Wilkes-barre

Airport Officials Show Varied Palate 
Everything From Hamburgers To Lobster Tail Shows Up On Expense Receipts Filed
By Authorities From The Area's Airport When They Make Business Trips.

By KEVIN KEARNEY tlsports@leader.net
 Sunday, February 18, 2001 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 4C 





WILKES-BARRE - According to Wyoming Valley West diving coach Steve Klem,
it's better to be the pursuer than the leader. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ainsley Maloney proved her coach right. Throughout most of Saturday's
District 2 Class 3A Diving Championships, Berwick's Angela Messerschmidt
stayed a step ahead of Maloney. However, the Valley West star used a strong
final round to boost her total to 366.70, which nosed out Messerschmidt
(364.55) for gold. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Tunkhannock's Corey DeLeo, the runner-up at last year's districts, will
make a return trip to states as boys district champion. DeLeo captured the
boys title with a score of 391.95, almost 47 points ahead of the second-place
finisher, Abington Heights' Matt Charnitski (345.10). &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The top two boys and girls finishers advance to the PIAA Championships at
Penn State University in State College on March 8-10. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``It's easier to chase a championship than to keep one. Ainsley found that
out today,'' Klem said. ``She started off tense, but it seemed she relaxed as
it went on.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Maloney trailed by 10 after the opening round, but cut the deficit to three
going into the final round. Maloney took over the lead with top scores in the
forward dive (21.50), inward 1 1/2 somersault (17.50) and back dive (20.0). &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``I thought I lost until they announced it. I was already upset,'' Maloney
said. ``I knew going into the last round I was down. I knew I had to do every
dive perfect and make no mistakes.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Maloney also recorded top scores in the inward dive (22.0) and reverse dive
(20.0). Messerschmidt took the early lead with high scores in the forward 1
1/2 somersault (19.50), back dive (19.50) and inward dive (20.0). &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``It was my goal to finish first, and I want to place higher in states,''
said Maloney, who placed 18th in last year's state competition. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 DeLeo held a 13-point advantage over Charnitski after the opening round,
and increased the margin to 26 going into the final round. The senior remained
consistent throughout the day, scoring no lower than 17 on any dive. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``It was an anxious feeling today, because I wanted to win,'' DeLeo said.
``It feels good to win. My goal was to win districts and improve at states.
I'm hoping to medal in the top six.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 DeLeo's top scores came in the forward 1 1/2 somersault (19.0), inward dive
(18.50) and the forward 1 1/2 somersault, 1 twist (18.50). DeLeo received 18s
in the reverse and back dives. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Delaware Valley's Michael Fowler was third (309.65), Tunkhannock's Derek
Snover (308.0) recorded a fourth-place finish and was followed by Valley
West's Chuck Lombardo (296.65). &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hazleton Area's Ginny Saras (333.30), Berwick's Jillian Welch (326.10) and
Valley West's Jessica Pleskach (324.10) rounded out the top five among the
girls. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Wvw Star Edges Berwick Ace For 3a Girls Gold