AVRIL KING
Social Media Asst.
Five Blue Devils are making a splash in diving. After a stunning season and huge successes in SUNYACs, the athletes have made the trip to compete at the NCAA Division III Region 4 meet. All of this is done in the hopes of taking one of the six spots available for Nationals.
SUNYACs for men’s and women’s swimming and diving took place Feb. 15 through 18 at the customary setting of Erie County Community College’s Flickinger Center. Seniors Meghan Bartlett, Jake Storms, Sam Kowalewski and Arron Carlson, along with freshman Christian Krasnek, were ready to take on the competition.
“SUNYACs is a fun meet. It is good practice for regionals and hopefully nationals,” said Bartlett. “I look at it as a stress-free meet that I can have a little fun with.”
And with wins on the one-meter and three-meter springboards, a new conference record, as well as the SUNYAC Female Diver of the Meet award, Bartlett’s laid-back attitude certainly seemed to have paid off.
Also making leaps at SUNYACs was Carlson. He took first in the one-meter and three-meter, broke a conference record and received the award for Male Diver of the Meet.
“I don’t cry often, but I was a little teared up after my last dive,” said Carlson. “Because the score went right up and I saw everything and … it was very heartfelt … It was definitely a little heartfelt at the end between me and my coach.”
Storms was able to finish in the top eight, as well as break three personal records. Kowalewski took fifth, while Krasnek finished at 10th.
In the end, the five athletes were able to emerge from the competition, eager to move on. The Regional competition, held in Ithaca, New York, Feb. 24 and 25, decided who goes onto Nationals. Both Bartlett and Carlson have attended in years previous, each being named a 1-meter national runner-up in 2016. Both of them will be returning this year after taking the podium at regionals.
“Nationals is another animal. It is the most fun, exciting and stressful diving competition I have been to,” said Bartlett. “Last year was an amazing experience, and I believe I have worked harder than ever to prepare.”
When looking toward the future, most of the divers planned to continue in the sport.
“I’ll do AAU, which is amateur … I definitely want to coach at some point,” said Storms.
Bartlett’s plans are similar. She adds, “I don’t think I could ever stay away from this sport.”
As for Carlson, he is shooting for the Olympics. “If I can find someone to train, I’d love to train for Tokyo in 2020,” he said. “And if I’m not in the pool, I’ll be coaching.”
Nationals will take place March 15 to 19 in Shenandoah, Texas. Fredonia will be proudly represented by two Blue Devils at this exclusive competition.