Center Grove’s Prusiecki wins state diving title

INDIANAPOLIS

Center Grove diving coach Brian Glover knew Mia Prusiecki meant business.

“She came out of that 10th dive and said, ‘I’m not playing around any more,’” Glover recalled.

The Trojan sophomore said she definitely saved the best for last, winning the 1-meter diving competition with a score of 524.00 Saturday at state swimming and diving finals at IU Natatorium at IUPUI. Prusiecki edged out Northridge senior Jiselle Miller, who finished with 519.15 points. Northridge senior Kaitlin Simons was third with 501.75.

“I’m a very competitive person,” Prusiecki said. “I love to compete. I like pressure. It was good to be in second and dive my best to get into first. I just wanted to win; that’s what I came here for. I’m teammates with Jiselle in club, so we do know each other fairly well. We know how we compete. It was a good competition, for sure.”

Prusiecki finished second in the state as a freshman last year to Fishers senior Morgan Casey; Simons was third and Miller fourth.

“She’s a fierce competitor and she knows how to bring it,” Glover said of Prusiecki. “I’m glad we had some really good competition today. Throughout the rest of the season, it’s been her 100 points ahead of everyone else. The girls at Northridge definitely brought their A game and gave us a fight.”

Prusiecki said she had more confidence coming into the state meet because of her success in national competition.

“I just want to help my team,” she said after helping Center Grove to a 13th-place finish overall. “I love my team. They are so supportive.”

Prusiecki said she was pleased to get the state title after just missing last year. She said it was a similar circumstance, as she led that meet most of the way before Casey came up with a bigger score on her final dive.

Prusiecki said doing her best is always her main objective.

“I’m happy with first, but it’s more about my self goals,” she said.