LEWISBURG — Kyle Maziarz had no problem wearing the darkhorse label entering the PIAA Class AA boys diving championship meet Friday at Bucknell University.

But the gold medal around his neck fits just fine, too.

The Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic sophomore and Mars resident came in seeded sixth after winning a WPIAL title last month, but placed first in the state with a score of 418.7.

This was Maziarz's first year of varsity diving.

“I totally accepted the role of darkhorse,” said Maziarz. “I didn't have any expectations coming in here. I was new to it and didn't know how everything worked at states.”

The effort Maziarz managed Friday surprised many, even his coach.

“I expected him to be on the podium (top eight) and thought he could finish as high as fourth or fifth,” said Trojans' coach T.J. Barry. “The judges are much harder on divers at states. Dives that score 31 or 32 points at WPIALs get a 25, 26 or 27 out here. I'm OK with that as long as the judges are consistent.”

Barry, as he did at the WPIAL meet, used a particular strategy when planning Maziarz's dives.

“I back-loaded his dives, with the more difficult ones coming near the end,” Barry said. “It was a gamble, but it paid off. It worked out perfectly. Kyle was in second place after the first five dives, moved into first over his next three dives and held onto it.”

“My sixth, seventh and eighth dives, they weren't the most difficult, but I nailed all three of them,” Maziarz said. “I think that intimidated the other guys.”

Maziarz's task was seemingly made more difficult than simply competing against the other divers. Top-seeded Quinn Rollman from nearby Shamokin High School had a contingent of fans in the stands.

“When Kyle took the board, they would be jeering him,” said Barry. “To see how poised and collected he was, taking down the favorite from a few miles down the road, I've never been happier for a kid in my life.”

Rollman, who entered states with a score nearly 140 points higher than Maziarz, placed second with a 416.35.

“Winning at WPIALs and now at states, it's a surreal feeling for me,” Maziarz said. “I just wanted to leave everything out there.”

Grove City junior Emma Wilson had several special encounters following her state title in the 50-yard freestyle.

One in particular was with her older brother, Austin.

A 2016 Grove City graduate, Austin Wilson won a state title in the 100 backstroke his senior year.

“He was there to watch me (Friday night),” said Emma Wilson of her winning time of 23.3 seconds. “After the event, he told me I had done a good job and we cried.”

The tears proved difficult for Emma to hold back while on the medal stand.

“I thought about how much work I've put in,” she said. “I thought about my family, my coaches and tried not to cry.”

Wilson placed third in the state in the 50 free as a freshman and was runner-up last year.

Other Butler County-area swimmers who earned a medal by placing in the top eight include:

Boys

200 medley relay: 4-Grove City (Ben McKnight, Charlie Nesbit, Will Rastatter, Will Hannon) 1:36.84

200 freestyle: 7-Andrew Pierre (Mars) 1:44.07

200 individual medley: 8-Andrew Ivory (Mars) 2:00.68

50 freestyle: 3-Will Rastatter (Grove City) 20.95

Girls

200 freestyle relay: 2-Grove City (Emma Wilson, Robin Reynolds, Jenny Baglia, Aleana Smiley)