Huron’s Costello dives into mixed emotions after winning D-1 state title

When athletes reach the pinnacle they often experience mixed emotions. Huron’s Annie Costello reached the pinnacle last month when she finished first at the Division 1 Swimming and Diving State Finals. The junior came into the state finals seeded first and lived up to the seeding.

Costello scored 425.40 points to finish first ahead of Ciara McCliment of Mercy (403.75).

And when Costello realized she had won? Well, it was mixed emotions.

“When I saw my score for my last dive, I felt a sigh of relief,” she said, something athletes favored to win often feel. “When my teammates Sami and Hannah started cheering, I was very excited.”

Costello admits that finishing second to McCliment would have been OK with her – friendship goes beyond points on a board.

“Even though I won, I would’ve been still very happy if I didn’t because the second-place finisher, Ciara McCliment, as well as many of the other finalists, have been close teammates to me on my club team, so it was fun just to be around them to support each other.”

She went into the finals diving with plenty of confidence after a strong showing in prelims.

“Since I came out of prelims doing my lower-scoring dives, I was excited to do the three dives that I most consistently earn a lot of points in finals,” she said. “My last three were my favorite, my inward one and a half pike has been the end of my list at every meet.”

It’s always fun to win but it’s a lot more fun to share it with people close to you.

“It was so fun to share my excitement with my parents, my coach, and the swimmers who were very excited as well,” she said. “Since finals, I have been so happy to be able to share my news with my other Huron teammates and Huron athletes. I’m sad that the season is over, but I was so happy to end it with this amazing meet.”