The third time just might be the charm for Meredith Harbison.

The Butler senior will be making her third appearance at the WPIAL Class AAA Girls Diving Championship, which will be held Saturday at Pine-Richland High.

Harbison placed 22nd as a sophomore and sixth last year.

She broke the school record with a score of 274.3 in a meet against Blackhawk Jan. 13.

“Breaking the record was a goal of mine this year,” said Harbison. “I train year-round at the University of Pittsburgh and have definitely improved my form and technique.”

Harbison said her main goal is to make the state championships, which she would do by placing in the top four Saturday.

Longtime Butler coach Ken Bedford said Harbison's final trip to WPIALs could turn out to be even more special.

“If she keeps her head on straight, she has a chance to win,” he said. “Her confidence has improved by leaps and bounds.”

Butler also will have three juniors at the girls event: Caitlyn Kaufman (178), Amber Zanella (176) and Stephanie Croft (174).

Seneca Valley will send two girls to the championships: senior Jenn Suder and junior Samantha Miller.

Suder will be making her third appearance at the event. She placed seventh last season and enters Saturday with a score of 234.

“She's definitely improved,” said SV coach Meghan Lewis. “She looks more seasoned and has a good chance to get to states.”

Miller's top score is a 215.

Seneca Valley's Dylan Bilka is hoping his experience at the WPIAL championship pays off.Bilka placed 16th as a junior last season.“I was really shaken up last year,” admitted Bilka, a resident of Seven Fields. “There were a lot of divers who were better than me and the place gets so quiet when you're up on that board.“I was intimidated, but that shouldn't be a problem this season,” he added,Bilka, who enters WPIALs with a score of 211, has impressed Lewis with his progress.“He's improved his degree of difficulty,” she said. “And he has some new dives, and I'm excited to see him try them.”“I have better control with my height off the board, keeping my toes pointed and my legs together,” said Bilka.Butler will be represented by senior Jacob Allen, junior Mark Malecky and freshman Levi Cetti.Cetti's top score this season is a 270.“He's a phenom,” said Bedford. “When we first started in the preseason, I remember saying, ‘This kid is special,' but I was not expecting him to do things this well this fast.”Allen and Malecky both enter WPIALs with a top score of 180.The top four boys and girls Class AAA divers advance to the state meet.

From the gymnastics floor to the diving board, it's a transition high school athletes have made.But most haven't made it as successfully as Allie Misenhelter.The Mars junior broke her own school record last week and now has her sights set on the WPIAL Class AA Championship, to be held Friday at South Park High.A resident of Treesdale, Misenhelter qualified for the event last season, but didn't compete due to her obligation as a member of X-Cel Gymnastics in Cranberry Township.“We had an event in Ohio,” she said. “Gymnastics was more of a priority for me last year, but I'm glad I get to dive this time.“Gymnastics and diving have a lot of the same movements, same timing,” she added.In a meet against Freeport and Knoch at Butler last Thursday, Misenhelter scored a 244, beating her previous best of 191.

Mars will be sending junior Elliott Woodward and senior Kevin Shebek to the championship meet.Woodward enters the event with a score of 202. Shebek posted a 156.“I’m hoping both of our boys can finish in the top 15,” said Mars coach Maria Misenhelter.The top six boys and girls divers from Class AA qualify for the state meet.