A trio of divers develop a close relationship while also increasing the swim and dive teams overall score.
“The diving event helps out the whole swim team a lot by adding points to the total score,” sophomore Jamie Goldberg said. “Often if it is a close meet diving will make the difference between a win or a loss.”
The three divers include senior Hannah Swyers, junior Caroline Fenton and Goldberg, help the team boost overall scores so that it is easier for the team to win close matches. Fenton uses her positive attitude to try to increase team morale.
“I usually try to cheer everybody up and create a positive environment for me and the team,” Fenton said.
Fenton creates a fun environment for the team in many different ways.
“We usually have a little bit of time between each dive in practice and in meets so we talk and joke around to get our minds off any frustration or nerves,” Fenton said. “I also dance a lot at practice which makes everyone laugh.”
The three girls have become close friends after spending so much time together every day during the season, for the past two years.
“All of us have a really good relationship,” Goldberg said. “After spending more than two hours together every day we’ve become really close and have become really good friends.”
Fenton and Swyers relationship began even before they both joined the diving team.
“Caroline and I have been good friends for a long time but doesn’t take away from wanting to be close with the other girls on the team,” Swyers said.
However, Swyers and Fenton’s friendship doesn’t stop her from becoming close with the other three divers and about 30 swimmers on the team.
“Hannah and I have been best friends for years, so it’s really nice to have someone like her on the team,” Fenton said. “I’ve also grown a lot closer with the other girls as well. We’re like a family.”
All three girls do not exclusively dive for the school team, but they also participate on a club team, Clayton Diving Alliance, together to stay in peak condition during the offseason.
“I dive all year round with my club team so when I am not in high school season I practice three days a week,” Swyers said.
The girls are in the pool almost every day of the week and on weekends during the high school dive season.
“I prepare for a meet by going through each of my dives several times to try and perfect it,” Swyers said.
The day of the meet it is also important to be prepared, for Fenton the key is to relax and not psych herself out.
“Listening to music really helps calm me down and the team makes everything so fun it gets my mind off my nerves,” Fenton said.
