As the noted baseball philosopher Yogi Berra is reputed to have said, “It's deja vu all over again.”
Last year we noted that Union's powerful men's swimming team was built around several swimmers from the same small high school.
It's happened again, this time with divers.
Junior Brian Field and freshman Heather Weisenfluh both graduated from Southside High School in Elmira, N.Y., and both were so successful this year that they represented the College at the NCAA championships.
Weisenfluh made her NCAA debut while Field was back to defend his national title in the one-meter board while hoping to improve his second place finish in the three-meter event.
What makes the story more unusual is the fact that neither Field or Weisenfluh assumed they would participate in college diving; both, in fact, made the team as non-recruited athletes.
“Brian was recruited by the football team, and Heather just came here,” says diving coach Maria Coomaraswamy. “Brian walked in one day after football practice during his freshman season and has been with us ever since. In fact, he talked
Heather into trying out this year.”
A placekicker, Field found himself playing behind All-American Roger Egbert, who was then a sophomore. After completing his freshman year combining football and diving practices, Field won the Upper New York State championships in both the one-meter and
three meter boards. Not only did he help Union capture its first team championship, he qualified for the NCAA meet, where he finished 17th in the one meter and 20th in the three meter.
As a sophomore, Field came to preseason with the soccer team, but decided to concentrate on diving. At the end of the season, he won state championships in both diving events and was voted “Diver of the Meet.” He went on to become Union's first national diving champion, winning at one meter and finishing runner-up in the three meter. His success helped Union take third place in the NCAA meet.
This year he won his third consecutive state championships in both boards, was again named “Diver of the Meet,” and helped the Dutchmen win their third consecutive state championship.
A mathematics major, Field began diving at the age of eight
and competed for his high school team throughout his four years, also playing soccer, football, and rugby.
“Diving is perhaps the most mental sport I know of,” said Field. “You've got to get over the fear. I didn't even qualify for states in high school, but now I
know – even when I'm in the air – whether my dive is good or not.”
Coomaraswamy points
to Field's work ethic and positive attitude.
“For him, working hard at his sport is a lot of fun,” she says. “Sometimes, he'll make a mistake and crash real bad. The first thing he does when he catches his breath is to laugh. Then he runs right back up to dive again. He won't leave until he does the dive right.”
Weisenfluh participated in diving, cheerleading, soccer, and gymnastics before coming to Union with no expectation of playing college sports. She was talked into practicing by Field, whom she knew from high school, and it didn't take long for Coomaraswamy to see her natural talent.
“Most divers are either very strong or they look good in the air,” Coomaraswamy says. “Heather is a rare talent that combines both. A lot of that comes from her cheerleading and gymnastics background.”
Weisenfluh took second in the one meter and fourth in the
three meter at the state championship, helping the Dutchwomen finish third.
“At the beginning of the season, Maria had us set goals for ourselves,” Weisenfluh says. “My goal was to place in the top fifth at states and to qualify for nationals. I'm a little nervous about the NCAA meet, but I'm also looking forward to competing and representing Union.”
Field hopes to earn a Ph.D. in mathematics and coach a college diving team; Weisenfluh, although unsure of her specific major, is thinking of either teaching or attending medical school. For now, though, both look forward to helping Union's swimming and diving team continue its national success.
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