| Jacob Perez, Michael Glasson and Philip Noyes share the trophy. |
When the Carbon boys diving team won the 3A region a couple of weeks ago, many attributed that win to the fact that some of the divers from others schools didn’t show up to compete.
While the competition at that meet was a little thin, it proved to the boys that they could win team titles and last Thursday they proved it to everyone as the boys team took the state team title in diving.
Despite the fact they had one of the smallest diving teams at the competition, they still were able to manage the points to win.
“It was a surprise,” said Carbon diving coach Stewart Foster in a phone interview on Friday morning. “In fact when the meet ended we didn’t even realize how well the team had done. The boys didn’t know until it was announced at school this morning.”
Diving in the state of Utah is a unique high school sport that doesn’t have thousands of competitors like some other sports or even hundreds like swimming. The cadre of people who dive are a dedicated lot. The Carbon boys and girls teams are like that too. At each meet throughout the year they have improved.
Overall the Carbon girls team took fifth place at the meet.
The state championship was held at B.Y.U. and the girls competed first.
Mikaleen Loveless finished in 5th place just 3 points behind perennial power Bear Rivers top girl. She scored high in most of her dives, except her back dive.
Katie Hobbs was not expected to qualify for state earlier this season. But Hobbs not only qualified, but made it through to the final cut and placed 15th overall. She showed so much improvement in her confidence and diving technique over the last two weeks it was almost unbelievable.
“The other coaches who saw her at diving meets early in the year wondered who she was, and where she came from,” said Foster.
Both girls showed a lot of class at the meet. Loveless received a medal for being in the first six places. The top three girls earned high school All American Status.
| Mikaleen Loveless and Katie Hobbs took fifth in the state as a team. |
The boys had the best chance of placing at state as a team and that is what they did.
“We thought they could finish in third place at best,” says Foster. “I talked to the boys about just doing their best just like in practice. I thought if I told them we had a chance for third place team honors, they might try harder or put pressure on themselves and get nervous.”
But those boys did put pressure on themselves and they did it positively because when it was all over the Carbon boys claimed the State Championship of Diving for 2004-2005 year.
They received the first place trophy at a banquet on Feb. 5 at the Mayan Restaurant in Salt Lake City.
Michael Glasson led the way for the boys by placing 5th overall. The top four boys ahead of him were nominated for high school all American. Only 100 boys in the United States can receive this honor. Glasson had beaten the boy who finished 4th at state in two previous meets. He also received a medal from the state for his 5th place finish.
Philip Noyes was seeded 10th coming into the state meet.
“We added two higher degree dives into his program which helped him move up to 8th place,” said Stewart. “Philip performed consistently and did not make any big mistakes.”
Jacob Perez was the third diver on the team.
“Jacob like Katie never even jumped off a diving board, let alone dive before this season,” says Foster. ” He learned each dive week by week. We didn’t expect him to conquer these dives or make it to state.”
Perez placed 14th at state helping the team to the boys first State Diving Team Championship.
Stewart says next year looks pretty good for Carbon too.
“Michael and his teammates are all juniors, so they have one more year of competition left,” says Stewart. “We should do well next year too.”