Deep End Team News

BADWEST DIVERS showed that hard work and practice pays, as some put in their personal bests, put in new dives and qualified for AAU Nationals at the Wellesley Winter Invitational on Sunday, Jan 20th

10-11 Kim Yang showed her older teammates the way to do it and put in two new dives on three meter- a 403C and 5132D, She placed 2nd in both 1 and 3 meter and qualified for AAU Nationals in both events!
Nine & Under Elizabeth McQuaid captured the gold medal in her event and scored a whopping 100 points for 4 dives.

Nine & Under Novice Kelsey L'Ecuyer in what may be her final novice event, took home the gold (her nearest competitor was 13 points behind:). Time for Kelsey to dive Jr. Olympic events :)

14-15 Girls Katie Vogel and Michelle Higgins enjoyed their own successes. Katie qualified for AAU Nationals on 1 meter with her most consistent performance to date and a personal best of 255.65 - Michelle put in a new-hard dive-5225D- back sommy 2/12 twists (2.7 DD) and missed qualifying for nationals by seven pts on 1 meter and less than 4 points on three meter. Michelle is a previous national qualifier and is now beginning to make her move on 3-meter.

16-18 stand outs belongs to the boys: Going 1-2, Patrick Rogers (363.95) edged out BADWEST teammate Ryan Shelley (362.75) in a great, 1 meter duel. Both missed the AAU qualifying score by less than four points. Ryan easily captured the 3 meter event with 371.20 points-putting in his best 3 meter performance to date. This was Ryan's 1st 16-18 competition.

It was the best overall team effort this season...but we still lack enough board-time 'up-top'.
Expect to dive lots of 3 mtr in the next few weeks...next meet is Feb 10 @ Holy Cross. ONCE AGAIN WE ARE FOCUSING ON NEW DIVES FOR THIS MEET! those who did not do new dives last meet, be prepared to compete them on feb 10th!!!!!!!!More info forthcoming.

Coaches View & Important FYI's: Keep working hard. Enjoy your accomplishments and be proud of them...but remember that our work is not done. If you expect to go to Nationals, you will have to show that you deserve to go...not just by qualifying but by showing up to practice, working the program as it is laid out, and doing what is expected of you.

If that sounds like "you need to do three meter" and/or "you need to MAKE THE TIME to dive with BADWEST during your high school season", then your reading comprehension is very good!

Currently we have Katie Vogel, Kim Yang & Patrick Rogers AAU-qualified for 2008!! Please understand that qualifying by virtue of a high school score is not a guarantee that you will go! Working hard is a guarantee! Coach has final word who goes to Nationals!

My crystal ball tells me that BADWEST has a few more National Qualifiers 'chomping at the bit'. Katie & Kim want teammates to accompany them to Coral Springs or Fort Lauderdale July 30th - August 3.

OCTOBER 2007 ~ 10/3/07
Forgot to mention (below) super welcome back to Kim Yang, who spent last year in China with her dad.

GHOUL MEET STUFF: We have begun inputting meet info into EZ Meet; please get your
Ghoul Meet Registration in to me as soon as possible! Go to AAU numbers page if you do not have your card yet.

We need volunteers: please donate a little bit of your time to help run another successful meet.

Click the following link and let me know what you would like to do & when you can do it...

Coach Kelly recently bade a fond farewell (but not good bye) to former BADWEST/RIPTIDE/DUXBURY/YALE four-time All America, NCAA All America & finalist, & the only Fall High school four-time State Champion, Bates Gregory.

Bates, recently married on 07/07/07, is now off for a year of study in Syria with her new husband Wil.

At the suggestion of 'some in-the-know', Bates dyed her natural blonde hair to a dark reddish brown for her cultural experience.(See photos-another former diver, Sally Stebbins pictured with Bates in wedding pic)

We wish Bates and her husband Wil the best of luck...We could think of no other young person who could be a better ambassador than Bates. Smooth Sailing Bates. Keep in Touch!!!and keep 'em laughing!!!

LOOKING GOOD ~ The colors of Autumn have not peaked yet (or started in our area), but some of our divers seem ready to peak (a tad early I may say). BADWEST'S first two weeks of diving has shown that our divers have not missed a beat...everyone is starting off were they left off and some, rapidly learning new stuff !

