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Naturally Dedicated

Jasmina Meyer/Highlands Today

Lake Placid freshman Shannon Cummings showed she was a natural on the diving board this season on her way to a district championship.

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BY CHRIS HOFFMAN

Highlands Today

Published: January 3, 2009

LAKE PLACID - Shannon Cummings had no intentions other than having some fun when she walked out onto the diving board at the Green Dragon pool in early autumn, but her world soon became a menagerie of twists and turns.

The Lake Placid freshman got more than she bargained for on the diving board, as she caught the attention of all at the pool that day.

"Shannon didn't have any interest in diving," said LP coach Tom Creel. "She was just taking turns on the diving board after practice and Lake Placid dive coach DJ Brauer grabbed her after a jump and told her that she had the makings of a diver.

"That's what got the ball rolling."

That ball rolled all the way to a district championship, where she beat All Saints' Mackenzie Campbell by nearly 20 points - an outstanding feat for a freshman.

Her dedication and natural ability have made her a force to be reckoned with in the coming years and earned her the 2008 Highlands Today All-Heartland Girls Diver of the Year.

"This has been a whirlwind year for me in the pool," Cummings said. "And it makes me want to work even harder for next season."

Cummings quickly took notice of her newfound abilities on the board after switching to diving and began maturing at an accelerated rate before her first meet nearly a month into the swim season.

"The first time I got on that diving board, it was amazing," Cummings said. "I was a bit apprehensive about trying it out, but I really took to the sport easier than I thought I would.

"What is crazy is that I didn't give diving a second thought during the summer swim sessions or even when the swim season started, but now I really miss it. I can't wait to get back on that board."

Her reputation during practice is one of intensity and hard work. Creel says that she has to be "dragged off the board" before she'll quit for the day.

"Her dad Bruce would show up around 6 p.m. and she'd still be diving," Creel said. "It wasn't until he exclaimed that he was starving that she finally got the hint and packed it up.

"I'd love to have that kind of dedication in every one of my swimmers."

Avon Park's Jamie Wirries continually beat her at regional meets throughout the season, but late in the season, Cummings finally caught up to her Red Devil rival.

"I watched Shannon through most of the season, and the reason she's doing so well so early is that she has awesome form," said Avon Park dive coach Shane Wirries. "She has a natural ability in the way she dives that is something that you can't coach."

Coach Wirries believes that Cummings is on the fast track to becoming one of the best divers in the district - if not the region - for the rest of her high school career.

"Once Shannon gets her approach right, she's going to be hard to beat," Coach Wirries said. "I wouldn't doubt if she won diver of the year four straight years if she continues on this pace."

With three freshman girls (Cummings, Avon Park's Jamie Wirries and McKenzie Hargaden of Sebring) heading the diving class, Wirries is excited about this recent crop of divers to come out of the Highlands County schools.

"I have never seen this much depth from all three schools at once before," Coach Wirries said. "Normally the quality divers are staggered from one year and one school to the next, but we have three girls that are going to raise the level of competition in this area and hopefully draw more to the sport."

The LP freshman learned early on that diving is a lot harder than it looks, as the sport tested her mental fortitude in ways that swimming never could.

"I really had to get over my fear of back flips," Cummings said. "I had a fear of having no control, but I finally got over that obstacle and also nailing my inward 1 ½, which turned out to be my toughest dive. The funny thing about that dive is that I learned that dive two days before districts.

"I think it was that dive that won me the district championship."

Brauer says that Cummings' best attribute has been her uncanny ability to remove herself from a dive, whether or not she nails it or fails in her attempt.

"Shannon just wipes the slate clean in her mind after every dive," Brauer said. "She really is a very mature diver and that's rare from a freshman at a public school.

"The only reason she didn't make regionals was that her degree of difficulty wasn't high enough, but that is something we're going to remedy for next season."

Defending her district title is all that Cummings can think about these days, as she waits for the day she can finally get back on the board and begin her quest for her chance at the Class 1A regional finals.

"There is something inside of me that really loves this sport," Cummings said. "I love the idea that it's just me and the board. The board and that moment where I'm performing my dive is like a security blanket for me.

"Diving really pushes yourself to levels you never thought possible and expand what you're capable of."

The Team

Jamie Wirries, freshman, Avon Park Another freshman diving prodigy that has the talent and pedigree to be one to watch in the years to come.

For most of the diving season, Wirries was the top female diver in the Heartland, but a dip in her performance late in the season and a battle with the bitter cold temperatures at districts hindered her results.

"I was really excited for her," said AP coach Shane Wirries, Jamie's father. "She went through the year winning a lot of meets, but I was always curious about her desire.

"Everything has been easy for her, but now, after her performance at districts, we're at the point where we'll see how much she wants to dive and dive at a high level."

Coach Wirries says Jamie's is at the point where the next dives that she needs to learn are scary and they really will test her desire.

"The next set of dives we'll have her learn includes the back 1 ½, which is a really scary dive," Coach Wirries said. "I'm not going to lie: When you go to learn some of these dives, it's going to hurt.

"She has all the talent and ability to be a really great diver. Now we'll see if she believes the same about herself."

McKenzie Hargaden, freshman, Sebring The third in a blossoming crop of elite swimmers to be.

Hargaden has turned a number of heads in her debut on the diving circuit and most observers believe she's only going to get better.

"McKenzie really started coming around at the end of the season," Wirries said. "She's got so much talent and all she is need of now is solid coaching. If Sebring can provide an experienced diving instructor, that girl is going to be winning more than one district championship and one day she could be in the top 20 at state."

Hargaden placed fourth (298.60) at districts and 10th at regionals with an outstanding 307.25 points.

"She's got a great attitude from what I can gather," Wirries said. "I really hope she continues to develop because it is really going to be special for any diving fans to watch as the three girls compete at the highest level."

Chris Hoffman can be reached at 863-386-5837 or choffman@highlandstoday.com

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