The Path to Diving

Three divers, three different paths

Diving is a sport that’s not for everyone. Jumping off a high dive or platform can be intimidating, scary and exhilarating, all at the same time. Not to mention the skills needed to flip, twist and turn your way into the water. So how does someone decide diving is the sport for them? Three high school seniors on the Tumblebees Ultimate Air Diving Team all found their way to diving by taking different paths, and all hope diving is part of their future.

Emma McPeeters came to diving because of her love for gymnastics and swimming. After seeing a Disney short featuring a diver nine years ago, Emma knew she had found the perfect sport for her. Now at 17 years old and a senior in high school at Guilford College Middle College, Emma hopes diving can be a part of her future. Emma will attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the fall where she will be on the diving team. She plans to take part in the Olympic trials and one day hopes to coach college diving.

Also a former gymnast, Brigita Burgess is an all-around athlete who just started diving a year ago. Brigita tried diving because it seemed fun and has excelled at it. Even with only one year of experience, Brigita hopes to dive at a D1 college and major in biomedical engineering. As a senior at Grimsley High School, Brigita has participated in many sports and activities including track and cheerleading.

Trent Igoe took a completely different path. Trent is a former swimmer who tried diving after encouragement from his mother. He has only been diving for about a year and a half, but will be diving at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington next year. Trent is a senior at Mount Tabor High School who also enjoys playing other sports (and eating. A lot).

Diving is a beautiful and graceful sport. At Tumblebees, we welcome divers with years of competitive experience or with no experience at all. Diving students learn and train in the gym in the Tumblebees Team Training Center. To make their training as safe as possible, participants learn safe tumbling skills and diving skills through the use of the trampoline and a dry board with spotting belts.

Diving students also learn and train at the Greensboro Aquatic Center, transferring skills from the gym to the pool on 1-meter and 3-meter springboards and platforms. Learn more about our diving program at www.tumblebees.com.