Katonah Divers on the Board!

Katonah Dive Team is on the board with 4 weeks of practices behind them as they prepare for their first meet of the summer 2013 season. 

Coach Matt Dunworth is excited about this year’s team! Both the pre-season and early regular season practices have had strong turnouts especially among the younger divers, age 5-11, with 20 or more at a practice. 

“The young group shows a lot of promise,” sad Dunworth after the evening practice. “Some were ready to compete in B-meets after just a couple practices!”

One of the new divers is a gymnast, who decided that diving would be fun! Dunworth explained that it is a natural crossover from gymnastics to diving, the difference being that “you go in on your hands a bit more.” 

This is something that returning Katonah diver Matt Rohrer knows well. Rohrer, one of Katonah’s top divers and current team record holder in the 18 & under age group, sports a gymnastics background as well.

Also returning this year are Pat Kelly, Elodie Nix (current team record holder in 13 & under), Ines Nix, Dakota and Thor Adamac, and Sam Sweeney.

Many of Katonah’s divers also participate in swim events at A-meets when needed. Kelly, Dakota Adamac, and the Nix sisters started as swimmers and are mainly divers now. Sweeney, on the other hand, is mainly a swimmer who holds 8 swim team records across 3 age groups and 3 events. But after a full winter swim season, he enjoys the opportunity to swim and dive with the summer team. The fun factor shows after every dive at practice – it’s the huge smile on his face! 

Missing from the board this season will be Dunworth the diver. Age wise, Coach Dunworth would be able to both coach and compete in his last year on the team, what swim coaches Anne Baudinet did last year and Katie Liebowitz is doing this year. But unlike swimming, in summer diving, the head dive coach must be one of three judges for the dive portion of the meet. Not having an official replacement, Dunworth will have to pass on the competition.

“That’s ok,” said Dunworth with a smile. “I’ll miss it, but I really enjoy coaching these kids!”

The opener for most of the team will be a B-dive meet at Bedford Hills this Wednesday July 10.  The first A-meet for the Katonah Swim & Dive Team is this Thursday 7/11 at Pleasantville. However, since Pleasantville does not have a dive facility at their pool, it will be swimmers only.  Katonah’s divers will skip ahead to the next A-meet at home on Tuesday 7/14 against Chappaqua Swim & Tennis.