WEST LAWN — On his second dive of the District 3 Class 3A Diving Championships, Chambersburg senior Nick Cover hit the board and scored a mere 6.5 points.

So the fact that Cover rallied to take first place and become a District 3 champion, beating his nearest competitor by 100 points, makes his achievement that much more rewarding.

Cover scored 511.50 points in the meet held Saturday at Wilson H.S., beating the host school’s Bryce Johnston by exactly 100 points.

“After one dive, Nick was only in fourth place,” Trojan coach Ryan Crider said. “Then, on the second dive, he hit the board and only got 6.5 points, putting him in 11th place (among 16 competitors).

“But he managed to compose himself, and after two more dives he was in first place. He had to show what kind of athlete he is.”

Cover’s total score for the 11 dives was lower than the school record of 572.95 he hit in the Mid Penn event.

“Basically, he got today’s total on 10 dives,” Crider said. “He put forth a very determined effort after the mishap.”

Crider said the three twister dives Cover used were big point producers.

“He seemed to be in a good, solid spot with those today,” Crider said.

Cover’s next competition will be in the PIAA Championships on Wednesday, March 14 at Bucknell University.

Crider said, “I think Nick has a good shot at winning (he placed fifth last year at states). He is working on one dive that could increase his degree of difficulty, but otherwise we’ll just be working on smoothing out all the other dives.”