Ethan Kaplan is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Perry High School for AZPreps365.com

The Perry girls dive team finished its last regular-season invitational on their schedule with a dominant showing over their opponents in the Perry Diving Invitational. 

The event was opened to other nearby Arizona high schools after initially being scheduled as an invite for member schools of the Chandler Unified School District. 

The Pumas made sure to defend their home pool as they finished well among the competition. Senior Sharlotta Mozes continued her fantastic season by placing first, scoring a 433.90. 

Mozes has been first in each invite the Pumas have competed in this season.

“It's a nice feeling. It just kinda shows that the work that I have put in has paid off,” said Mozes. 

She started and finished off with two tough dives, inward 1½ somersaults and back somersault 1½ twists. These two dives proved to be beneficial as her first dives score was multiplied by 2.4 and then 2.5 on the second, for the degree of difficulty. 

Mozes's season has been filled with consistent high scores leading her to be one of the anticipated frontrunners to win state in November. This includes breaking the school record.

“Kinda, I think so. I know most of the people going to states so it is a friendly competition,” said Mozes. 

Junior Khloe Anderson and sophomore Samantha Hill had equal success as they respectively placed 11th (288.05) and second among the 23 other competitors scoring a 370.35. 

Anderson competed an inward 1½ somersault tuck, which she has been working on at practice up until the Perry Invite.

“I have been having a lot of trouble with my 403c. I have been practicing it a lot during practice,” Anderson said. 

Executing the dive, leading her to score, did not give Anderson any nerves.

“I notice how some divers react to the stress of diving. Personally, I have learned to deal with it and remain calm during invitationals,” Anderson said.

Also, Hill competed with a new dive, a reverse 1½ somersault tuck.

“Well, it was a good save because my toes were hanging off a bit and my entry was better than usual. It was one of my best entries that I have had,” Hill said. “With more experience in diving, doing both high school and club, benefits me because of all the repetitions, allowing me to do better on my scores.”

Head coach Keddi Kerby said she was pleased with what she saw in her divers' performances. 

“They all did very well. They all have put themselves in good positions going into state championships.,” Kerby said. “It is going to go very well at states. It's our mental game that is going to be my focus because our physical skills are stellar.”

The Pumas have three days to rest and prepare for their last regular season duel meet against Chandler High School at home on Monday, Oct. 24.