Sports
Diving In
When Jonathan Skaggs showed up at Penn State Altoona's pool to use the high dive, the lifeguards told Skaggs that no one was allowed to jump off the boards.
"They told me that the only way you could use the diving board was if you were on the Penn State Altoona swimming and diving team," recalls Skaggs. "So I asked the lifeguard where I could sign up."
Upon inquiry, Skaggs learned that the diving team was virtually non-existent, as it had no team members. But not for long.
Two years later, Skaggs is the only diver on the Penn State Altoona roster, and says he has thoroughly enjoyed his experience.
Although he got his start in diving as a youngster, Skagg's high school did not offer swimming and diving. He never thought much more about the sport until he was turned away by the Penn State Altoona lifeguards.
Unfortunately, Penn State Altoona's swimming and diving teams currently are not affiliated with a conference. The Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference, which is the home to Penn State Altoona's other twelve varsity sports, does not have enough member schools with swimming and diving. However, with the addition of Pitt-Bradford to the AMCC for the 2006-2007 season, Penn State Altoona, Frostburg State, Penn State Behrend, and Pitt-Bradford will make up the AMCC swimming and diving schools.
As for Skaggs, he was off to a great start this year. His coach at Penn State Altoona, Bill Anthony, has helped him improve his diving form and the technical aspects of the sport. For Skaggs, who doesn't get to practice with the rest of the swimming team, Anthony has given him the tools to become a successful collegiate diver.
"Coach comes in a lot of nights and works with me," notes Skaggs. "I have classes during the swimming and diving practice, so Coach Anthony meets me here at night and we'll practice. Since I'm the only diver, it works out well. Diving has been a really fun opportunity for me at Penn State Altoona."