BADWEST CHANGING FACES: The look of BADWEST diving is changing, as it always does ;0)...and while we don't have many new faces, our team is getting older and a few more of you have moved into the high school ranks - We want to wish Katie Vogel, Michelle Higgins, Ryan Shelley all the best in their 'new' endeavor' as they roam high school halls looking bewildered ;0). And BADWEST great Patrick DeMarle has moved on to Cornell...If anyone wants to email Patrick and wish him well on his Freshman year, ask me for his new email..

NEW DIVES ~ Let's hear it for: Hannah Magid - her new reverses: Katie Vogel - her new reverse 1 1/2's and super 203's; Patrick Rogers - new 203A on 3 mtr and working his 204's 304's on 1 mtr; Rybo Shelley's new 105B on 3 mtr and 104B on 1 mtr;

NEW FACES-FREE TRYOUT TIME DWINDLING: One new face who will be diving at our practices is friend of Alexis Morin - Kyle Harris from Northborough. Welcome Kyle. And speaking of new faces-we have only a week remaining to take advantage of our one free tryout/lesson...so if you have someone who may want to try out...now is the time...Preferably younger divers, but high-schoolers are welcome also...Anyone who brings in a friend who stays with team for the season will get a small $ incentive- to be named later.

2007 NEAAU CHAMPIONSHIPS ~ Because of the possibility of the 2007 New England Championships being held in November, we have started practicing our dives earlier than normal..At this time we are usually working on bad habits and a plethora of basic drills and dives. But for now we are getting ready for the Championships!!! It's looking like November 11th, and when solidified, you will be notified! (that rhymes:)

AAU CARDS ~ Those who paid me will have their AAU cards by next week..
PHONE LIST ~ New phone list coming out-please read it and get back to me with any changes.

SCHEDULING ~ Upcoming notables:
Saturday Sep 29th- No practice- bumped by high school meet
Saturday October 27 - Halloween Ghoul Meet, ....AAU qualifying meet -
all team members expected to participate - click the link for registration and information.

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A talented bunch of WS&TC divers had a two-hour practice with Coach Kelly and their Summer Coach-former BADWEST high school and collegiate All American diver Tory McKenna last Wednesday @ Atkinson Pool in Sudbury. Almost all learned a new dive and all displayed some pretty nifty aerial maneuvers. Some even took home some prizes for their efforts. Although all divers who learned their new dive showed super bravery and a positive 'I-Can-Do-It' attitude, methinks it was Maura who took home the special "Little Engine" Award....(let me know if that is correct, it was hard remembering all your names, but I won;t forget your faces or your dives!" The future of Westford area diving is looking pretty good! You are all invited to our Olympic Dreams Clinic in July and August...(click 2007 July & August Clinic link on side of this page). You are also invited for a free lesson and tryout in the Fall...right after Labor Day! Nice job all around!

Ed LaCerte - Head Trainer for the Boston Celtics to speak @ Olympic Dreams Clinic
(Click Ed's name for his profile - Ed's daughter, Arianna in center - below pic)

MAY 14 2007 - In case you haven't noticed, we have had a few new divers practicing with us.

The Weston Contingent: - Maddie Roth, Lydia Quinn, Jamel Roy (out injured at the moment)

29 March 2007 - We all know that March is supposed to "Come in like a Lion and go out like a Lamb".

Reverse the animals! - Some BADWEST divers came in like little lambs and are going out like lions (well, some are). A few worth mentioning:

Rybo Shelley finally got his back optional on 3 mtr- which began weeks ago doing his 203B on 1 mtr. Rybo is busy improving his twisters, and seems to be getting comfortable with his "outs" on his 105 up top. Despite a persistent bad knee, Katie Vogel has been working her 3 mtr list and learned a new double pike to take up.

New diver Samantha (I-don't-drink-beer) Adams got thru her 1 meter 203C with no problem-despite doubting herself; Audrey Strong has learned an entire novice list up top and did her double on 1 mtr last night,...

and finally, but certainly, not least, Michelle Higgins...has come on like gang-busters in March, and improved everything on 1 meter, adding a 203B and recently has added a 105C and 5233D to her 3 mtr list.

None of these dives came easy...especially last night for Michelle. She pancaked her 2nd 105 up top...but showing she has the 'heart of a lion", got back up and did it again. The most important 105C she would ever do was the one after her smack. Michelle switched into self-preservation-mode and went way over on her next one- very normal after the type of frontal assault she took on the previous dive.

