THUNDER BAY – For the past couple of years Helena Heiskanen and Cristen Merlo have watched as their teammate has travelled to compete at national and international meets.
Now those two will head off to Cuba alongside Molly Carlson.
The three Thunder Bay Diving Club teammates stamped a spot at an April training camp and competition in Cuba after strong performances at the Ontario Spring Provincial Championships, which were held this weekend at the Canada Games Complex.
“It’s really exciting because we’re really good friends so it will be a good time to train together. I’ve never been to Cuba before so I’m really excited to go,” Merlo said.
Head coach Jason Napper said sending the trio of divers is a significant milestone for the program.
“We’re trying to build a high calibre level of diving here. It’s kind of official that we’ve done it,” Napper said. “It’s not just Molly anymore. We’re putting out more and more kids that are of a higher calibre.”
Merlo ended her weekend on Sunday with her strongest performance, winning a bronze medal in the open three-metre category with a qualifying score that earns her a trip to senior nationals.
The result came as a surprise to the 14-year-old.
“I wasn’t really thinking I could. I was just trying to do the best I could and I’m really happy with that,” she said after receiving her medal.
“It’s a real confidence booster know that I know I can do as well as I did.”
Merlo also placed second in her age category for the three-metre with a qualifying score strong enough for junior nationals.
“She continues to surprise herself but she’s not surprising me,” Napper said.
Heiskanen had a successful weekend from start to finish, medalling in her age category in all three disciplines and securing junior national qualifying times.
That included an impressive win in the 10-metre platform on Friday.
“For nationals I just hope to do the dives I do the best I can,” she said. “Before I didn’t have the high degree of difficulty dives but now I’m getting higher.
Carlson, who had a strong weekend of her own with a haul of five medals in her six events, said she is thrilled to have her teammates join her on an international stage.
It’s a reward for the hard work she has seen Heiskanen and Merlo put in.
“They started out strong divers but in the past two or three years they’ve really developed. I’ve been on the junior national team and they’ve been looking up to that and wanting to get there,” Carlson said.
“They’ve been working so hard to get there and I think it’s really exciting.”
Carlson met senior national qualifying standards in both the one-metre and three-metre and qualified for junior nationals on all three boards.
Other local divers who achieved junior national standards were Abby Meloche, Kamryn Knapton and Christopher Lake-Voros.
