Prep: Divers give boost to Gators

In every postseason meet this spring, the Green Valley swim team has found itself in the enviable position of holding a substantial lead over its competition even before it takes to the water.

So who do the Gators have to thank for their edge? A Green Valley diving team that has become one of the area's most formidable varsity clubs, in any sport.

With the divers racking up substantial points in boys and girls competition, the Gators have cruised to double titles in the recent Sunrise Division and Southern Zone championships.

And when Saturday's 4A State Swimming & Diving Meet kicks off in Reno, the divers will be a major reason Green Valley is one of the favorites on both the boys and girls sides of the pool.

"It's always been an edge for us," said Green Valley swimming coach Joe Sill, whose boys are the defending state champion. "At state, it's going to be an even bigger factor."

The Gators are guaranteed to open with a big lead on their foes from the North and South -- a product of their dominance at last weekend's zone event.

All four boys' state berths went to Green Valley swimmers, with junior Ben Dacko, junior Brett Davis, sophomore John Beede and junior Cody Treese finishing 1-2-3-4.

The Gator girls' dominance was only slightly less impressive, with junior Aubrie Cropper, senior Kate Oiness and junior Jamie Channin winding up first, second and fourth, respectively. Only Basic senior Kathy Whitehead, the 1996 state champion, prevented Green Valley from claiming all eight boys and girls diving spots.

"Our divers are untouchable," Gators' diving coach Susie Roles said.

The reason for Green Valley's recent success is two-fold.

First, through her work with the Green Valley Athletic Club and the Henderson Department of Parks and Recreation, Roles has spent years molding her current group of divers into a competitive, knowledgeable unit.

"Some of these kids started with me when they were six or seven," Roles said. "So this is really fun for me because I've known a lot of them since they were kids."

"She's done such a great job with them," Sill said. "And I think the city of Henderson is a role model because it runs programs like these for kids."

Second, the advantage the Green Valley divers gain by competing against one another on a daily basis is immeasurable.

At last year's state meet, Oiness broke the school record during her final dive, only to see it broken three minutes later by Cropper, who claimed the girls' title.

"It's good to have somebody on your team pushing you," Cropper said.

"(Losing) was hard because it was by such a small amount, but it's good to have competition within the team," Oiness agreed.

"These guys help so much," said Davis, who placed fifth in the state last season. "The competition in practice brings the competitive edge up a lot."

So as Green Valley gears up for Saturday's finale, the big question isn't which team will win the overall diving title, but which Gators will capture the individual girls and boys championships.

Can Oiness avenge her close loss to Cropper in the 1997 meet? Can Channin sneak up on last year's top two finishers and claim the top spot?

Will Davis, the highest returner from last year's state meet, get past Dacko, last week's zone champion? Or will Beede or Treese get the best of their higher-seeded teammates and take home the crown?

Regardless, it's a win-win situation for Roles.

"We have wonderful kids who apply themselves, work hard and get results," she said. "It's a coach's dream."

archive