The boys swim team has experienced great success in the past few years (four time sectional champions, multiple top 10 state appearances) and is poised to make another deep state run this year. With all of these accolades, it’s easy to overlook the team’s other component: diving.
Senior Elijah Earle is a three year member of the diving team and will be competing at North Diving regional tonight at 6 p.m. to earn a spot at state.
“I started (diving) my seventh grade year because I wanted to be on the swim team but didn’t want to swim,” Earle said. “I also did gymnastics when I was younger, so that helped my diving abilities.”
Earle had a strong regular season and consistently received second or first place finishes in the one-meter dive. For his freshman and junior years (Earle opted not to dive his sophomore year) he competed without any other male diving teammates.
This year Earle was joined this by freshman Zion Williamson. Earle was excited to have a teammate he could help show the ropes and share the seasons with. “It was great to have another guy on the team; I was able to pass on some of the things I’ve learned about diving, whether it be mentally preparing for meets or little tweaks on the dives,” Earle said.
Although he spent the regular season diving with Williamson, Earle will be fighting to continue his season alone for South tonight. Earle is seeded eighth, and if he places in the top eight he will join several of his swimming teammates at state later this weekend.
“I would be more than thrilled, as it’s been my goal since freshman year, and I want to put up points at state for our team,” Earle said.
Earle will dive tonight at 6 p.m. at Bloomington North. If he advances, he will join his teammates this weekend, Feb. 23th, at the State Swim and Dive Finals.
