Diver dedicates himself to gain experience, skill

Harrison Mitchell has “basically a part-time job” on a diving board.

The 16-year-old is referring to his intensive training, which takes about 20 hours of his week and includes trampoline work and conditioning.

But all that time at diving practice has paid off for Mitchell.

In the past two years, he claimed three Amateur Athletic Union national championships and finished among the top 25 divers in the country in USA Diving’s 16-18 age group this past summer.

Mitchell, a Hough junior, also won the 1-meter 4A state championship last winter for the Huskies.

Diving may be a demanding sport, both physically and mentally, but Mitchell says it’s also very rewarding.

“Honestly, it’s probably the adrenaline,” he said. “You get a huge rush when you do big dives. I love doing that.”

Mitchell got into the sport eight years ago. After noticing the divers at Huntersville Family Fitness & Aquatics during one of his swim practice, he recalls asking his mom to let him give it a try.

“I’ve loved it ever since,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell is a perfectionist, constantly comparing his dives to those of athletes who could be bound for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016.

But when he’s on the diving board, he clears his mind and only thinks about the dive.

“When you start thinking about what you did wrong on your last dive or how far ahead the person in the lead is, you start stressing, and that’s when you mess yourself up,” said Mitchell.

Aaron Hintz, Mitchell’s diving coach for the past six years, said Mitchell is a talented diver who will keep getting better.

Hintz, Carolina Diving Academy’s head coach, said as Mitchell has matured he’s developed higher coordination skills, which should translate into better dives.

“His growing slowed down a little bit, his weight has stabilized,” said Hintz. “He’s going to be pretty much the same size at the beginning and the end of the season, and that makes it easier to flip and twist and spin.”

Hintz added that Mitchell is working to add difficulty to his diving repertoire.

“We’re making a significant upgrade to the list of dives he performs at 1-meter, 3-meter and hopefully 10-meter,” he said.

Mitchell is motivated by his hopes of diving in college. He said he’s interested in Virginia Tech, N.C. State, Texas A&M and several schools in Florida.

The Davidson resident also wants to defend his state championship and to be a national finalist in USA Diving’s 16-18 division after missing the finals by a few spots last summer.

Hintz is confident in Mitchell’s chances.

“He will be a strong contender to repeat,” he said. “And he has good potential to be among the top 12 in the country this summer.”

Hintz also has high hopes for his other divers.

Five of last year’s NCHSAA champions train with the Carolina Diving Academy.

Aside from Mitchell, Lake Norman Charter’s Adyson Lowe and Nathan Lane, the 1A/2A champs, as well as Marvin Ridge’s Sara Maleski return to defend their titles.

Hough junior Blair Timberlake, who took last year’s 4A girls’ diving title and helped the Huskies claim the girls’ 4A team championship, is not diving this season.

Sophomore Erin Lee placed third in the 1A/2A girls’ event for Lake Norman Charter last year.

“It should be another good showing for us statewide,” said Hintz.

Hough swim coach Tim Queen is glad to have Mitchell on board.

He said that Mitchell is able to help the four other divers on the team.

“He’s a calming influence to the other divers because he’s so experienced,” said Queen.

Having quality divers can be a big boost for a high school team. With 12 events for each boys and girls, getting points on the diving board can go a long way in a meet.

“To leave an event open, with no one competing, would hurt your chances,” said Queen.

Hintz also likes for his divers to compete with their schools before getting to the brunt of their schedule in the spring and summer.

“High school competition gives them a good venue for competition early in their training calendar,” he said

Most importantly, Hintz explained, it allows the divers to be recognized by their peers.

“They work really hard at this almost in anonymity,” he said. “For the kids at their high school to know their name because they’re great at a sport is not an opportunity they get very often.”