Placing in the top three at regionals secured senior Jayce Percival and junior Justin Sherwood the opportunity to represent Bulldog Nation at the UIL 6A State Swimming & Diving Championship on Feb. 17. The meet will take place at the University of Texas at Austin. 

The two will compete alongside senior Maya Williams, who also made history as the first female Bulldog diver to ever qualify for state.

This is Percival’s first regional victory and second trip to state as a Bulldog diver. Last year, the senior placed second at regionals and 19th at state as the first diving qualifier ever. Percival has his sights set on performing well at the big meet. 

“I feel really good [about winning regionals] and I’m excited for state,” Percival said. “I’m going to focus on getting all of my techniques clean and just work at it.” 

Throughout the regional meet, Sherwood and his teammate junior Jay Robison were neck and neck for the third place slot to compete at state. Sherwood was surprised he was able to earn it and knows what he needs to do in preparation for state. 

“I didn’t think I was going to make it at first, but I pulled it off and am pretty excited,” Sherwood said. “I’m going to work on some harder difficulty dives with my coach and focus on landing them perfectly.” 

Diving coach Mrs. Amanda Christian felt confident in her team at regionals, and looks forward to seeing how they will finish off their season. Christian and her team will take advantage of the February break to get extra practice in. 

“[I am] super excited, but I also figured they’d make it anyway,” Christian said. “We will be practicing over the break every day, two hours a day. [My goal for my divers is to at least] make it through the first five [dives] without being cut.”