The program that connects with PL Girls Swimming plays a huge role during the fall season, but is never really talked about.
PL Girls diving is one of the most mental sports that doesn’t get much attention. Retired diving coach Thea Hoeg, still has her six dive record on the board from 1996, with a record of 279.40.
The program has evolved immensely since then, with major accomplishments from last season and previous seasons.
The sport of diving takes both physical and mental skill. It also requires a lot of self-trust and confidence to develop. During the Girls Diving season, Prior Lake competes against eight other schools, with the biggest rival being Shakopee.
The diving portion of each dual meet happens after the 50-free swim event, which is the fourth event of each dual swim and dive meet.
During diving, each individual competes six dives, with a required category dive as their first dive. Each week is a different category for the required dive. There are five different categories: forward, back, reverse, inward, and twister.
There is a specific order for the required dives, which is forward, back, inward, twister, then reverse.
The dives are then scored on a number level from 1-10, one being not satisfactory and ten being perfect and complete satisfaction. The individuals are also required to dive either JV or Varsity. Each team is allowed three girls on JV and three girls on Varsity, with the rest being exhibition.
The coach can decide either to have one girl not dive at all or compete in exhibition, which wouldn’t end up counting for the total score for JV and Varsity at the end of the meet.
The individual competing exhibition competes 3 total dives, which can be chosen by that individual, with no required dive of the week being on that list.
During the season, the girls also have three to four 11-dive meets, which aren’t regular dual meets that occur every week. Those 11 dives consist of invitationals and the end-of-season meets — sections and state.
Sound cool? Looking for a sport? “How do I get started?” That question can be answered in different ways. From my experience, many divers on my club team started from backgrounds in gymnastics, dance, or cheerleading.
Starting from one of those sports can benefit some, but many actually struggle trying to understand the physics of diving while applying their skills that they have previously learned. Each person is different.
From my experience, I started with my club team without any outside experience, and have ended up succeeding with podium finishes every year except for one at varsity sections.
Many can start with no experience. To start diving, it is also recommended to join a club before diving with a high school team, although that’s not required. Minnesota offers only a few diving clubs, those being North Star Diving Club and Minnesota Diving Academy, while others are located in Rochester.
The PL diving program hired a new diving coach this past season, Marla Reuvers. Reuvers has had many successes from her past career. Reuvers dove for Lakeville South in high school and for the College of Saint Benedict during college. She was awarded section 2AA diving coach of the year last year and will continue to coach PL for next fall season.
“One thing I really like about Prior Lake is the competitiveness,” Reuvers explains. PL diving is very competitive, but there is so much more to it than just competing. “It also helped me make really good connections,” Reuvers explains. “I want you to love the sport. I want you to enjoy it. I want you to have a good time.”
Senior Abby Finkenaur also explains many positives to being a part of the sport. “You make so many friends and, at least for me, I can’t think of a single practice or meet where I didn’t smile at least once,” Finkenaur explains. Each individual, a part of not only diving, but swimming, will make the environment feel so welcoming, which is the biggest perk to the team.
For a team that started so small back in the 80s has now evolved into an environment where not only is it competitive, but most importantly is welcoming and supportive, and should be talked about more.
New divers are always welcome! The Girls Swim and Dive season is in the Fall with practices beginning in August. The Boys Swim and Dive season is in the Winter with practices beginning around Thanksgiving.
Summer registration is also open for North Star Diving Club — just Google them!
