The laws of physics are firm on this point: What goes up must come down. But exactly how it comes down is the key behind the aquatic artistry inherent in the sport of diving.
Call the sport the aquatic version of gymnastics, though performed on a springboard instead of a cushioned mat. Instead of going horizontal, these athletes go vertical.
Defying gravity.
Last year’s Metro Conference championship meet at the Parkway pool was an eye-opener. A total of 28 entrants – 14 boys and 14 girls – competed. It was the largest number of participants in recent memory.
A sizable portion of that number is back for more this year, plus a cast of talented newcomers eager to impress.
The stage appears set for another blockbuster season.
Hilltop senior Leo Diaz de Leon leads the group of returners in 2010. He earned honors as last year’s Mesa League Diver of the Year after finishing as the 2008 South Bay League Diver of the Year. He is primed for a personal three-peat.
“I’m motivated – I want to keep the title my last year,” he said.
Diaz de Leon began diving as a freshman. To finish his last three years as the league’s most accomplished diver would be an honor – and a measure of his improvement.
“My freshman year I was just throwing myself off the board,” he said. “Now I rate myself eight out of ten in terms of improvement from then.”
Hilltop remains one of the South Bay’s diving powerhouses. The Lancer dive squad opened the season undefeated in its first four meets and went 1-2-3 on both the boys and girls cards in an April 8 dual meet against Chula Vista at the Parkway pool.
At the top of the boys list against the Spartans was sophomore Aaron Siaumau, who some are already predicting as future diver of the year material.
Siaumau, mind you, is a novice. But a novice with a natural talent, it seems, for diving off a springboard.
Hilltop coach John Salts was looking for someone to fill a vacant spot in the lineup. Siaumau got the call. To everyone’s surprise, he learned five dives in one day. His learning curve continues to go up and up and … up.
“I tried it just for fun,” Siaumau said. “I wanted to give it a try. I was very surprised how well I did.”
He wasn’t the only one whose mouth dropped open at the April 8 dive meet.
Siaumau out-pointed Diaz de Leon 143.90 to 128 to win the meet. Hilltop junior Shane Garvin was third with 121.05 points, followed by Chula Vista’s Spencer Lavy (115.70) and John Hewuse (112.35).
The first-place finish was the first this season for the Lancer sophomore, who wants more.
“I enjoy the challenge,” he said. “I just want to keep working hard and keep progressing.”
The scores are understandably low at the beginning of the season as divers either work on new dives or try to regain their form from last season. Year-round programs are the norm in North County and East County but the sport remains, for the most part, still in the development phase in the South Bay. But the quality of competition seems to be improving each year and every now and then there’s a phenom who simply can’t be held back.
Hilltop’s Kyle Kovar won the San Diego Section Division II title in 2002.
Diaz de Leon won last year’s Mesa League boys title with 141.0 points to edge Otay Ranch’s Reid Castro (137.8 points).
Otay Ranch put on a show by placing three of the top five divers in the league finals in 2009. Christian Valadez was fourth with 126.5 points, followed by teammate Steve Lemus in fifth place with 115.5 points.
CV’s Hewuse and Lavy are already ahead of the marks they ended with last season.
New Chula Vista coach Mitch Seeley, a former dive standout at Hilltop, was pleased with the results of the April 8 meet against the Lancers that served as the Spartans’ first dive competition of the season.
“It was our first meet – we’ve only been practicing for three weeks,” said Seeley, who finished fourth at the 2006 Metro finals. “They didn’t fail any dives and both scored over 100 points. They still need a lot of work but we’re still at the beginning of the season. I’m hoping both will qualify for CIF.”
The increased interest in diving in the South Bay has been attributed to the number of quality coaches now available. Seeley adds to that list.
Hewuse finished sixth at last year’s Metro finals in his first year of competition and is looking to move up this spring. He finished just 15 points out of third place in 2009.
Hewuse, who placed third at this year’s Mesa League wrestling finals and seventh at the Division I championships in his 103-pound weight class, said there are several helpful things he brings from the wrestling mat to the diving board. Among them, he said, are balance, flexibility and mental discipline.
He’s seen rapid improvement over the past year, particularly in his strongest dive – a front one-and-a-half tuck.
“I just want to be the best I can be,” he said. “Right now we’re just starting the season. As the season goes on, our dives will progress and get stronger. I’m hoping to make it to CIF.”
Lavy finished only 10 points out of third place in the meet against the talent-rich Lancers.
