Churchville-Chili swimming and diving reached a historic milestone this season as all three of the program’s returning divers have qualified for the New York State Championships, set to take place in Ithaca this March.
Senior Isaac Bailey secured his first trip to the state competition in impressive fashion, scoring a personal-best 452.05 at the Webster Yeti Classic on January 9. Bailey’s breakthrough performance earned him a spot alongside freshman Jordan Leastman and senior Kyler Thomas, marking a rare and remarkable achievement for the Saints.
Leastman, despite being a freshman, will be making his second appearance at the state meet, while Thomas will compete at states for the third time in his high school career. Thomas continues to build on an already stellar résumé and currently sits ranked first in New York State.
The trio’s accomplishments place them firmly in Churchville-Chili history. All three divers rank among the program’s top five all-time scorers, holding the first, third, and fifth positions. Their dominance extends beyond the school record books: all three are ranked among the top five divers in Section V this season.
Churchville-Chili now stands as the only Section V team with more than one diver qualified for the state competition and may ultimately be the only team in the section to send three divers to Ithaca. The program’s continued success reflects the steady leadership of longtime diving coach Ricky Krebs, whose commitment to athlete development has helped elevate Churchville-Chili diving to the state level year after year.
As the postseason approaches, the Saints’ diving program continues to raise the bar, showcasing depth, consistency, and elite-level performances on the board. This historic achievement underscores not only individual excellence but the continued growth and success of Churchville-Chili diving at the sectional and state level.
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Photo: Churchville-Chili divers (l-r) Isaac Bailey, Jordan Leastman, and Kyler Thomas have all qualified for state competition.
