Proving 'em wrong: Schmitz leads EHS divers in 1st 11-dive competition
By Michael Ashford
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
When Emporia High junior Carissa Schmitz finished ninth at the first diving meet of the season earlier this year, she believed most everyone would write her off.
“The first meet, I don’t think anybody really saw any potential in me,” Schmitz said.
So did she the only thing she could: She set out to prove everybody wrong.
Consider it mission accomplished.
In back-to-back competitions, Schmitz has finished first at last Thursday’s Topeka High Invitational and followed that with a second-place finish on Tuesday at the Emporia High 11-dive competition.
It was her first 11-dive competition, and with several new dives in her repertoire, she came within six points of qualifying for State.
“Being my first year here and my first time doing an 11-dive meet, this is pretty good,” Schmitz said. “I’ve come really far. Coming back and getting first and second, that’s a big step up from where I was.”
However, Schmitz was wrong about that first meet.
More than a few people saw this coming, including her coach.
“She doesn’t think she’s a very good diver, but she’s an excellent diver and she’s got great potential,” EHS dive coach Barbara Clark said. “She just needs to be sure of herself when she’s on the board that she can do well.
“I just have to work with her confidence.”
Schmitz led the way for the EHS girls diving squad, which placed four of its five divers in the top eight.
Sophomore Aubrey Armitage placed fourth with a score of 242.85 and Hayley Fry came in fifth with a score of 241.35, giving EHS three of the top five placers.
Freshman Chelsey Kessler placed eighth (197.10), while sophomore Jennika Wheeler placed 16th after competing only in the six-dive competition.
“We had a lot of hit and miss dives,” Clark said. “The first 11-dive meet is long, and so just being focused is hard. I saw good things and bad things, and there’s not much time to work on them.”
Emporia High is back in action Thursday at the Emporia High Invitational at the EHS pool.
Emporia High Diving Invite
1. Taylor Martindell, WR, 296.25; 2. Carissa Schmitz, Emp, 269.5; 3. Ashley Weatherd, SC, 251.35; 4. Aubrey Armitage, Emp, 242.85; 5. Hayley Fry, Emp, 241.35; 6. Lindsay Jones, SC, 232.4; 7. Bronte Doughman, SC, 201.95; 8. Chelsey Kessler, Emp, 197.1; 9. Heidi Johnson, SS, 187.35; 10. Lauren Fitzgerald, TH, 135.35; 11. Carlee Kyle, WR, 130.8; 12. Anna Atwood, WR, 122.1; 13. Caitlyn Givens, WR, 122; 14. Rachel Landers, Man, 119.8; 15. Kelsey Rot, TH, 112.3; 16. Jennika Wheeler, Emp, 107.3; 17. Paige Martindell, WR, 98.45; 18. Mrriah Curtis, WR, 93.45.