TEN QUESTIONS WITH...

After a sports ceremony for gymnastics my seventh grade year, the diving coach came up and asked me if I wanted to try diving and I said yes. About a month later I started competing in high school meets. Towards the end of my eighth grade year I became serious with diving, joined Blue Fins Diving Club, and started to dive at regional meets eventually qualifying for nationals.

2. Do you have a pre-event routine and if so, what is it?

Typically before my events, I will run through my dives working out the final kinks as well as keeping my rhythm with the board. After that, the main factors are staying loose, eating, and hydration. Once the meet starts I will go to Karla Helder, the diving coach, for her advice on my dives.

3. Describe the differences between the one-meter and three-meter events?

From a spectators point of view the three meter events are more fun to watch because we (the divers) are higher in the air harder dives. For divers, it really depends on what board they feel more comfortable on because three meter tests your abilities more than one meter.

4. Do you prefer one or the other (the one-meter or three-meter events)?

Between one and three meter I would rather be on three. One meter has a lot of opportunities for learning new dives but three meter has even more. There are still limits to be pushed and the rewards are far greater, especially when I put a dive down for 8.5’s. I really enjoy platform too because there is such a rush jumping from 32.8 ft. and trying to go in the water without a splash.

5. The men¹s and women¹s swim programs are running as a combined program this year, does that make a difference in your training or other day-to-day activities?

As a diver we really don’t feel the difference because all the divers train together. If you look around the country, most if not all the universities have their men’s and women’s diving teams training together.

6. You have already broken the school diving records numerous times. What are your further goals and expectations?

Breaking records, although it is a great honor, isn’t really what I’m aiming for. My goal is to keep progressing, continue my success, and represent UB to the best of my abilities. Another goal I have is to make UB’s Diving program well known nationwide because we have the coaching and potential to be great. Expectations are a bit more difficult because I tend to be slightly critical of my diving. The main one would have to be when I’m finally done diving, to have no regrets and still love the sport for it has much to offer.

7. UB will be hosting the NCAA Zone A Diving Qualifier this year. Is it an advantage to be diving in a pool you are familiar with?

Very much so. As I imagine with most other sports there are a lot of variables that go into play when you travel, and by having the NCAA qualifying meet here it eliminates most of them. There isn’t the adjusting to different diving boards or trying to figure out how to spot (a crucial part of diving so we don’t smack the water) which can take a day or two. Ultimately, being at your home pool is always better then traveling. Please come out and watch, it should be a terrific meet!

8. What has been your favorite moment as a student-athlete at UB?

Everything. Learning new dives, growing from meet to meet, having the best coach, and more than anything else having fun. My passion, respect, and knowledge of the sport has increased so much over the past the two years that it’s absolutely amazing. The rewards have been great and I’m really happy that I chose UB. Go Bulls!!

9. If you could play any other sport at UB, what and why?

This is a very hard question because I love sports. I am huge fan and I’m always up for a challenge but if I had choose one sport it would be pole vaulting. In high school they asked me to join the team (sadly I couldn’t because of diving), and ever since then I have always wanted to try.

10. What do you like to do in your free time?

“Free time,” two words you don’t really much of when talking to an athlete. When I finally get mine I like to be outside, watching a movie, being with my family, coaching, etc. As long as I’m relaxing that’s all that counts.