Manhasset's Victoria Wang wins state 1-meter diving championship
Manhasset's Victoria Wang wins the state 1-meter diving title on Friday at the Webster Aquatic Center. Credit: Nicholas Soccocio
WEBSTER — Victoria Wang’s résumé already solidified her as Nassau’s best, but she still carried one piece of unfinished business. On Friday night — the final time she would step onto the board for Manhasset — she finally claimed the moment she’d been waiting for.
After 11 dives, Wang finished first in the state in the 1-meter diving championships with a score of 526.30 at the Webster Aquatic Center.
“This is so special,” Wang said. “It’s the cherry on top of my senior year. I’ve always wanted this. Every year I work harder and improve, and it’s great that this year I finally got my dream to come true.”
Manhasset coach Matthew McGrane — who’s known Wang since she was in elementary school — credits her work ethic and poise to her victory.
“It means so much to see her achieve her dream,” McGrane said. “She works so hard and puts in so much time; she practices like every day of the week. This year, to see her get to this maturity level, too, where she wasn’t just ready athletically on the board, but mentally, we knew she was ready to handle the situation, it’s amazing.”
It was Wang’s fourth appearance at the state championships. As an eighth-grader, she placed third; as a freshman, she climbed to second. After taking a year off, she returned as a junior and again finished second, setting the stage for her triumphant senior season.
“Coming just a little bit short always stinks, but it makes you want it even more,” Wang said. “I was definitely locked in, I knew what I wanted from the moment the season began.”
Wang is also coming off earning her fourth county title, further cementing her legacy as one of Nassau's most accomplished divers. Her senior season has been a culmination of years of dedication, perseverance and a relentless drive to improve.
She will continue her diving career at Harvard University, where McGrane is excited to see what she’ll accomplish in her next chapter.
“I really hope to go see her dive in a meet at school,” McGrane said. “We have a long-standing relationship, and it’s extraordinary to see her so happy and excited.”
Wang said the lessons she has learned from her high school diving career will stick with her long after she leaves the board.
“I definitely learned from coach Matt to never give up on myself,” Wang said. “I’m a little bit of a perfectionist, so I tend to get stressed out about things, but he always encourages me and makes sure I never give up.”
Farmingdale sophomore Avery Schuhmacher placed 12th with a score of 433.05. McGrane said he looks forward to watching Schuhmacher continue to develop and eventually follow in Wang’s footsteps as one of Nassau’s top divers. Harborfields' Ava Vandor finished 23rd.
“I mean, what an accomplishment to finish number 12 in the state,” McGrane said of Schuhmacher. “She keeps improving, and we told her at the end, ‘It’s your time now.’ Victoria’s passing the torch, and we could do this next year.”
