The GRC Dive Team may be a revived addition to the school’s athletics, but they have proved their talents this year, making impressive achievements.
Freshman Skyler Cockrell qualified for the KHSAA State Diving Competition, being the first GRC representative to compete at the diving event in recent memory.
“It’s such an awesome opportunity to be the first ever diver from GRC to make it to the State Competition that we know of,” Cockrell says. “I’m honored as well as excited to show all of the hard work that the team as a whole has put into this diving season.”
Cockrell has been diving for the past two and a half years, using her past sports skills as a helping backbone to start diving.
“Before I started diving, I cheered for five years and gained a handful of gymnastics and tumbling skills,” said Cockrell. “I wanted to find a sport that would still have the same qualities, when diving was brought up I knew it would be the perfect activity for me.”
In order to qualify for State, there’s a tough, lengthy process divers endure to secure their spot for the competition.
“Each county is divided into a region, then the top three from each region have an automatic way to state,” Skyler explains. “After each region takes their top three competitors, the top twenty scores are combined from all regions competed against that day, and then move onto state to further compete.
Cockrell recommends diving to anyone, even if you do not have any prior skills or knowledge.
“While my past experiences with gymnastics and tumbling have helped shape me into the diver I am today, no past experience is required,” Cockrell admits. “If you have a desire to dive, you can make it happen.”
While diving is an individual sport, having a strong connection to the teammates makes all the difference.
“My teammates probably have the most influential role in my diving,” she says. “Through club diving and even school diving, I have met some of my life-long friends. Without them there to encourage me every step of the way I would not be the diver I am today.”
Independent sport or not, creating close ties with the team is crucial to be the best athlete possible.
“Diving isn’t easy,” Skyler reveals. “There are times when it’s scary and painful, and there’s times when the pool is just a little bit too cold. But it’s rewarding, and diving has shown me that I have to put in the work to be satisfied, I have to work hard for what I want.”
