It began as a vision of Kelly Dee.
Fraser Valley Diving’s Developmental coach for the past four years had a goal of building a strong and substantial Tier 2 team that would show local youngsters their potential to be good to great competitive springboard divers.
From April 24 to 26, the vision became a reality, as the Langley-based team took 14 divers to Regina to compete in the Tier 2 National Springboard Championships.
This event was attended by 10 clubs from across the country, including Edge Dive Club from Newfoundland.
Based on results tallied at the end of the weekend, the Fraser Valley Diving Club took home the trophy for top team in Canada.
Taking home gold medals were:
• Kailee Lingham (Group A, 3 metre);
• Breanna Nichols (Group C, 3 metre);
• Jayden Poole (Group C 1 & 3 metre);
• Gavin Jones (Group E, 3 metre); and
the synchronized diving team of Francois Barnard and Richard Jang.
Silver medals were awarded to:
Francois Barnard (Group A, 1 & 3 metre); and
Breanna Nichols (Group C, 1 metre).
Gavin Jones picked up a bronze medal in the Boys Group E 1 metre event.
Other top scorers included:
Jaeden Jones finishing fourth on the three metre and fifth on the one metre in Group C;
Grayce Vanderwerf taking fourth on the one metre in Group D;
Emma Klaver placing fifth on the three-metre in Group D;
Kaya Kenyon finishing fifth on the three-metre and sixth on the three metre;
Owen Godin ending up fifth on both the one and three metre;
Isabel Hwang placing eighth on the one metre;
Ella Davidson taking eighth on the three metre; and
Christopher Pestana scoring eighth on both the one and three metre boards.
Fraser Valley Diving’s youngest competitor, six-year-old Shelby Godin, placed ninth in her first out-of-town competition.
Fraser Valley Diving trains springboard divers at the CADA nationally competitive diving level, developmental level (provincially competitive) and learn to dive (beginner’s) level.
Currently the club, operating out of Walnut Grove Community Centre, has about 50 active divers, and six coaches.
