CBA's Devin Hall finishes state 3-A runner-up in 1-meter diving

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on February 8, 2013 1:47 PM

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RALEIGH -- Charles B. Aycock junior Devin Hall expected a tight finish and knew the outcome could end up too close to call.

He was right.

West Henderson senior Lee Fullam nailed several high-scoring dives in the latter stages of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A 1-meter championships, and denied Hall his third consecutive state crown at the Pullen Aquatic Center on Thursday afternoon.

Joseph Manzi, Fullam's teammate, claimed third in the 10-diver competition.

"I am kind of disappointed because I didn't reach the goal I set, but I can't be too disappointed with a second-place finish because he did deserve it," said Hall, who missed the chance to become Aycock's first-ever, three-time state champ in any sport.

"He earned it."

Hall injured his right foot during practice on Thursday.

He attempted a forward 1 1/2 dive and when he kicked out of it, his foot came down on the springboard, which was going up. He banged the side of his foot and it remained swollen overnight.

Hall received low scores on his initial dive in the finals.

"It wasn't hurting bad enough for me not to dive on it," Hall said. "It didn't affect my diving too bad, but when I came down from my jump, it hurt a little bit to put pressure on it.

"(I) didn't get going until about the third or fourth dive.

Aycock head coach Zeke Jackson said the competition tightened as each diver found his respective rhythm. Fullam and Manzi, who finished behind Hall in each of the past two championship meets, kept hitting their marks.

Hall worked to stay in the gold-medal chase.

"After about dive seven, I knew whoever competed hard on the last dives was going to be the winner," Hall said. "I didn't do anything spectacular on the last few dives, but I didn't do anything unsatisfactory.

"It was a good meet and I know I didn't do as well as I was hoping I would. You could tell those boys (Fullam and Manzi) really stepped up and worked hard this year."

Editor's note: Individual scores were not available.