Warsaw's Dynamic Duo Dives In Sectional
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Triton's Rachel Speicher takes a shot while an Oregon-Davis fan offers "encouragement." Speicher got the last word as she hit the shot.
The Warsaw diving team is all about having fun during practice, but when Sam Hood and Kevin Cowan step on the board, they are all business.
"At the beginning of the season, Kevin and Sam set their goal, and they decided they wanted to go one and two all season," said Gretchen Naugler, Warsaw Diving Coach.
The divers, who have reached their goal by placing first and second in most of their meets this year, are preparing for the Wawasee Sectional Saturday when they will compete to advance to regional competition.
Cowan, a senior, has been diving for Warsaw for four years. Last year he placed second in the NLC, fourth in sectional, fourth in regional and 17th in the state.
Hood, a sophomore, is in his first year of diving at Warsaw after transferring from West Lafayette Harrison where he dove as a freshman.
Along with diving, Hood swims the 50 freestyle and 200 freestyle relay for the Warsaw team as well.
"I love swimming and diving," said Hood, "but diving is my favorite. This year I think my diving has improved because I have focused not just on the dive but the mental picture in my head.
"Diving with Kevin has been good for both of us. We push each other to get better. We compete with each other, and I have improved immensely from last year.
"With Kevin, I try to be the better one, but its a good competition."
"When Sam wasn't here, the competition wasn't as great," said Cowan. "We treat this as kind of a game and try to beat each other out. I have definitely made improvements this year, and as a whole the team has done pretty well. Our scores are the highest they have ever been, so it has been a productive season.
"We both want to win, but if I have to lose to someone, I would rather lose to him."
As sectional approaches, both divers have set goals for the end of this season and some for beyond.
"I would like to finish in the top five at state," said Cowan. "As a team, I would like to see everyone advance to regionals. I want to send me, Sam and David (Wildman) to regional, and hopefully all of us get to state."
"I want to place first or second at sectionals, in the top four at regionals, and in the top 10 at state," said Hood. "I was just 19 points from a school record for six dives last Wednesday so I wouls like to break that record by the end of my junior year. I want to win state my junior and senior years. I would also like to earn a full ride scholarship to college. I also want to compete in the Olympics and the Good Will Games."
The Warsaw divers and swimmers will compete at Wawasee Saturday. The diving preliminaries begin Saturday morning, and the finals of both swimming and diving will begin at 2 p.m. [[In-content Ad]]
Triton's Rachel Speicher takes a shot while an Oregon-Davis fan offers "encouragement." Speicher got the last word as she hit the shot.
The Warsaw diving team is all about having fun during practice, but when Sam Hood and Kevin Cowan step on the board, they are all business.
"At the beginning of the season, Kevin and Sam set their goal, and they decided they wanted to go one and two all season," said Gretchen Naugler, Warsaw Diving Coach.
The divers, who have reached their goal by placing first and second in most of their meets this year, are preparing for the Wawasee Sectional Saturday when they will compete to advance to regional competition.
Cowan, a senior, has been diving for Warsaw for four years. Last year he placed second in the NLC, fourth in sectional, fourth in regional and 17th in the state.
Hood, a sophomore, is in his first year of diving at Warsaw after transferring from West Lafayette Harrison where he dove as a freshman.
Along with diving, Hood swims the 50 freestyle and 200 freestyle relay for the Warsaw team as well.
"I love swimming and diving," said Hood, "but diving is my favorite. This year I think my diving has improved because I have focused not just on the dive but the mental picture in my head.
"Diving with Kevin has been good for both of us. We push each other to get better. We compete with each other, and I have improved immensely from last year.
"With Kevin, I try to be the better one, but its a good competition."
"When Sam wasn't here, the competition wasn't as great," said Cowan. "We treat this as kind of a game and try to beat each other out. I have definitely made improvements this year, and as a whole the team has done pretty well. Our scores are the highest they have ever been, so it has been a productive season.
"We both want to win, but if I have to lose to someone, I would rather lose to him."
As sectional approaches, both divers have set goals for the end of this season and some for beyond.
"I would like to finish in the top five at state," said Cowan. "As a team, I would like to see everyone advance to regionals. I want to send me, Sam and David (Wildman) to regional, and hopefully all of us get to state."
"I want to place first or second at sectionals, in the top four at regionals, and in the top 10 at state," said Hood. "I was just 19 points from a school record for six dives last Wednesday so I wouls like to break that record by the end of my junior year. I want to win state my junior and senior years. I would also like to earn a full ride scholarship to college. I also want to compete in the Olympics and the Good Will Games."
The Warsaw divers and swimmers will compete at Wawasee Saturday. The diving preliminaries begin Saturday morning, and the finals of both swimming and diving will begin at 2 p.m. [[In-content Ad]]