It was an honor that Stephanie Ellis had been waiting four years to have.

An unofficial tradition of the record-setters of the Warsaw High School swim program is taking down the old record and putting the new record up on the board hanging beside the Community Pool.

Ellis broke the six-dive record for the Warsaw girls' program last year, but because the board was being cleaned and the numbers and names were taken off, she didn't get the opportunity.

So on Monday, after breaking the 11-dive record at the Warsaw Sectional Saturday, Ellis climbed the ladder set up by pool superintendent Mel Weaver, took the old record down one letter at a time, and put up "S.Ellis, 460.60."

"It has always been a goal," Ellis said of the record. "I have seen it there since I was a freshman. I broke the six-dive record last year, and I really wanted to get the 11-dive record this year.

"That 11-dive record is pretty high," she said. "Compared to the guys, it is 30 points higher. Last year, I came within 10 points."

Ellis knew from a very young age that the diving records at Warsaw were a possibility for her.

"I did gymnastics for eight years, and it helped a lot," she said. "I started diving in eighth grade, and the coach told me I could break records by the time I was a sophomore or junior. That put my eyes on it, and I looked forward to breaking the records."

Ellis starts her quest for another honor tonight with the IHSAA diving regional at Fort Wayne South at 6 p.m. The top eight divers advance to Saturday's state finals.

Last year, Ellis won the diving regional and finished seventh at the state meet, and with only two divers back who finished ahead of Ellis, she stands a good chance of adding "state champion" to her list of accomplishments.

"I should be able to win the regional," she said. "If everything goes like it did last Saturday at the sectional, I should have a good shot at winning the state."

If Ellis does not finish in the top spot in the regional or the state meet, it will give her an experience she hasn't had this year - losing. Ellis, who hasn't lost a dual meet in three years, has manage to stay unbeaten this year, including invitationals. Every meet entered has been a first place for Ellis.

"I really wanted to win a lot," Ellis said. "Then I could tell myself that if I don't lose at all this year then I would have a good chance of winning state."

Ellis knows what her chances are. She has a pretty good idea of the competition she will be facing at the IUPUI Natatorium. She hasn't faced any of the divers who beat her last year at the state meet yet, but she knows they will be down there, looking for the same goal she is.

"You can't judge by sectional or even regional scores because all the different sectional scoring is really different," Ellis said. "You just have to know who the good divers are, and who will be in the top of the state. Even the day of state, things can go all different directions. It depends on who is having a good day."

At this point, all Ellis can worry about is herself. At least Ellis knows that now she is diving about as well as she has all season.

"A lot of times it doesn't work out that you peak at the end of the season, but this year, it has been very fortunate," she said.

The regular season provided Ellis with almost no challenges. Most of her practice time has been spent on refining the dives that were already there.

"This year, I have only put in one new dive on my list," Ellis said. "The rest of my time has been spent on making the dives I already know better."

With the addition of diving coach Kevin Reed this year, she didn't even have to coach the boys, something she did for the past two years.

Maybe Ellis' biggest challenge this year is dealing with diving at the same time as the guys with the IHSAA combining the two swim seasons into the winter months.

"It is a little different this year with the season being in the winter," Ellis said. "There was almost a year gap between when last (girls') season ended and when this year started. It was kind of rough because they mixed up diving, and it went to the beginning of the meet instead of the middle. And sometimes you do three dives in the beginning and three dives in the middle, it was a little frustrating."

After her high school career, Ellis is taking her diving talents to the University of Toledo. Just hope the record board is ready. [[In-content Ad]]