The important thing is that she did it! She went back up after a tough smack....& stuff like that separates mediocrity from greatness!! You could all learn from this type of bravery and tenacity! Congratulations!

Michelle has a lock on "Smack of the Month" (one was real funny and the 2nd "not so much")...Michelle also has a lock on "Diver of the Month" and will be rewarded at Saturday's practice!!! Superb, simply superb diving!!!

Hoping for more lion-like heart at our last practice this Saturday. Only 2 more 3 -meter practices before April 7th.

10 Feb 2007 ~ Winter Blahs Meet
View some video, view some pics, and see the results at:

Please see page link on side for 2007 High School Diving updates..

Congratulations to Maggie Rousseau - Southboro - who got her 103C-forward 1 1/2 sommy last night
Click this to see: Video of Maggies 1st 103C

Way to go Maggie...

Though not in high school yet...Ryan Shelley (Sudbury) continues to learn new stuff....perfecting his 5231d last night....and getting his multiple back twisting techiniques down....well, except for one .hilarious, where-the-heck-am-I back twister, which kinda left him momentarily senseless :)

Dec 24, 2006 ~ Fina Meet Photos added to Jim's
Christmas Poem to all....Click links...

Suits and team bags looking good! Thanks to these professional models...for posing for us...
Hey, is that Syracuses'Tory McKenna who showed up for a practice?? Click pics to enlarge

and Badwest's Jodi 'what's-her-name?', was there too ;)

November 30th, 2006...."A blast from the past" - We got a surprise visit from a very grown up Maggie Rousseau on Thursday night's practice. For those who do not know...., Maggie was the inspiration for BADWEST"S Maggie Award, aka "The Little Engine" award...which was last given to Mikey McKenna for "never giving up". When Maggie was in the 7-9 age range....Maggie lost her front flip....and struggled thru an entire season before she was able to conquer her fear and get it again. She got it, then moved on to other athletic pursuits and interests...Maggie is now a freshman @ Southborough High and wants to try diving again....Besides nearly completing an entire high school list of dives last night,she did some 3 meter and yup, her front flip...with no problem.

Pictured above (L-R): Kirsten Nord-Acton Boxborough, Sarom Kim-Westford, Michelle Higgins-Acton Boxborough, Maggie Rousseau-Southborough.

Sarom was seen "opening up" and going in "head-first" on a forward 1 1/2 sommy....way to go Sarom! Kirsten was seen doing her new reverse dive for 7's and inching ever so close to making her 5122D full-twisting front sommy...way-to-go Kirsten! Michelle was eyeballed performing very nice 203C's and 5124D's....way to go Michelle! And Maggie was witnessed performing that famous front sommy after a break of oh, about 6 years!!!
(click pics to enlarge)

A few other mentionables and high praise to: Lindsay Scuoteguazza for her new 203c's & 403's; Amy Zuerndorfer for her 105c's...Patrick Rogers for all his new pike dives and 5134d & improved 3 mtr dives.....Hannah Magid's doubles, 403c, back twisters, Katie Vogel's 203c's and 403c's & best doubles on the team, The Cromwell sisters-Erin & Kara, with their steadily improving 103c's and overall lists..Anna LaCerte's 203 & 1/2's, back & forward twisters and improved doubles; Jodi Costello's 203's...and steadily improving list with her new approach & hurdle..Ryan Shelley's new and improved approach and new-found strength & improved back and forward twisters; Riagain Makary's new and improved 103's, front twisters and new back sommies; and Patrick DeMarle for his continually improving back & reverse preps...hastening his development for competing his 205 and 305 on 1 mtr this year...and finally,

Let's all give super support to our teammates who are doing high school diving this Winter:

Patrick Demarle - Lincoln Sudbury. Hannah Magid - Dover-Sherborn-Medfield High
Patrick Rogers - Wayland High Anna LaCerte - Westford Academy Amy Zuerndorfer - Concord Carlisle High

Welcome Samantha (Sammi) Ward of Framingham into our practices. (Video link below)
..

and see Katie Vogel & Michelle Higgins showing how synchronized diving
should be done! (click the following movie link)

Looks like a few members of BAD & BADWEST did.

While some of us were vacationing in parts unknown...Casey, Kelly, LilyBeth, Kendal and Elise were checking out China. Up top they are at the Great Wall and bottom left...a gala meal with coaches and teammates...WOW, what an opportunity for them...

