THORNTON – Liberty’s Ashley Van Milligan finished just outside the top five in the Class 4A diving state competition last season and that inspired her to go for the gold as a senior in 2023.
 
On Wednesday at Veterans Memorial Aquatics Center, Van Milligan did exactly that. Despite being in fourth place through the first five dives, the Lancers senior came from behind to win the state championship by nearly 40 points with a score of 508.35.
 
“It’s exciting because now I get to say that I’m state champ,” Milligan said. “But also, for me, I’m proud of myself because I know that I put in the work and I’ve worked hard to get where I wanted to be. That’s the biggest thing for me.”
 
Before Van Milligan, Rampart’s Ivy Buckley was the reigning champion and had combined with her older sister Maggie Buckley to win the last four state titles. Having moved to another state for her junior season, Buckley won a 4A-5A state title in Georgia while competing for North Oconee last week. She scored a 678.65.
 
Knowing that seemingly insurmountable and annual “Buckley” barrier out of the way, Milligan grew even more confident and determined to be the 2023 champ.
 
“We were friends and I dove with Ivy and Maggie,” Milligan said. “They had moved away and moved on to bigger things, and I was like, ‘I have a chance now. I have a chance to win.’ I’ve put in a lot of work this year and I’m so happy. It was cool to see myself hit all my goal marks that I set for myself this year.”
 
On top of winning the state title, Van Milligan was voted 4A Diver of the Year by the coaches at state. Joining her in that rarified air, her coach, Lexi Barker, who dove at Douglas County before going on to compete for Ohio State University, was voted 4A Dive Coach of the Year.
 
“I’m just so happy,” Barker said. “Honestly, we were hoping that Ashley would do really well. My goal for her was just top three, so I was really happy with what she did. We just wanted to improve from last year and Coach of the Year was a great surprise. I love coaching, I love what I and they’re just really awesome kids, so it’s all really exciting.”
 
Silver Creek junior Leslie Broz finished runner-up with a score of 469.75. Niwot sophomore Elizabeth Fay, who led the competition at the first cut, finished third with a score of 467.80. Silver Creek’s Savannah Wolf, a junior, was fourth at 466.75.
 
Broomfield junior Lola Grace Guthrie was fifth with a score of 442.30. Cheyenne Mountain senior Paige Tupea scored a 438.85 to take sixth.