA's Kaila Johnston of Clearwater, Sarah Ellerby and Mark Moss in Palm Harbor and Lauren Permuy in Largo.
PYFC FOOTBALL: The St.Pete Lil Devils opened their Pinellas Youth Football Conference schedule last week with varsity victories over Manatee in the Flyweight, Pee Wee and Midget divisions.
Greenwood defeated Child's Park in Mighty Mite, Pee Wee and Midget competition.
In the Gibbs-Palmetto match-up, Gibbs won in Flyweight and Mighty Mite play, as did Largo over the Silver Raiders.
The PYFC has a bye Saturday.
On Sept.6, Greenwood travels to Palmetto, Gibbs is at Manatee, Largo visits Child's Park and the Lil Devils are at the Silver Raiders' site.
SYFC FOOTBALL: The Dunedin Jr. Falcons are playing host to the Suncoast Youth Football Conference Jamboree at Dunedin High School this weekend.
Each team in the 10-organization conference plays a quarter of offense and another quarter of defense.
The SYFC kicks off its season Saturday with the Northeast Bandits entertaining the Azalea Bulldogs.
The Lakewood Jr. Spartans are at Seminole against the Chiefs, Pinellas Park is at Tarpon Springs, Dunedin plays host to Countryside and Clearwater is at Dixie.
