TAMAQUA - A balanced boys' competition came down to the final dive.
Lyle Luckenbill nailed it.
The Blue Mountain junior captured his first Schuylkill League Diving Championships crown Friday night, edging Pottsville's Patrick McDonald by one-half point at the Tamaqua Area High School pool.
Luckenbill collected 273.60 points, while McDonald finished with 273.10. Pottsville's Kyle Brennan took third with 245.20.
On the girls' side, Pottsville's Gabrielle Hammer won her second straight crown, compiling 267.70 points. Blue Mountain's Emma Barrett was second at 235.10, while Tamaqua's Emma Rago was third with 163.65 points.
McDonald was the leader in the eight-boy competition after the prelims with 124.25 points, and entered the finals in the lead with 203.45 points, 7.85 ahead of Luckenbill.
Luckenbill surged in the finals. It literally came down to the final dive - Luckenbill was 12th (last) in the diving order.
The Schuylkill League Swimming Championships will be held today at Pottsville's Ned Hampford Natatorium, beginning at 11 a.m.
Schuylkill League Diving Championships
At Tamaqua High School
Friday's results
GIRLS
Gabrielle Hammer, Pottsville 267.70
Emma Barrett, Blue Mtn. 235.10
Emma Rago, Tamaqua 163.35
Rebecca Minehan, Tamaqua 135.75
BOYS
Lyle Luckenbill, Blue Mtn. 273.60
Pat McDonald, Pottsville 273.10
Kyle Brennan, Pottsville 245.20
Josh Sham, Blue Mtn. 241.30
Ed Hossler, Pottsville 237.35
Anthony Rago, Tamaqua 179.05
Dalton Adams, Tamaqua 150.25
Thorn Devlin, Tamaqua 123.60