March 3, 2021
The past week: Manelis posted a score of 571.75 to win the WPIAL Class 3A diving title for the second consecutive year.
Check this out: Manelis, a senior and West Point recruit, is the first diver to win back-to-back titles by more than 100 points since Pine-Richland’s Dominic Giordano in 2012-13 and his 122.30 margin of victory over second-place Will Schenk of North Allegheny was the largest this century.
What’s it mean to you to win the fifth consecutive diving title for Fox Chapel? It’s feels great. I’m really happy for (Foxes diving coach) Vernon (Yenick) and our team. I think we’ve had one of the strongest guy teams for the past few years.
You mentioned that you knew you were going into the military, but what made West Point stand out? Well honestly, I can’t go to the Naval Academy because I’m colorblind. They take colorblind kids, but there’s a very limited amount of opportunities you can get with being colorblind in the Naval Academy. Then the coach from West Point reached out to me and I thought this was perfect. I had my opportunities.
Who are you going to root for now at the Army-Navy game? Obviously Army. Come on now. I’m even wearing the sweatshirt right now.
What gets you psychologically ready to dive? I just relax and focus on what I’m going to do next and my teammates.
What was it like training in a year where training wasn’t normal? I just worked out at home and did home exercises and dove at the high school.
How did you get into it in the first place? I used to be a gymnast and I broke my knee. Diving was an option so we went for it, I liked it and it’s kind of been history.
How did you break your knee? I was doing the vault and I jumped and my quadriceps pulled my patella apart. It was pretty bad.
That hurts just thinking about it. How old were you? Like 10. It’s been a while.
What was the rehab like? It was like six weeks in a wheelchair, two surgeries, crutches and I’d say full recovery was like six months.
What’s your favorite food? Probably a nice, juicy steak.
Any place in particular where you like to get it? Honestly, homemade is usually the best.
What do you do when you’re not diving? I like to play piano. I make music. I’ve been playing for like 10 years.
What do you like better, diving or piano? Probably diving.
What’s your favorite piece to play? I don’t know actually. I like Ragtime by Scott Joplin. It’s pretty fun to play.
— By Keith Barnes