Creating a platform for diving at St. Thomas More
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — When Mitchell Hynds started his freshman year at The High School of Saint Thomas More (STM) four years ago, the school didn鈥檛 have a diving team. Back then, the school didn鈥檛 have a boys鈥� swim team either. Mitchell had been diving for years at this point and was interested in continuing with the sport in high school, but it didn鈥檛 look like that was an option.
For his sophomore year, he transferred to Central High School and found support from Coach Dave Young. He represented the Central Maroons and found success in competition, both that year and the next.
鈥淢itchell went to state that year,鈥� his mother, Carrie Blackford, says. 鈥淗is junior year at Central he won sectionals and would have gone to state, but due to Covid they didn鈥檛 have a state competition.鈥�
The competition at sectionals during junior year was particularly hard for Mitchell because he lost his father to cancer; Mitchell used his dad as inspiration through the meet.
鈥淚 knew he wouldn鈥檛 have wanted me to quit diving,鈥� Mitchell says. 鈥淚nstead of feeling sorry for myself, I chose to make my father proud by staying consistent and working twice as hard.鈥�
He found himself back at STM for his senior year this school year where he discovered an important, positive change: STM now had a boys鈥� swim team.
鈥淚 initially approached Coach Deptula about joining the swim team,鈥� Mitchell says. 鈥淪ince I had previous diving experience, we both worked together to form the dive portion of the team.鈥�
STM didn鈥檛 have a dedicated diving coach, however, so Mitchell turned to someone who knows the platform well: his big brother, Mikey, who has also trained and competed in diving. The boys worked together to hone Mitchell鈥檚 skill and technique, which Mitchell appreciates.
鈥淪ince he鈥檚 my big brother, he can offer honest advice and encouragement,鈥� Mitchell says. 鈥淒uring a training session, my brother is not afraid to give constructive criticism.鈥�
With that advice and constructive criticism, Mitchell found himself at the top of the leaderboard throughout the season. He set records in the 11-dive category at the Twin City Invitational, the Urbana Tiger Invitational and the conference meet at Olympia. He qualified for the state competition again this year, the only student on the STM swim team to represent the school on the diving platform.
It鈥檚 a position that can put a lot of pressure on an athlete.
鈥淪ince it is not a team sport, all of the success is dependent on you,鈥� Carrie says.
His respectable top 40 finish allowed him to end the season proud to establish the dive program once again at STM.
鈥淗opefully others will be inspired and dive for the team next year,鈥� Carrie says.
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