Freshman diver Kimi Schmidt
Add Kimi Schmidt to Westfield State’s lengthy list of talented divers as she placed first in the one and three meter diving at the New England Intercollegiate Swimming & Diving Association (NEISDA) Division II/III championships at UMass Dartmouth on Feb. 20-22.
“It feels really good,” said the freshman standout from Longmeadow, who set school records in both events and has qualified provisionally for the NCAA Division III national championships, which will be held March 18-21 in Minneapolis. “It wasn’t really a goal of mine. I was just trying to do the best that I could.”
Schmidt, who has been diving since she was nine years old, describes college as a huge change but it’s a transition that she welcomes.
“There is much more talent here than in high school,” she said. “And we are a tight group that supports each other.”
Dave Laing, Westfield State’s veteran head coach who was an All American diver at Springfield College, says this about his gifted group of divers: “They all push each other and support each other; they don’t look at each other being better than the next, It’s the greatest thing to have six talented divers.”
Schmidt favors the one-meter board but has grown to like the three-meter board.
When asked how she could improve, Schmidt said, “I think trying to get my confidence up on the three meter would be a big help. Also, to perfect my easy dives, just work hard on making them better.”
Schmidt possesses strengths that make her stand out from other divers.
“She is willing to try the next dive,” said Laing. “Form and body control play a great part. Kimi knows where she is going to land in the water which is very important.”
Schmidt claims to be very surprised by her overall performance, and shocked to know she has the chance to go to the NCAA Championships.
“Help, if I do get to go (to nationals),” said Schmidt with a smile. “It will be a really cool experience. Just to be able to see all those talented divers would be awesome.”
If Schmidt does qualify for nationals, Laing has simply instructed her to “just do your dives.”
“If you do your dives, then the scores will take care of themselves…that’s the key,” he said.
Schmidt has enjoyed her first year at Westfield State, saying she enjoys being with her teammates. Schmidt also credits her coach for providing a proper perspective.
“Coach is awesome, one minute he’ll be joking around and the next minute he will be telling me what I need to do,” said Schmidt. “He is a good balance between joking and seriousness, which is what I need.”
Schmidt has made a big splash in the collegiate world of diving and her experience and success this year bodes well for the future.
“I don’t see my life without diving,” said Schmidt. “I’ve met so many people, it’s so cool.”