When it comes to diving, Campo Verde is among the state's best. Friday morning, 37 of the best Division 1 and Division 2 divers around the Valley came together to compete at the 7thAnnual Perry Puma Diving Invitational, and Campo Verde divers shined.

The Perry Puma Diving Invitational is a qualifying meet to the state preliminary meet for the Arizona High School Swim and Dive Championships.

Qualifiers to the state preliminary meet featured four Campo Verde divers. Senior Jason Lenzo led the pack with a final score 419.35 to win the 11-dive invitational. His teammate, sophomore Ashton Hasegawa, finished close behind with a score of 389.20 followed by Mountain View junior Wesley Hansen (385.85) to round out the top three. Other state qualifying Campo Verde divers include junior Matthew Lenzo, Jason Lenzo's younger brother, with a score of 369.35 and Caden Taylor (356.45).

Three years ago, Campo Verde began their season with only three divers, including Jason Lenzo. But now they have become one of the biggest diving powerhouses around the valley with a squad of 15 divers. Coach Dave Eppert discussed how this is the biggest depth of talent he’s ever had and how he’s proud of how his kids dove today.

“I was really impressed with how my boys performed today,” Eppert said. “Jason and Ashton had a couple of bad dives early on, but I think they did a good job coming back. All these kids are hard workers, and it’s usually the hard workers that do well, and they’re really fun to work with as well.

Eppert also talked about how he keeps his divers motivated when they do have a bad dive in a meet.

“You know my philosophy is to dive one dive at a time, and if a dive goes bad, then put it behind you,” Eppert said. “You got to focus on each dive, and if you do that, instead of moving backward, you can move forward and hopefully nail the next dive.”

Jason Lenzo has competed at the past three state championships placing 28th his freshman year, eighth his sophomore year, and third in his most recent year. This year he is hoping to finish his last meet strong and to repeat his placement in the top 3.

It is also important to note that while Jason Lenzo won this year’s Puma Invitational, last year’s state champion, Centennial’s senior Daniel Muller, and runner-up, Liberty’s junior Evan Honer, were not present.

Muller has a history of dominating at the state championships finishing 61.2 points ahead of Honer and 91.85 points ahead of Lenzo. Even though the state championship is still a couple of weeks away, Lenzo said the Puma Invitational is a steppingstone to prepare before he competes in his final meet.

“I’m feeling good heading into this year’s state championship,” Lenzo said. “I’m just hoping to do the same if not better than last year. Today wasn’t my best meet, but I’m still happy with how I did, and now I’m just ready to compete at my last state championships.”

Hasegawa, who placed eight at last year’s state championships discussed how it is really beneficial to have a leader like Lenzo and how he really looks up to him not just as a diver, but as a teammate and a friend.

“We all respect Jason, he’s our best diver, and we all look up to him,” Hasegawa said. “All of our Campo divers are genuinely excited to compete, and they bring out the best in me. Some days I might not have the best practice, but people like Jason help me strive to be better.”

Hasegawa is only a sophomore, and he has a few goals he would like to accomplish before he graduates.

“Before I graduate, I would like to achieve all our school records and then place first at state,” Hasegawa said.

Heading into the state championships, Eppert is just hoping his kids dive clean and consistent and that Lenzo can have the meet of his life to end his successful high school diving career before he heads off to compete in collegiate diving.

“I just want Jason to have the best meet of his career that would be ideal,” Eppert said. “He always competes great, and I was impressed with how well he came back after his one bad dive, and if could nail that dive I think he could either finish where he finished last year or even move up.”

Lenzo has toured a few colleges in the Midwest and his hoping to announce his decision at the beginning of November.

With the regular season coming to a close, the Campo Verde divers will shift their focus to competing in the State Preliminary Meet on Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Phoenix Country Day Pool.