6B
Friday, March 7, 1997
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Into the deep
After diving for 16 years,junior Brian Humphrey sets his sights on the Zone Diving championships
By Kelly Cannon
Kansan sportswriter
Humphrey began diving when he was six.
As junior diver Brian Humphrey heads to College Station, Texas, for the Zone Diving championships, he remembers his accomplishments and still relishes in the thrill of the sport.
"When I do new dives and I hit them, it is thrilling." he said.
"I was at a public pool messing around doing flips and a lifeguard suggested to my parents that I should take diving lessons," Humphrey said. "My parents enrolled me in them that winter."
Diving wasn't the only sport that Humphrey devoted his time to, however. He began gymnastics at age 8.
Humphrey's success in the sport continued through high school. He dove with a U.S. diving team until he entered high school at Olathe East, when he started diving only for his high school team.
- He placed first at state three out of his four prep years.
However, those accomplishments are not what Humphrey said he was most proud of.
"That is the accomplishment that I remember," he said.
After his accomplishments in high school, Humphrey seriously considered two colleges where he could continue his diving: Kansas and Southern Illinois.
"I looked at several different places," Humphrey said. "Lawrence was familiar and I liked the campus. I liked the people and felt comfortable, and it was close to my family."
Humphrey's talents attracted the attention of Kansas diving coach Don Fearon.
"I recruited him," Fearon said. "He is
SPORTS
one you don't want to let slip away."
Humphrey placed fourth in the one-meter and fifth in the three-meter competition his freshman year at Kansas. He decided to take a break and not compete his sophomore year, eventually getting back into the sport after Fearon asked him to coach at a summer clinic for the University.
"I started diving around, and we went to a meet that summer," Humphrey said.
Last year Humphrey placed fourth on both the one-and three-meter boards at the Big Eight championships. Last weekend his placings went up again as he finished third on the three-meter and fourth on the one-meter at the Big 12 championships.
"I was pleased with my three-meter performance in the finals," Humphrey said.
"Humphrey may seem reserved about his accomplishments, but that is because he is his own hardest critic," Fearon said.
"He'll give it his best until the end," Fearon said. "He doesn't have to be that hard on himself, and sometimes I have to tell him to take it easy on himself. He has a strong work ethic."
Humphrey also is reserved about what he adds to the team.
"I don't add a whole lot," he said. "I add my presence, and I'm trying to achieve to be the best I can be."
However, Fearon said he thought Humphrey was a strong influence on the Kansas team.
"Brian is a quiet leader, leading by
example." Fearon said. "He is not your
"I don't feel I'm done in diving. There is so much more I want to achieve in diving."
Brian Humphrey KU diver
rah-rah cheerleader type of guy, but you can count on him because he is a competitor."
Humphrey said he was motivated by the meets he attended and the competition he faced
"My biggest motivator is going to a big meet and seeing really great divers," he said. "I want to compete at their level and improve to be the best. I love competing against good divers, even though sometimes I feel self-conscious. I have to reach down and perform at a higher level."
Humphrey's next meet is the Zone Diving championships March 14-15 in College Station, Texas. Humphrey must place in the top six on either the one- or three-meter boards to advance to the NCAA championships.
"I want to dive as well as I can," he said. "If I dive as well as I can and don't make the NCAAs, it's OK. I just want to perform my best."
"I don't feel I'm done in diving," he said. "There is so much more I want to achieve in diving."
Despite all his years in the sport, Humphrey doesn't think his job is finished.
Pam Dishman / KANSAN
Diver Brian Humphrey approaches his dive at practice in the Robinson Center natatorium. Humphrey placed third on the three-meter, and fourth on the one-meter at the Big 12 competition. He will be competing next at the Zone Diving championships March 14-15 in College Station, Texas.
Kansan Classifieds Get the Results You want
NOMINATIONS WANTED
THE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN IS NOW ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS TO HONOR OUTSTANDING WOMEN STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF FOR ITS ANNUAL
WOMEN'S RECOGNITION PROGRAM
Hall of Fame: Designed to honor outstanding women graduates of the University and K.U. faculty or staff who provide models for students as they choose careers and become effective citizens.
Outstanding Woman Teacher: Designed to honor a female instructor, student or non-student, who has performed effectively and professionally as an educator at the University of Kansas.
Outstanding Woman Staff Member: Designed to honor a non-faculty woman who has contributed in a unique way to the University.
Outstanding International Woman Student: Designed to honor a woman student from a country other than the United States who has demonstrated academic achievement and participation in various aspects of community or college life.
Outstanding Nontraditional Woman Student: Designed to honor a nontraditional woman who has made a unique contribution to the University or community. (Nontraditional includes those who are continuing their education after an absence from school, those who are over 21 and just beginning their college education, those who work full-time and attend school part-time, veterans, or single parents who are students.)
Outstanding Woman Student in Student Services: Designed to honor a woman student for outstanding contributions to student or university organizations.
Outstanding Woman Student In Leadership: Designed to honor a woman student who has exhibited leadership and active participation in concerns of contemporary women on campus, in the community, state, or at the national level.
OUTSTANDING WOMEN WILL BE HONORED FOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN EACH OF THE ABOVE AREAS. THE WOMEN'S RECOGNITION COMMITTEE WILL REVIEW THE INFORMATION OBTAINED AND ANNOUNCHE THE WOMEN SELECTED AT THE WOMEN'S RECOGNITION PROGRAM ON THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 1997 AT 8:00 P.M. IN THE ALDERSON AUDITORIUM, KANSAS UNION.
DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 1997 AT 5:00 P.M.
Outstanding Woman Student in Community Services: Designed to honor a woman student for active contributions in off-campus oriented work.
Commission on the Status of Women is a student organization funded by Student Senate.
Outstanding Pioneer Woman: "...for a woman's historic contributions to humanity'
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