Mar 12, 2019 3 min read

Anna Vogt has secured a legacy at Ringgold High School for her outstanding diving abilities.

The two-time WPIAL Class AA diving champion is now taking her final shot at winning a PIAA gold medal.

Vogt, a senior, is primed and ready to solidify her place in Rams’ athletic lore in pursuing a state championship.

“I don’t think this has all hit me yet,” Vogt said. “Me winning two WPIAL championships has raised the awareness of Ringgold’s swim and diving program. I’m proud of that. Our swim program as a whole has gained a lot more athletes. Our team has gone from 17 to 21 and now to more than 40 over the last few years.”

Diving begins today at the PIAA Championships, which run through Saturday, at Kinney Natatorium at Bucknell University in Lewisburg.

Vogt placed third in the PIAA a year ago.

“She’s been working at perfecting her dives,” said Ringgold swim Coach Bethany Curzi. “She has a lot more confidence in herself this year than last.

“Winning the WPIAL championship back-to-back is a big thing and it means she has more competitive meets under her belt. That works in Anna’s favor. She knows exactly what to expect this year because of her experiences.”

Vogt easily won the WPIAL title more than two weeks ago. Her 436.05 point total outdistanced second-place Alexa Gonczi of Connellsville (378.25) and Kristen Jerich of Knoch (340.20).

In competition, each dive is judged with a point total that is then multiplied by the degree of difficulty of each specific dive. Each dive is added together to reach the overall point total.

Vogt said she will attend Clarion University and will be competing with the dive team next fall.

“What Anna is doing is great for our program and our school district,” Curzi said. “She has built a pathway for other divers to come out and excel. Anna has taken in others and helped them and coached them to be better.”

Vogt wasn’t planning on any surprises for the state meet. She is focused on what works for her and trying to make it better.

That approach has helped her reach this point.

She spent much of the fall completing college visits and working with trainers and going through her preseason practice routines. That helped prepare her to get into her normal schedule of about four practices a week in season.

“I had a lot to get done before jumping into the busy practice and meet schedule,” Vogt said. “I enjoyed the visits. I picked Clarion because I like the coaches and the scholarship opportunities.

“It’s been a crazy practice schedule going here and there for workouts. I have pretty much stuck to the training regimen I had for the WPIAL meet – practice four days a week and work on all the same dives to help me do them better. I don’t think I’m going to add anything new for states.

“I’m comfortable with my dives and confident with what I’m doing,” she said. “I hope my performance will be good enough.”