No clear favorite for Frontier League diving crown

There is no clear-cut favorite to capture the Frontier League boys diving title this season.

Tim Steiner of Carthage and Shayne Watson of Watertown will battle for the league crown. But Nathon Harryman of South Jefferson can’t be discounted, either.

The league diving championships are scheduled for 2 p.m. Jan. 28 at Carthage.

Steiner, a senior, has been one of the top divers in the league for the last four years. He earned second place during the league championships the last two seasons, placing behind former teammate Tony Christian. Steiner finished fifth in the Section 3 Class B competition last year, while Harryman was seventh in Class B and Watson 10th in Class A.

Watson is a junior who has displayed great improvement this season and holds the league’s top score of 226.87, which is a Watertown school record. He surpassed Dave Dietrich’s score from 1974.

“One of the things that makes Shayne improve so rapidly is that he’s constantly trying to push his degree of difficulty,” Watertown boys swimming coach Jeff Ginger said. “He’s willing to try new things, and he’s quite brave on the diving board.”

Ginger’s favorite dive for Watson to execute is the reverse dive and pike. Watson is a quick study and largely self-taught, according to Ginger.

“Shane absolutely has the potential to win the league,” Ginger said. But Ginger admits Steiner and Harryman are a concern.

“Tim and Nate both make me nervous,” Ginger said.

Steiner’s best score is 209.85, and Harryman has tallied 196.05 points during a meet.

During league and sectional championships, competitors perform 11 dives, rather than the six executed at regular-season meets, making the outcome more difficult to predict.

Carthage coach Nancy Mushtare said Steiner still has room for improvement.

“He hasn’t realized his full potential at this point,” Mushtare said.

WATKINS BENEFIT SLATED

Lowville school is holding a couple of events to honor popular, longtime swimming coach Bobb Watkins, who died of cancer on Dec. 26.

A benefit spaghetti dinner/silent auction will be held for the Watkins family from 5-8 p.m. Jan. 27 in the Lowville Academy gymnasium. The suggested donation for the meal is $6 per person. Take-outs will be available.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Jan. 28 in the high school auditorium. The school intends to live-stream the ceremony on its website (www.lowvilleacademy.org) for those unable to attend.

To contribute or reserve tickets for the dinner, contact the school (315-376-9015). Tickets will be available from 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. in the high school office on school days. Contributions may also be sent to “Our Bobb” Benefit Fund, c/o Lowville All Sports Booster Club, Lowville Academy High School, 7668 N. State St., Lowville, N.Y., 13367. Checks may be made payable to LACS All Sports Booster Club.

A scholarship fund is also being organized in Bobb Watkins’ name. Contributions may be sent to the LACS business office.

CHEER COMPETITIONS SCHEDULED

The Section 3 cheerleading competition will be held Saturday at Liverpool high school. Senior all-star competition for Class C and D teams will begin at 9:10 a.m. with team competition to start at 11 a.m. The awards ceremony will be around 1 p.m.

Classes AA, A and B will begin with all-star routines at 12:30 p.m. and team competition at 2:20 p.m. The awards ceremony will be held at approximately 4:15 p.m.

The Frontier League cheerleading competition has been rescheduled for Tues., Jan. 31, at Indian River Middle School in Philadelphia. Doors will open to spectators at 4:30 p.m., at which time the senior all-star competition begins. There is a $4 admission charge. Team competition begins at 6 p.m., and the awards ceremony will be held around 8:30 p.m.

The league championships were originally slated for last Saturday but postponed because of stormy weather.

WILLIAMS BACK FROM INJURY

Angelo Williams scored eight points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Lyme boys basketball team Tuesday during his first game back from ACL surgery. Lyme (6-5 overall, 4-5 league) lost to Frontier League “D” Division leader Sackets Harbor (11-0, 10-0) during that matchup.

Sportswriter Leslie Sheldon covers Frontier League sports for the Times. She may be contacted at lsheldon@wdt.net or 661-2348.