Sophomore divers Garrett Bailey and Sarah Griffith both qualified for state as freshmen, setting them up for even more success the next three years.
This season, Griffith is aiming for her second state win, after finishing first in the 1-meter last year. Her mom has been a top supporter and her inspiration because her mom was a diver as well.
Going to finals as a freshman is a huge learning experience.
“I struggle with competition anxiety a lot,” Griffith said, “but that meet was the first one I had a lot of fun in. I competed better, and I embraced the crowd noise.”
Her mom, who was also a diver, has been an inspiration and has supported her on her journey. Griffith wants to dive in college, but she has not yet made it to the point where she is thinking about specific schools.
“I don’t know right now, definitely in the SEC,” she said. “I don’t want to go far; I’m kind of just seeing where I may land when I start reaching out.”
Bailey is going for his first state win this season, after finishing fourth in the 1-meter as a freshman. When he was in 4th grade, he started coming to Knoxville from Alabama to dive for a team. He moved to Knoxville almost three years ago to continue his training.
His mom has always pushed him as a diver, and he feels supported in his sport.
“The community and the teammates always bring you up,” Bailey said. “During competitions, the team will always come and cheer you on no matter what part of the team you’re on.”
Bailey’s dream is to dive at UT Knoxville.
The diving coach is Nick Rusek at Tennessee Aquatic Center. He said he finds coaching Bailey and Griffith to be rewarding because they are both extremely driven and always eager to learn.
“Making finals at such a young age gives them a huge advantage for the future,” Coach Rusek said. “It boosts their confidence and gives them valuable experience competing at a high level early on.
“This experience helps them handle pressure and set higher goals for themselves as they continue to grow and improve their diving careers.”
Their school season will wrap up in February with state, followed by the USA diving season in the spring and summer.