Seeley said divers can improve their scores by as much as 40 to 50 points by the end of the season with proper training.
Diaz de Leon was working on two new dives, for instance, in the meet against Chula Vista.
The qualifying standard for the section finals is 185 points for six dives.
Hilltop’s Marissa Ringwald won last year’s Mesa League girls dive title with 142.65 points. She was followed by teammates Briana Reef and Ashley Jasmund, who earned honors as the 2009 Mesa League Diver of the Year based on season-long performance.
Jasmund has since graduated, which opens the door for a new league champion in 2010.
Ringwald and Reef both qualified for the CIF finals last year. More could be on their way.
“I expect to send seven divers to CIF this year,” Salts said.
Ringwald won the April 8 girls meet with 124.10 points, ahead of teammates Ashley Relph (114.65) and Ashley Johnson (111.25). Johnson failed one dive, which means she could have conceivably won the competition.
Johnson, a junior who has been diving since her freshman year, is being tabbed as someone to watch this season after placing ninth in a field of 10 league divers at last year’s Metro championships.
Her goals mirror those of her teammates.
“I just want to succeed, get a double and go to CIF and get first,” she said. “But it’s hard. If I work hard, maybe.”
Performing on the board can be more than a bit nerve-racking. Not only do divers worry about completing the dive to specifics but they must also contend with 200 pairs of eyes watching them.
Hilltop’s Garvin said completing a successful dive is all about mental focus.
“Ninety percent of diving is mental,” said Garvin, who placed third at last year’s Mesa League finals. “Ten percent is a lot of muscle memory; the rest is all in your head.”
Another second-year diver, Garvin’s goal is to continue to master his craft.
“I’m trying to get in as many more difficult dives as I can and improve my approach,” he said.
Tiny tweaks to a mathematical equation that can crank out some high marks from diving judges.
Metro rewind
Mar Vista’s Michelle McDonald repeated as the South Bay League girls champion with a high score of 181.70 points at the 2009 Metro finals. She was pushed by teammates Harlene Lopez (second in South Bay League, 148.75 points), Rebecca Desha (third in South Bay League, 129.1 points) and Valerie Pallotto (fourth in South Bay League, 86.90 points).
Cody Lollis (129.1 points) out-dueled Mar Vista teammate Eduardo Hernandez (117.65 points) to win the 2009 boys South Bay League title.
2009 Metro Conference Diving Championships
South Bay League
Girls Top Individuals
1. Michelle McDonald (Mar Vista) 181.7; 2. Harlene Lopez (Mar Vista) 148.75; 3. Rebecca Desha (Mar Vista) 129.1; 4. Valerie Palloto (Mar Vista) 86.9
Boys Top Individuals
1. Cody Lollis (Mar Vista) 129.1; 2. Eduardo Hernandez (Mar Vista) 117.65; 3. Gabriel Mayorguin (Southwest) 87.7
Mesa League
Girls Top Individuals
1. Marissa Ringwald (Hilltop) 142.65; 2. Briana Reef (Hilltop) 137.0; 3. Ashley Jasmund (Hilltop) 127.5; 4. Ashley Smith (Chula Vista) 119.6; 5. Carlin Riley (Bonita Vista) 118.85; 6. Vanessa Joeckl (Otay Ranch) 112.7; 7. Mibella Villafana (Eastlake) 105.0; 8. Cristen Rask (Chula Vista) 103.3; 9. Ashley Johnson (Hilltop) 99.7; 10. Kimberlie Ramirez (Chula Vista) 93.6
Boys Top Individuals
1. Leo Diaz Deleon (Hilltop) 141.0; 2. Reid Castro (Otay Ranch) 137.8; 3. Shane Garvin (Hilltop) 126.75; 4. Christian Valadez (Otay Ranch) 126.5; 5. Steve Lemus (Otay Ranch) 115.5; 6. John Hewuse (Chula Vista) 112.2; 7. Christian Baca (Otay Ranch) 104.25; 8. Uzi Merino (Hilltop) 97.75; 9. Spencer Lavy (Chula Vista) 92.65; 10. Kevin Valencia (Chula Vista) 92.5; 11. Tanner Franklin (Hilltop) 78.6
Divers of the Year
(Based on season-long performance)
South Bay League
Female: Michelle McDonald (Mar Vista)
Male: Cody Lollis (Mar Vista)
Mesa League
Female: Ashley Jasmund (Hilltop)
Male: Leo Diaz Deleon (Hilltop)
