Dumais Diving Dynasty Endures: Freshman Dwight Dumais Wins CIF So. Section Div. I Diving Crown

By Bill Bell

MISSION VIEJO, Calif., May 8. MEMO to Texas swim coach Eddie Reese:

Yo, Eddie, now that you've gotten 200 meter backstroke world champion/world record-holder Aaron Peirsol in the fold for the next four years starting this fall, you probably figure you're set to win another four consecutive NCAA Division 1 men's swimming & diving championships, to go along with the three you've already captured so far this century.

But what happens when Peirsol graduates (let alone turns pro early?…
What then?

Well, you might consider recruiting a certain young man from Buena High in Ventura, CA., because this kid's a great diver and we're pretty sure you'd
have no problem convincing him of the advantages of diving in orange and white.

His name's Dwight Dumais, and we think you just may have a nodding acquaintance with his brothers, Troy and Justin, who've been your star divers the past four seasons and helped lead the Longhorns to the NCAA
Championship the last three years.

DD, who's been following in his brothers' footsteps since he's been a toddler, won the CIF Southern Section Division 1 title here Tuesday (May 7), becoming the first freshman in history to do so.

Even his brothers never won as freshmen, with Justin taking titles in 1995-96, Troy in '97-'98 and Brice in '99.

Troy won golds on the 1- and 3-meter boards the last two NCAAs, and Justin was a finalist too.

At the CIF meet, held in Mission's Recreation Center Diving Complex, freshman Dwight scored 591.75 points to dethrone defending champ Michael Hilde of Laguna Hills (547.80) and Ryan Rincon of Huntington Beach Marina (540.05) in an 11-dive final.

However, the Dumais were not invincible, as sister Leanne — who also dives for Buena — was silver medalist in the girls' competition to Dana Hills
junior Joey Brown, 520.80-516.10.

The CIF Division 1 swimming championships, featuring Newport Harbor's Peirsol in his final prep competition, San Clemente's Stanford-bound Kristen
Caverly (national high school record-holder in the 200 IM), and Michael Cavic, going for national records in the 100 fly and 50 free (his prs of 47.20/19.61 are both quicker than the listed records but were not done in high school competition), will be held Friday afternoon at the Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool in Long Beach's Belmont Shores.

Competition begins at 4 pm PDT.

Irvine High's Vaqueros, who just last month regained the national record in the girls' 200 yard medley relay they had lost earlier in the season, will be
looking to improve upon their record too.

Irvine's leadoff swimmer is Diana MacManus, a junior who won both backstroke races at this spring's United States Swimming Nationals in Minneapolis.

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use