Two Hartselle athletes qualified to compete in the state swim and dive meet Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. Avery Balch finished fourth in the one-meter diving event, and Julie Bryant finished 12th in the 50-yard freestyle and 13th in the 100-yard freestyle.

Both athletes first had to qualify for the meet after making it to the area sectionals in Huntsville earlier in November.

John Waynick, Hartselle High Swim and Dive team sponsor, said he was proud of the team for having athletes qualify for the meet. “For Julie Bryant to qualify for state, that’s quite an accomplishment, and for Avery to qualify as a diver, both of those are very good things to happen at Hartselle,” Waynick said.

Balch is a sophomore this year and, according to Waynick, is in his second year of diving. He finished the meet with a score of 285.05 and missed third place by four points.

“He came very close to placing on the podium. It is not just a couple of dives and you are done. You progress round by round. He had to make the cut to keep going, and he did that,” Waynick said.

Bryant is a junior this year and finished in the top 16 in her events, earning a place in the consolation finals heat. Her times were 25.38 seconds in the 50-free preliminary event with a final time of 25.62 and 56.98 in the 100-free preliminary event with a final time of 57.07.

Waynick said although the team was small, Hartselle was able to earn team points. “They represented Hartselle High School and the City of Hartselle very well. I was extremely proud of them both and what they were able to accomplish,” Waynick said. “What’s exciting too is that they both are underclassmen, so we have them coming back next year.”

Other members of the team are Drew Cline, Avery Balch, Maisie Waynick, Christa Ferryman, Alex Ferryman, Julie Bryant and Alexis Wilbanks.