Are backyard trampolines a starting point for top-notch divers?
Published 11:58 pm Monday, February 16, 2009
For Everett High’s Colby Hudson, the answer is yes. Hudson, a junior, never dived competitively before this season. His only previous aerial experience was goofing around on his family’s trampoline, said Everett School District diving coach John Cramer.
But after just a few months in the sport Hudson is headed to the Class 3A state championships. He qualified by placing second Saturday in 1-meter diving during the 3A District 1 meet in Anacortes.
“It’s been three months that he’s been diving and I’m just amazed at his progress — his ability to learn difficult dives at a high level of proficiency,” Cramer said.
Hudson has already learned 11 dives — a requirement for the state competition — and is skilled in all five springboard categories: forward, back, reverse, inward and twist.
“He’s just a great athlete and he’s very strong, very well-coordinated, and he has a sense of control in the air,” said Cramer.
Two of the most challenging dives Hudson does are a reverse double somersault and a forward two-and-a-half somersault. Both have a high degree of difficulty, yet Hudson performed them with ease Monday during a practice at the Kamiak High pool, Cramer said.
“I’ve never seen him dive better. I told him, ‘If you dive like this on Friday and Saturday you’ll be at the top of the podium,’” Hudson’s coach said.
The 2A, 3A and 4A state swimming and diving championships are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.
More football signings
Lake Stevens quarterback Nick Baker will play for Montana Tech University (Butte, Mont.). Baker, The Herald’s 2008 All-Area Offensive Football Player of the Year, signed with Montana Tech Wednesday.
Archbishop Murphy’s Glade Hall will play for Carroll College (Helena, Mont.). Hall, a 6-2, 265-pound lineman, signed Feb. 9.
O’Neill’s elbow getting better
Roger O’Neill, the Meadowdale boys basketball team’s leading scorer (17.8 points per game), sat out the Mavericks’ Feb. 9 game against Lynnwood because of an infection in his left elbow. He returned Wednesday and scored 19 points, helping Meadowdale beat Mountlake Terrace and earn a share of the Wesco South title. “It’s kind of a goofy thing but it’s getting better,” said Meadowdale coach Chad McGuire, whose 16-4 team will play Glacier Peak (12-8) Friday in a 3A playoff seeding game. O’Neill’s non-shooting elbow got infected after he split it open by diving to the court during the Jan. 15 game versus Terrace, McGuire said.
Arlington’s energizer
Senior guard Will Heath spearheads the Arlington boys basketball team’s swarming defense. He had five steals Feb. 9 when Arlington beat Snohomish 51-45. “The guy’s our energizer,” Arlington’s Cole Carpenter said. “He plays aggressive defense. He just brings everybody up.” Arlington (12-8) plays at Mountlake Terrace (15-5) tonight in a 4A District 1 tournament game.
