Casey Sherman - Jenny Andrews - Kim Yang

May 4, 2008 - Many BADWEST divers displayed some good stuff at this year's CMD Spring Meet.

Despite the absence of all of our 16-18 team girls at this meet, we held our own, & with only a few exceptions, you should be pleased (although not totally satisfied) with your performances.

If this had been the New England Championships I would have been very proud of the overall effort of those who participated and gave 'one ' for the team..

We were especially pleased with those who dived for the 1st time, those who did 3 mtr despite little practice up top (Matthew Flynn, Lindsay S. & Elizabeth McQuaid), those who fought through or just came off injury (Katie Vogel-knee, Ryan Shelley-back, Kim Yang-shoulder, Lindsay Scuoteguazza-ankle/leg, Audrey-Spinal, Michelle-knees). Our small team has been set with a plethora of injuries, some have been consistent & nagging, but you guys continue to practice, continue to try, and continue to display the courage and dedication that creates a strong group, creates strong bonds and makes everyone around you proud!! Continue to support each other..Thanks...

TEAM DIVERS~  11 & Under Divers:

BADWEST  11 & under AAU National-Qualifier Kim Yang was a double-winner, capturing 1 & 3 meter with a flashy full twisting one and half sommy and a pretty smooth inward one and one half sommy.  Her reverse dive layout has made her rather unique  at the last few meets...way to go Kiml!

Our other 11 & under Elizabeth McQuaid captured gold in the Novice 3 meter event and in the very competitive 11 & under group, put in a respectable performance on 1 meter.

In the 14-15 Girls age group,

Katie Vogel put in a very strong performance-nailing her last dive- a reverse and a half...& once again qualified for AAU Nationals on 1 mtr.  It should be mentioned that Katie came in to dive early so she could go home and take her MCAS (?) in the afternoon.  Way to go Katie....

AAU National-Qualifier Michelle Higgins, struggling with knee & growing pains, put in a spectacular effort and came up a tad short of her best.  But she did have her best back 1 sommy with 2 1/2 twists to date!  Almost time to take it up!! :)

above pic 14-15 Girls 1 meter awards,Katie Vogel placed 2nd & was absent for photo - thanks to Juliana Melchionda, between Michelle and Kendall, for standing in.:)

New to the talented 14-15 age group, Lindsay Scuoteguazza had some good performances and seems to be working out of her injury - she even put in a new dive on 3 meter....back 1 1/2 with a half twist....Nice job!

In the 16-18 Age group:

Perennial National-Qualifier Ryan Shelley continues to shine despite his slow recovery from back injury.  He captured gold on 1 meter despite a mishap...and took 2nd on 3 mtr.

Audrey Strong continues to improve all around and is a leader by example on 3 mtr....super full-twisting one and one half sommy.

And last but not least...give it up to Matthew Flynn for getting up on 3 meter, showing all that 1 meter dives are just 'preps' for 3 meter....

NOTE:  I mention the injuries not as excuses, but because the divers will not...and I think they deserve credit for what they are doing despite their pain...None of these divers avoid doing certain dives because of their conditions....and I mention the injuries because I can, it's my web site :)

LESSON DIVERS ~ 9 & unders

Eight year-old newcomer & lesson diver Jenny Andrews dived to first place in her 1st-ever meet...showing some strong dives and an exceptional presence on the board! Jenny is in the middle in above pic.

11 & Unders

Kelsey L'Ecuyer dived up in the real experienced 11 & under Junior Olympic group and held her own;  She had an especially impressive forward 1 1/2 sommy pike.  She's still a fledgling.  Time is on her side! :)

12-13 Divers

Olivia Phillips, Lauren Proctor, Joe Burke all continue to show steady progress and just need more board time to excel...Olivia put in a strong 2nd place performance on her Junior Olympic 1 meter event and scored over 30 points for her new forward 1 1/2 sommy pike... New dives are coming.  Lauren tied for 3rd with a Springfield diver in the novice 1 meter event...showing some tightness on her entries and will be soon be surging forward in her age group...Joe(far left in photo)showed consistency and placed 2nd in the novice boys event - he received lots of 5's during the contest and continues to improve; will soon be doing J.O. Former lesson diver Katie Levitsky dived novice girls and was very steady-showing she hasn't lost much in her absencce-if anything.

16-18 Novice Girls
Nadine far right  .....come back for more pics later!

Rounding out BADWEST performers Nadine Ahrabi-Nejad & Annie Sears, went 1-2 respectively in their 16-18 Girls Novice 1 meter event.  Both Holliston fledglings, the girls just learned their new dives and braved doing them in front of spectators and other more -experienced divers...We are very proud of them! 

BADWEST recap for 2008 CMD Spring Meet:
Total divers:  16
Team - 8 divers
Two events: 1 & 3 mtr - 7 divers
Lessons - 8 divers

Thanks parents!

