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

The Perry Diving Invitational, hosted by Perry High School on Oct. 21 at Perry High School is the last chance for divers to get their state-qualifying scores. The invitational will feature all member schools, which includes one school the Pumas have dived against this year. 

For the past few years, Arizona high schools have always had to be at their best to compete with Perry High School in diving. The success that the team has had was not derailed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They are looking to produce yet another state champion this year. 

If they do so it will make them have a back-to-back state champion diver. 

Last year, the Pumas had girls finish tied for first, fourth, and 14th. In the past three years, they have not had a diver finish outside of 15th in scoring at states. This has caused a shift in the high school diving landscape as they have only been open since 2007.

They will again be in contention to have a state champion this year but Red Mountain High School remains a formidable threat. 

Last year Red Mountain had four divers place in the top 15 at the state meet. All four divers return back this year. 

Perry this year does not have any of their top three finishers at states return. Their team is smaller but has more depth. 

“We have a lot of talent and a really positive team culture,” Perry head dive coach Keddi Kerby said.

Perry who has won four of their five duel meets this season has also had success in invitationals this year. 

Invitationals are the only way for high school divers to qualify for states. This makes the two to three invitationals each school participates in a gamble.

“To be honest they have been training for the invitational, that has been our main training focus for the last two weeks. …

"It gives us a preview of what the field of competition will be like at states,” Kerby added about how training for duel meets has translated to performances in invitational meets.  

At the Crosswhite Invitational and Brophy Xavier Invitational, Perry senior Sharlotta Mozes dazzled finishing first in both invitationals. Her teammate, sophomore Samantha Hill, scored in the top five at both invitationals. Adding to their success is junior Khloe Anderson, who finished among the top 20.

“Oftentimes, I can trust that the point value for the dives I’ve been doing for a long time will make up for a newer one. Even if it goes poorly,” Sharlotta Mozes said regarding her confidence in trying new dives.

Moses has gone above and beyond this season so far. At the Brophy Xavier Invitational, she was one of only two girls at the meet who did a back somersault with two and a half twists. It is a very high degree of difficulty dive, leading to each judge's score being multiplied by 2.7 for that dive. 

The trio is poised to yet again do well, cementing themselves as possible contenders. 

Even though all are likely to compete at state championships, they still have to go out each invitational and perform. Especially this invitational as they are the hosts.