Anyone else that wants to share pics of their summer trips, please send them to me and will post!

OLD NEWS BELOW THIS LINE
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Thursday, June 29....May not be a big day for most, but for a select few divers it was a super day. In one of the most productive practices in June, Lindsay Scuoteguazza summoned up her fortitude and conquered her reverse dive....Olivia Rees couragesly got back her inward dive....and Arianna LaCerte and Jodi Costello bravely conquered their "landing on their head" woes.....and did their back one and one-halves.....imagine that......gymnasts diving to their head!!

Conditioning and plyometric drills during our summer ritual of outdoor training!!

June 19, 2006 ~ Congratulations to Ryan Shelley,

Max O'Brien and Helen Zitkofsky for qualifying for the 2006 Super Zone Meet in Moultrie Georgia. Way to go to 11 & under Kim Yang for placing 3rd in her 1 mtr event. (non-qualifying - no 11 & unders @ Zones)

See full results at: DiveMeets.com more pics are on Meet Results page
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31 May 2006 ~

Rumor has it that Danny DeVito was seen at our Atkinson practice yesterday and he started throwing divers around....:)

DIVER OF THE MONTH COMING TOO!!! stay tuned...

Wow! March was a great practice month @ Holy Cross ~ But last night-Wed April 5th, was a delightful deluge of bravery and productivity!

Ryan Shelley, getting back to his old form, chucked a new 303c and his 5134d - double twisting one and one half sommy from 3 meter!

Katie Vogel "sucked it up" and did her back dive pike, reverse sommy and reverse sommy with a half twist from 3 meter. These pics show Katies concentration on herdives and drills........ 5321d.

Michelle Higgins (left),followed suit-throwing caution to the wind" ;0), and did her 302c, 5321d and 201c up top!

Lindsay Scuoteguazza learned her 201a from 3

meter and was nailing her 5122d-full twisting front sommy, and had some rather spectacular doubles from 1 meter. She crashed on a double in warm up and came back to do them with grace and courage.

Arianna Lacerte was chucking some great looking 403c's(inward 1 1/2 sommy);

and dared go where no woman ever....(not really :)....but she learned a new 301c and 302c from 3 meter...and she looked like a natural doing them.

Jodi Costello learned her 5132d, full twisting one and one half sommy and greatly improved her 5231d (back 1 1/2 with a 1/2 twist) from 3 meter...Her inward 1 1/2 up top was also pretty super!

Meet the Diving Dejong Family from the Netherlands (Holland)

~ I saw these people diving from a bridge in Southern France last summer- They befriended me and we spent the afternoon diving and talking about diving and gymnastics and how they are similar in both countries. We still keep in touch via email...

Congratulations to Bridget Duffey, who took home the Gold at her New England High School Championships! .

Bridget scored 433.39 points which qualifies her for Prep School All America consideration! Way to go Bridge!

This year's Winter State Championships featured many BAD & BADWEST divers-present and past:
Congratulations to all...and special congrats to graduating Seniors:

Wayland's affable Alex D'Ambrosio, who spun & twisted his way to 2nd place in Div II...gullible Glenn Bergquist(Needham)5th in Div I & jammin' Jo JO Aresty (Wayland) 3rd in Div II Girls

Lincoln Sudbury's perennially perfect Patrick Demarle finessed his way into 2nd place in Div I Boys and his high school teammates and former BAD divers- meticulous Megan Braun and holistic Heather Daley went 6th & 8th respectively in Div I Girls....

The highest finish for a freshman belongs to CC's amicable Amy Zuerndorfer who finished a very respectable 3rd behind her high school teammates in Div I Girls. Bromfield's pride, Lovable Laura Nocka deserves credit for a good showing as a freshman in Div I girls also..

In Div II Boys, Jumpin' Jamel Roy of Weston made the cut as a newbie and freshman multilingual Max O'Brien (Bedford) finished 8th behind the great 4th place finish by Wayland sophomore perky Patrick Rogers.

Nice job all around ~ Message to all returning divers: "Someone out there is working harder than you are!"

22 Feb 2006 ~ DUFFEY UNDEFEATED IN HIGH SCHOOL PREP SEASON;

DIVES FOR PERSONAL BEST.