Feb 10, 2008 - The 2008 Winter Blahs Meet was a mid-season spectacular for BADWEST

Pack your bags for Florida, reserve your flight, and get a room!

We had seven AAU National qualifying performances:  Leading the way was

Michelle Higgins on 1 & 3 meter....followed by first-time-qualifier
Katie Vogel on 1 meter.....

And to round out a great day of team diving performances, Patrick Rogers, Ryan Shelley, Amy Zuerndorfer and Kim Yang performed admirably on 1 meter and will be making the trip to Coral Springs, Florida July 29 - Aug 3.  Ryan & Patrick proved to more than their coach that they are ready to perform their 2 1/2's up top...and they will be as soon as the high school season ends later this month.  Kim Yang showed the older divers again, how to get back up on 3 meter after a smack!

Everyone had their own little story, there own little successes...to make it one of the best TEAM meet outings in a while.

Junior Olympic Divers ~ 3 Meter Fledglings Fly ~

BADWEST divers showed their grit as....

After only a few practices, Lindsay Scuoteguazza dived up for the 1st time in the tough 14-15 age group after coming back from a month and a half layoff from a freak ankle injury..and put in all her tough dd dives.

Jodi Costello, Hannah Magid, Audey Strong, Katie Vogel, Elisabeth McQuaid Patrick Rogers & Ryan Shelley braved 3 meter, lived, and looked decent for not much practice 'up top'. It was the most 3 meter entries we have had..and your coach is very pleased. :)

Jodi was only 30 points shy of qualifying...we say only. because that can be made up easily with practice and a point more from each judge on a few dives! 
Katie was only 13 points shy of qualifying and that can be made up even easier...

Some BADWEST 3 meter fledglings did new dives or should be commended just for diving 3 meter:

Audrey put in some great dives Sunday and gets a 'way-ta-go' for her 403C, back sommy, and reverse twister up top;
Hannah did a superb 3 meter performance, looking especially good on her 403C, new reverse twister and a solid 103B
Elizabeth dived novice as it was her 1st time competing 3 meter and she looked like an old pro with an impressive 103 and inward dive.

Ariana LaCerte wanted to dive 3 meter but on doctors/trainers orders, she is temporarily grounded!  But her 1 meter has improved; she is now doing her 403C a 203C consistently, thus, paving the way to a great ending to her high school career.  Ariana is not far off from qualifying for AAU Nats on 1 meter

One Meter Performances 

Matthew Flynn - in only his 2nd year of diving placed 4th in the 16-18 1 meter event, but more importantly, is doing a completely new list of dives on 1 meter..and is improving rapidly- just check out his 203C, 105c, 403C 5231D, 5132D etc.

Katie & Lindsay Jodi, Patrick, Ryan & Amy mentioned above,  Hannah, Ariana, Audrey looked strong in spots on 1 meter and are peaking at just the right time for their high school championships in the next two weekends...

Novices and Lesson Divers

Super job!  If you  older divers did not get the chance to see our lesson divers, and younger teammates Elisabeth & Kim in the morning, you missed some great performances:

We had 5 gold medalists!

Julia DeGemmis - in her first meet outside of high school...took home the gold in the 16-18 Novice 1 meter and will be diving Junior Olympic real soon.

Lily Aisenberg & Sarah Noyes went first and third in their 9 & Under Novice 1 meter event. Both divers      showed their spunk and did not seem phased by their 1st away-meet-college-atmosphere experience.

Olivia Phillips 10-11 Novice, looking like a seasoned veteran,  won her 1 meter contest with an impressive full twister and 103C! 

Elisabeth McQuaid  10-11 Novice on 3 meter - took home the gold in her event and looked like a natural doing it!

Lauren Proctor, Emma Jarczyk & Kate Levitsky completed a deep sweep, going one, two, three in the very tight 12-13 Novice 1 meter. The girls have only been diving a couple of months and already are looking like a force to be reckoned with.

Last but certainly not least,......

Kelsey L'Ecuyer, in her very first 10-11 Jr. Olympic 1 meter contest, not only beat some divers who had more diving experience than she, but was less than 3 points away from qualifying for AAU Nationals.

As of 10 February 2008 BADWEST  has:

1 meter AAU National Qualifers            3 meter AAU National Qualifiers
         
    Kim Yang - Sudbury (10-11)                       Kim Yang
  Michelle Higgins - Acton  (14-15)                 Michelle Higgins
    Katie Vogel - Concord (14-15)
   Ryan Shelley - Sudbury (16-18)
  Patrick Rogers - Wayland (16-18)
 Amy Zuerndorfer - Concord (16-18)
       

Patrick & Ryan will qualify 3 meter after the high school season!!  Once they get their 2 1/2's!!!!

While we want everyone to qualify for AAU Nationals and make this a super team trip....some of you are real close to doing it....and just need to get into practice on a regular basis.  Anything is possible!  Let's do it!!!

Believe!