Ready To Fly Again

A single dive does not make a season, and Avon Park's John Chittum has proved that he belongs with the top divers around, even if the end results didn't turn out the way he envisioned.

"I really dedicated myself to the sport this season," Chittum said. "There were high expectations this year after surprising everyone and making it to regionals last season.

"But because of one dive, I didn't reach the goal of making it to state that I set for myself this season. I'm still proud of my district championship and this just motivates me to do even better next year."

Chittum's ability to land the difficult dives - including the reverse double-pike - helped separate the AP junior from the rest of the pack and allowed him to win the district championship by over 72 points over his chief rival, Frostproof sophomore Caleb Hardy.

In winning the district championship in such dominating fashion, Chittum has been named the 2008 Highlands Today All-Heartland Boys Diver of the Year.

"This is a really big honor for me," Chittum said. "I never thought about winning any awards entering this season, but it feels good to know that I am being recognized for what I accomplished on the board this season."

The Avon Park junior was the crown jewel of the Red Devil dive team after inheriting the mantle from Miguel Ortiz, who graduated after steamrolling the area competition for most of the year.

"John really improved this year in all facets when he came to the pool this year," said AP dive coach Shane Wirries. "It is very unusual here at Avon Park for the No. 1 diver to be a junior and John had some big shoes to fill, but he never wavered during the season.

"He was really motivated to win."

Hardy only bested him once during the regular season and that was motivation enough for Chittum to come back strong during the Class 1A district finals.

"I was at the top of my game that day," Chittum said. "I knew I had the experience needed to win districts and make it all the way to state.

"Everything was falling into place."

That momentum should've carried over to the Class 1A regional finals, but a freak occurrence on the board ended Chittum's season prematurely.

"I think it was a complete and total fluke that John didn't make it to state," Wirries said.

Chittum, who was an almost lock to make it to state after posting 373 points for the district championship, had failed on his reverse double for his second failed dive of the competition, which disqualified the AP junior from event and ended his bid for a chance to compete at the state finals.

Wirries was stunned after the failed reverse double - a dive that Chittum had never failed before.

"He's usually money on that dive," Wirries said. "But the good thing is that John is a junior and he at least has a chance to redeem himself next year."

Chittum's desire to make amends for his performance at regionals has the Red Devil junior training at the Ft. Lauderdale Aquatic Center, where he's receiving instruction from 1980 Olympic diver Dave Burgering.

"I'm working out with kids who've had success at the state level and are where I want to be as far as skill level," Chittum said. "I know I need to be more consistent with my dives and also I need to be able to direct my dives. I promise that I'll be even better next year."

The Team

Mark Greenauer, freshman, Lake Placid To be honored with an All-Heartland selection is rare for a freshman diver, but Greenauer has shown a special quality that is going to make him a force on the board for the next three years.

"I recruited Mark because I saw that he had the raw talent needed to be a diver," said LP dive coach DJ Brauer. "Once I had him do a few dives that's all he wanted to do.

"His progression throughout the short season was amazing and I'm still shocked that as freshman, he did so well at districts and regionals."

Greenauer turned heads at districts and regionals by not failing a dive, which is an outstanding accomplishment for any young diver at their first big meets.

The LP freshman placed fourth at districts with 293.35 points and finished seventh at regionals for a solid first year.

"Everyone is going to want to keep an eye on Mark," Brauer said. "He has all the talent needed to be successful on the board and now we'll work on learning the harder dives and hopefully improve his showing next season."

EJ Velazquez, sophomore, Lake Placid Velazquez nearly quit diving early on, but hung in there to place sixth and eighth at districts and regionals, respectively.

What was more incredible is the amount of improvement over the course of a few short weeks heading into districts, where Velazquez improved his score from a regular season high of 236.60 at the Heartland Invitational to posting a score of 292.55 at districts that nearly shocked his coach.

"EJ and Mark pushed each other in practice and I think that really helped both of them to do so well in their first year on the board," Brauer said. "EJ showed a real maturity as he battled through his fear of failing to finish the season strong and lay the groundwork for an even better junior campaign."