BAD's prep school phenom Bridget Duffey (pictured with green jersey & vest) completed her eastern Mass Prep School season undefeated. The Pingree Academy sophomore defeated her friendly rival Hannah Bratton (Providence Twisters) with a personal best of 247.50 for six dives. She takes her show on the road and will be diving at the Eastern Prep School Championships in Pennsylvania this weekend.....Good luck Bridget! Rip For 10's!!!

With a hefty score of 294.15, BADWEST's Patrick DeMarle achieved one of his goals and broke the Lincoln-Sudbury High School six-dive school record - held by former teammate Dewey Schultz. Patrick received two 9's and and 8 on his 105c and smattering of 7's - 8.5's on his 303c and 5126D en route to his record-breaking performance. He is also an AAU National Qualifier. Way to go Patrick.

BADWEST AAU National Qualifiers - Please bring in any news (paper) copies of articles on your wonderful selves...would like to post on bulletin board and provide links to them. (Charlie Goodwin missing from picture)

BADWEST diver Alex D'Ambrosio has been doing some record-breaking of his own for Wayland High. He recently went over the coveted 300 point mark for six dives, and according to my moles, he scored 320 points. Teammate & former BADWEST diver Patrick Rogers (only a sophomore) attained his personal best with 254 points...and at the Long Island Invite he placed 9th out of 62 divers. (photos unavailable at this time)

Congratulations to BADWEST'S 11 & Under Charlie Goodwin for regaining control of his 104c and back twisters...showing what it takes to be a champion.
Charlie also qualified for AAU nationals in December's Gift-Giving Meet.
(photo unavailable at this time).

And high praise to the ever dependable Mikey McKenna for his 303C-reverse one and one half sommy. Way to go Mikey and way to go to all!

JODI COSTELLO chucked a new list of dives up top; including an inward 1 1/2 sommy, forward 1 1/2 sommy. Way to go!

HANNAH REES was stupendous with her new forward 2 1/2 sommy. Sister REBECCA showed her stuff up top by performing a super reverse sommy and baby sis OLIVIA showed us her courage with her front flip on 1 meter.

KELLY SHERMAN continues to improve her full twisting 1 1/2 sommy from 3 meter and everyone else is showing that they are almost ready to move from the "down" stages to the "real feather" stage of their 3 mtr development.

Nice job to ELISHA ELOVIC- throwing some high degree of difficulty from 3 meter. She's showing some real BAD-like diving up top. (For the uninitiated - BAD=GREAT!)

I don't recall anyone else doing any "new" dives, but most divers lists are improving on 3 meter...but more practice is needed to increase your degree of difficulty. Keep coming!

Saturday, Jan 7th showed great spinning/somersaulting improvement for everyone, both forward & inward ....Everyone should be expecting newer dives in the near future.

Congrats to KIM YANG, REBECCA REES, KATIE VOGEL, CAROL ANNE DAVIS, JODI COSTELLO and the rest of you for your great effort on the inwards and doubles...In season high school divers PATRICK ROGERS and LAURA NOCKA are looking great....and by the way, LAURA is in the lead for SMACK OF THE MONTH-for pan-caking to her back on a 203C....:(...but in courageous diver-like fashion, LAURA got back up and did it with no problem! (the rest of you should learn from her example;) PATRICK'S 105C & 403B looking champion-like! He is actually looking more and more like a diver! :)

We were treated to ROTC training at Holy Cross on Dec 1. FYI...Rifle was not loaded and was never pointed toward anyone...but I do like the blindfold idea. ;)

HANNAH REES - Framingham High sophomore, placed 2nd in her high school league championships. She also qualified for Sectionals and States. Not bad for a diver that didn't qualify last year. Hard work does pay off! Nice job Hannah.

UPDATE 7 Nov 2005: HANNAH scored 328 points and finished a super respectable 5th at the South Sectionals! Mallory Demtry of Providence Twisters won!i

ANNALIESE RUDIS ~ Andover High Senior broke 200 in every dual meet this year and is on her way to a fantastic showing at her Sectionals and States @ Holy Cross. She has finally mastered her 303C :)...Way to go Annaliese...

UPDATE 13 Nov 2005: ANNALIESE finished 2nd at her North Sectional Championships...way to go Annaliese..

Make sure you congratulate and show your support to these two who embark on their big high school meets in the next couple of weeks.

(Please send me any high school accolades or news you have and I will post it...pics are good ;)