Padua has a star diver in its midst. She is ranked third in the state and is the only member of Padua’s official diving team. Her name is Alexis France (‘14), who transferred to Padua this year.
Alexis has been diving for nine years, and explained how she started diving in the first place. “I was at a pool doing flips off the diving board, when the diving coach commented on my flips and asked me to join the team.” Learning new dives can be difficult, and Alexis described how she feels after completing a new dive, saying, “I feel really proud and feel like I accomplished something. I feel as if I can do anything.”
Diving can be nerve-wracking, like any other sport; and Alexis explained what goes through her mind before competing and while performing a dive. “I perform breathing techniques, and while I am diving I try imagining myself in the air.”
For anyone who is not familiar with diving, here is some information about what goes on during States:
- When Alexis recently competed in States, there were only seven girls in total.
- States consists of three nights (Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday).
- On Tuesday, each girl performs five dives and on Thursday and Saturday each girl performs three dives.
- Each dive has a Degree of Difficulty: the higher the degree, the higher score you can get. Alexis’ highest score at States was 307.75.