THUNDER BAY -- Christopher Lake-Voros says there’s a definite home-pool advantage at Dive Ontario’s Winter Provincials.
The 15-year-old Thunder Bay Diving Club rising star is one of eight local athletes taking part in the event at the Canada Games Complex, and on Friday said every little edge counts when competing against the top divers in central Canada.
“You’re already used to all the boards and where everything is, so when you’re spotting for your flips, it makes it easier,” he said.
Teammate Abbegayle Meloche agreed.
“It’s a really big advantage to know the boards and know the pool and where your spot is and what you’re doing,” the 14-year-old St. Ignatius High School student said.
Both teens are hoping to use the event to springboard themselves into junior nationals.
For Lake-Voros, the challenge comes from the fact he’s moved up an age group and will compete against much older divers in the 16 to 18 age category.
With age comes higher expectations and not just from within. The judges also expect more too.
“When you move up a level you have to learn harder and harder dives and the scores you’re expected to get are higher and higher,” he said. “So it’s quite difficult.”
Coach Jason Napper said it’s been an adjustment for Lake-Voros competing at a higher level, but he’s confident the youngster has the talent to succeed.
“He’s getting used to his new competitive list. It’s kind of a slow process, but last year he was top 12 in all events at the junior nationals.”
Meloche wants to improve on her results from last year, when she qualified for junior nationals in the tower event.
This year, she wants a little more.
“This year I’m hoping to qualify on all three boards,” Meloche said.
Napper said he likes her chances.
“She’s got an outstanding entry into the water on platform events, so I’m looking forward to some great things from her as well,” Napper said.
Napper said 43 athletes are taking part in this weekend’s event, the first of three chances divers will have to qualify for junior nationals.
“It’s a great warm-up,” Napper said.
“And for our young divers, this is maybe the second or third event they’ve ever been in. So they’re still getting used to the whole procedure and everything it entails.”
Napper is also hoping for big things from Cristen Merlo, who he expects can place in the top 8 at nationals next July.
The competition wraps up on Sunday.
