EVERETT — Ordinarily, the last thing a diving coach wants to see or hear when an athlete hits the water is a big splash.
But, in the long run, a cannon-ball type impact would probably suit Tom Trapp just fine.
After eliminating the program several years ago the Everett School District is adding the “Dive” back to the “Swim and Dive” programs at its three high schools — Jackson, Cascade and Everett — and Trapp has been hired as diving coach.
“My program is in its infancy,” said Trapp, a U.S. Diving certified coach. “Luckily, I work for a district that understands that.”
The Everett district previously dropped diving for budgetary reasons according to athletic director Robert Polk.
In recent seasons Cascade, Everett and Jackson have been at a competitive disadvantage when they go up against teams with diving programs.
“They lost a lot of close meets because they didn’t have any divers,” Trapp said. “I guess they got tired of it.”
Other swim coaches around the Western Conference welcome the move by the Everett district to reinstate diving and become more competitive in both their boys and girls programs.
“I think it’s about time,” Kamiak coach Chris Erickson said. “They were basically giving away 13 points in every dual meet.”
Snohomish girl’s coach John Pringle noted Trapp is highly regarded as a diving coach.
“The kids are going to get great coaching, which is good for them and good for the league,” Pringle said. “If I was looking for a diving coach I’d get him in a heartbeat.”
Trapp’s immediate challenge is to build a program from scratch with kids who have no experience as competitive divers.
When practice started this season Trapp — who said seven girls are giving the sport a try this fall — acknowledged it would not be easy.
“I’m just hoping they hit the water headfirst,” Trapp laughed. “Do they know what end of the board to go off of?”
But, going into the third week of practices at the Forest Park pool several of the girls are already approaching the point where they may compete in a junior varsity meet soon.
That’s just the beginning in Trapp’s estimation.
“Before the season ends I’m hoping some girls will get to score points for their team in a varsity dual meet,” Trapp said.
Of course, competing at the varsity level is not a chief priority just yet.
“First they have to learn what the sport is about,” Trapp said. “Right now, I’m just finding out if the girls can accept challenges.”
Trapp is focusing efforts on training the aspirants on the five basic diving groups they must know in order to compete off of the 1-meter board at the high school varsity level: Front, back, inward, twist and reverse.
Within each group there are a dizzying number of variations. As coach, Trapp is teaching kids who probably didn’t know a forward flying somersault pike from a reverse 21/2-somersault tuck.
Diving is a complex sport requiring special athletes. Those who possess bravado and artistic talent in like measure.
“They have to have acrobatic skill that matches their guts because there is an element of danger,” Trapp said. “Divers like challenges. They are risk takers who also like to perform … they are people who say ‘I just want to try this (dive) and see what it feels like.”’
Bob Mortenson writes for The Herald in Everett.
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