Huntington YMCA Diver Earns Top Finishes at YMCA National Championships in Orlando

Huntington YMCA Diver Earns Top Finishes at YMCA National Championships in Orlando

A Huntington-area diver representing the Huntington YMCA delivered standout performances on the national stage last month, bringing home multiple medals and earning recognition among the top competitors in her division at the YMCA Diving Nationals in Orlando, Florida.

Alex earned 1st place in the 3-meter springboard, 2nd place in both the 1-meter springboard and platform events, and finished as the 3rd highest female point scorer overall at the meet, capping off an impressive showing at one of the premier youth diving competitions in the country.

The competition marked a major milestone for Alex, who has been diving for about four years and currently trains five days a week, typically from 7 to 9 p.m. Her training takes place primarily at Eisenhower Park, where she works across one-meter, three-meter, and platform events.

“I love the feeling of doing well at a meet and landing a good dive,” Alex said.

While her competitive diving career developed outside of the YMCA, her family’s connection to the organization spans several years. Both Alex and her sister learned to swim at the Huntington YMCA, building an early relationship with the Y community.

Alex said her goals in the sport have been long-term from the beginning. “I really wanted to get into a good college through diving, so I wanted to keep improving,” she said.

At Nationals, Alex competed in a six-dive format that includes both voluntary and optional dives, with optional dives featuring higher difficulty elements such as twists and somersaults. Her list included a forward one-and-a-half pike, reverse dive (commonly known as a “gainer”), and a back twister.

She said a strong opening dive helped set the tone for her performance. “I started with a back dive and did really well on it, so I felt excited going into the rest of the competition,” she said.

Her father, Chris, who also has a background in diving, said the level of difficulty and pressure in the sport is significant.

“Diving is incredibly demanding—you’re standing on a board in silence, and you have one chance to execute perfectly,” he said. “It takes confidence, discipline, and trust in your coaches.”

Chris also highlighted the atmosphere at YMCA Nationals as a defining part of the experience.

“What stood out most was the supportive environment,” he said. “Even when a diver missed a dive, the entire pool deck applauded and encouraged him or her.

Alex’s preparation includes a structured progression in training, gradually building from basic skills to more advanced dives. In some cases, athletes use specialized training tools such as bubble systems in the water to reduce impact when learning new skills.

Earlier this year, Alex also gained international experience competing in Sweden alongside athletes from Hungary, Poland, Germany, Norway, Croatia, and France—an opportunity she and her family said broadened her perspective on the sport.

Looking ahead, Alex is focused on advancing through the competitive pipeline toward Junior Olympic Nationals. The qualification path begins with Regionals, followed by Zones, and culminates in Junior Olympic Nationals, scheduled for late July.

For younger athletes hoping to follow a similar path, Alex offered simple advice.

“If you really want something, you just have to keep going,” she said. “Some dives took me a really long time to learn, and it was frustrating, but I kept practicing because I wanted to accomplish my goals.”

Her father added that the lessons extend beyond sport.

“Sports teach perseverance, confidence, commitment, and trust,” he said. “Diving especially forces you to believe in yourself and your preparation.”

As Alex continues her progression toward higher levels of competition, her results in Orlando mark both a personal achievement and a strong representation of the Huntington YMCA on the national stage.