Diver of the Year; Stancliff to Nationals
By Sports Information Student Assistant Christina Capadona
BEREA, OHIO -- This past fall, four freshman divers joined the Baldwin-Wallace swimming and diving team. Each worked hard this season to improve individually, and in the process, helped each other and their teammates make school diving history.
The result: Two B-W divers were named the male and female 2004 Ohio Athletic Conference Diver of the Year. This is the first time this feat has been accomplished in B-W diving history. Julie Stancliff (Erie, Pa./McDowell) earned the honor for the women and Chris Rochford (Berea) earned the honor for the men this past weekend at the OAC Championships held at Case Western Reserve University. For her outstanding performance, Stancliff qualified for the Division III Swimming and Diving Championship in March.
More impressive for B-W was the strong supporting finish from the other two B-W freshmen divers. In addition to Stancliff and Rochford at the OAC championship, freshman Katie Krzywicki (Brook Park/Midpark) finished second in the one-meter dive with 312.25 points and third in the three-meter with 336.50 points. The other freshman, Nicole Bucci (South Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville Area), finished seventh in both the one-meter and three-meter dive.
Stancliff won the one-meter dive with 377.30 points and three-meter diver with 397.75 points. Rochford won the one-meter with 322.35 points and the three-meter with a score of 273.60.
“The OAC championship was very exciting all around,” said Stancliff. “The incredible team support we had through the weekend made it memorable and also a lot of fun.”
“The honest reason I chose B-W was because of what it offered to me, both academically and in diving,” said Stancliff. “This was one of the only schools that enabled me to enter the athletic training program, while simultaneously compete in diving. With the extensive schedules of both programs, I was lucky to find a school that could work with my schedule.”
Stancliff added, “Another thing I love about the swimming and diving team here in the emphasis on academics. Our coaches know that school must come first. However, they also give us so much of their time to work with us.”
“My parents have been unbelievably supportive in my diving career,” said Stancliff. “In fact, my Dad used to tape all my practices in high school. Now, even being in a different state, they still come to my meets.”
“Diving is a great sport, but many people are not aware that our school even has a diving team,” said Stancliff. “One goal I have, in addition to improving my skills, is to build awareness of the mental and physical work the swimming and diving team puts into each season. It’s an exciting sport and I love to see our program gain interest in the B-W community.”
Stancliff, a former gymnast, was introduced to diving through a friend her sophomore year of high school.
“I wasn’t too sure at first, but I figured I’d give it a try,” said Stancliff. “My gymnastic skills helped me develop my diving skills.”
Stancliff was named her high school’s Diver of the Year, both her sophomore and junior year. As a junior and senior, she placed second at her district meet.
“I never won a diving championship in high school, but it made me work harder,” said Stancliff. “Winning first place at OAC, especially in both events, means a lot to me.”
Rochford, who also began diving his sophomore year of high school, had also never won a championship before last weekend.
“Earning that award was a great honor, both for myself and my team,” said Rochford. “I felt as if all my work all season had paid off. I was also helping out my team overall.”
“I was a baseball player my entire life,” said Rochford. “The summer before my sophomore year, a friend’s brother asked me to try out for the Berea summer diving team. I’ve been diving ever since.”
His junior and senior year, Rochford was a district qualifier and team captain. He was also named his team’s Most Outstanding Diver as a senior.
This 2003-2004 season was reminiscent of the last time B-W won an OAC diving event in both the male and female categories. In 1993, Dave Humphrey ‘93 and Justine Waugh ‘93 placed first in the one-meter dive with 347.00 and 292.55 points in their respective category.
“Earlier this season, I was so close to breaking the B-W diving record set by Dave Humphrey, I was only twelve points away,” said Rochford. “That is definitely an individual career goal I have. I also want to work to qualify for nationals in the future. Most of all, I want to help our team.”
Rochford added, “I really have to thank my teammates for their overall support. Coming into my first season here with three other freshmen divers made a huge impact on my experience. We motivate each other to perform our best, especially because we practice separately from the rest of the team at the Brooklyn Recreation center.”
Senior and veteran B-W backstroke and freestyle swimmer for the women’s team, Marynda Yocum, wasn’t surprised with the excellent OAC championship performance from the freshmen class.
“The divers were just incredible,” said Yocum. “Their work ethic during the season really shone through this past weekend. The future looks good for the B-W divers.”
Fellow senior Chris Clukey agreed.
“Compared to my other three years here, this year’s team really worked hard toward the same goal of performing well at the OAC,” said Clukey, a butterfly and breaststroke competitor for the men’s team. “The diver’s proved their dedication and perseverance by finishing first both in men’s and women’s. We are very proud of their accomplishments.”
The impact the freshmen diving class had this season, appears to be a glimpse of the bright future ahead for the B-W diving program.
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