Divers take in the regional experience at Zionsville

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

ZIONSVILLE -- Sometimes it's just about the ride.

That's the stance Greencastle's Matt Sims and South Putnam's Sam Gould took entering Tuesday's Zionsville Diving Regional. With 20 divers from five sectionals, there was some pretty stiff competition at the event.

Rather than get intimidated, Sims and Gould enjoyed the experience.

"I did as well as I wanted to. I was just glad I made it here from sectionals," Sims said. "I've been sick and hurt and haven't had as much time as a lot of the other people probably did. I'm just glad I made it here; it was all just fun for me."

In his second trip to regional, the GHS sophomore placed 15th, with a score of 203.85 through eight dives.

Gould, a junior, was close behind, finished 17th with 202.15 points.

"We're just proud that we got here to this point; it was one of his goals," Eagle swim coach Emily Karas said, speaking on behalf of diving coach Matthew Edwards.

"It was one of the goals from the start of my freshman year," Gould added.

With a successful season behind them, both divers are aiming for a return next year as well as setting their sights higher.

"I'm hoping for next year going to state," GHS diving coach Chris Klinger said. "I think with doing a little more training all year round, I definitely know we'll be coming to regionals, and hopefully coming back a little bit stronger from having more experience from diving all year round. He's only a sophomore so we've got two more years."

"Hopefully state's in the picture next year as long as training goes well and we get some good practices in," Gould said.

"I think next year there's also not the unknown -- we've never been to Zionsville, he's never been to regional," Karas said. "There won't be that aspect; he'll just be able to really focus on his dives and execute to the caliber that we know he's capable of."