BUTLER TWP — If only all divers were fearless.

But not all divers have the mind-set of Heath Calhoun.

The Butler junior will be making his third appearance at the WPIAL Class AAA boys championships Saturday at Pine-Richland High School.

Calhoun went from ninth in the WPIAL as a freshman to third last year with a score of 481.20.

"My goal this year is to finish second," he said. "Connor (Kuremsky) from North Allegheny, he is very good."

In fact, Kuremsky won last year's title as a freshman with a WPIAL Class AAA record score of 528.45.

But Butler diving coach Ken Bedford knows Calhoun is a special diver in his own right.

"His degree of difficulty has improved immensely since last year," Bedford said. "He has the heart to do a lot of dives nobody else will do."

Calhoun seems to shy away from the tag of "fearless," but there's no denying he has plenty of confidence.

"I just tell myself that I'm here to have fun," said Calhoun. "And I know Coach Bedford is not going to have me do a dive unless he knows I'm ready for it."

Joining Calhoun in the Class AAA boys event will be senior Nathan Barry and junior Sean Murphy.

"Nathan really came on strong at the end of the preseason and he's put everything together," said Bedford. "And Sean's a big-time gymnast. That's really helped him out."

Leading a field of four Butler girls is junior Brittney Grenet, who placed 19th at WPIALs as a freshman and 15th as a sophomore.

"I know I won't be nervous like some of the first-year divers," said Grenet, whose best effort this season is a 232. "I've learned some new dives since last year, my form is better and I've worked really hard."

Also competing for the Golden Tornado in the girls meet scheduled for Saturday at P-R will be junior Liz Manuel, sophomore Meredith Harbison and freshman Amber Zanella.

Seneca Valley

Katie Elkin wanted to experience the WPIAL diving championships.

After almost getting there as a junior, she has made the most of her senior campaign.

Elkin, along with teammate Jennifer Suder, will represent Seneca Valley at the Class AAA girls championships.

"I almost made it last year," said Elkin, a resident of Cranberry Township who has been diving for the Raiders since her freshman year. "To make it this time, it was pretty exciting."

Elkin made the WPIAL cut by scoring a 172 at a meet earlier this season.

But she's hoping to make a cut of a different kind this weekend.

"I want to get past the first round," she said, adding that back dives are her strength.

"Katie's done a great job this season," said first-year Raiders diving coach Meghan Lewis. "It was her goal to get to WPIALs and she got there."

Suder, a sophomore, is in her first year of diving, but she's been a gymnast since she was 4, which put her ahead of the curve the first time she stepped onto a diving board.

"Gymnastics really has helped me in diving," said Suder, who also competes on SV's girls golf team. "It teaches you to know where you are in the air and when to open up."

"It's not that common for kids to make WPIALs in their first year of diving," said Lewis of Suder, who put up a season-best score of 208. "She's definitely exceeded my expectations for her."

"I really didn't have that many expectations before the season," said Suder. "But it is pretty cool that I made WPIALs in my first year."