Diver Looks Forward To Season

Doug McAcy
11.15.07

Watching the Olympics, one sees professional divers climb the colossal ladder, towering over the gigantic pool 164 ft. below their toes. They take a deep breath, jump and plummet into the bed of water. Meticulously, the divers run through their routine as the judges critique every twist and turn they can force. Without a splash, they perfectly execute their routines, receiving a near-perfect score.

Though not on such a grand scale, PL South and PL High compete together in swimming and diving events every winter. The season runs typically from mid-November through mid-February with the state meet.

“I’m trying to get stronger in order to get to State,” sophomore Jordan Brooks said.
This is Brooks second year on the dive team.

“Jordan made great strides last year as a freshman and we look for him to qualify for the state meet this year,” swimming and diving coach Lynn Weaver said.

This may be the second straight year that Brooks is the only diver on the team.

“Sometimes I feel lonely,” he said.

Weaver hopes more students tryout for the team.

“There are several newcomers out there that we hope come out,” he said.

As lonely as it sounds, being the only person on the team isn’t that bad.

“Being the only diver has its pros and cons,” Brooks said. “Practices do not last very long sometimes.”

Once the season officially starts, the diving team, or just Brooks, meets with the swimming team to lift weights and practice at Papillion-La Vista High School. Practices for Brooks usually last from an hour to an hour and a half and include stretching, lifting and running through routines.

As the season quickly approaches, Weaver is optimistic about the swimming and diving teams.

“We are looking for a top five finish in the boys team this year and top 10 for the girls,” he said.