Jumping into their future
JACKSON TWP — If the younger divers on Seneca Valley's girls team are looking for an example as to where talent and a strong work ethic can take them, they have three from which to choose.
Seniors Kenzie Clark, Maddie Montalbano and Meghan Keppler each recently signed a letter of intent to compete in college.
Clark and Montalbano are both headed for Division I schools at Penn State and Ohio University, respectively, and Keppler will dive at Division II's Clarion University.
“It's wonderful,” said SV coach Nancy Laslavic. “I call them my kids. I started the year before Maddie and Meghan came in (as freshmen). I've seen them get better as they've gone through the program.”
Clark did not join SV's diving team until her junior year, but got in a year and a half of training at the University of Pittsburgh before that.
She placed third in the WPIAL last year and was 12th at the state championship meet.
“I was a gymnast for 13 years,” she said. “I had a series of injuries that kept coming back. I always felt like I wanted to try diving and picked it up at the end of my freshman year.
“Ever since I stepped foot on campus at Penn State, I've felt welcomed,” she added. “The swimming and diving there, it's not like they're separate teams. Everything is so inclusive.”
Montalbano said the most challenging aspect of the sport is the mental side, but has learned to deal with the pressure. She recently qualified for WPIALs for the fourth straight year. She medaled as a sophomore by finishing eighth.
“I love learning different dives and improving,” she said. “You learn so much about yourself.
“Confidence is key. You can't be successful without having confidence. My freshman year, my teammates and coaches pushed me to become the best I can be. That's when I realized how much potential I have.”
Keppler has placed seventh in the WPIAL the last two years. She has learned to balance the competitive side of diving and still enjoy herself.
“I've made a lot of progress,” she said. “You need to have the ability to push yourself that extra step, but for me, it's also about having fun.
“I want to do better this year. I will push myself to the limit and see where that takes me.”
All three divers have a gymnastics background and train at Pitt.
“There's definitely competition between us, but we never butt heads,” said Clark. “We're all friends and support each other.”
“I feel like I can go to either of them for support or to just hear me out,” Keppler said.
Having such a strong senior class will benefit SV's divers even after Clark, Montalbano and Keppler are gone.
“They've all been great with the younger girls,” Laslavic said. “They show them how to handle a difficult dive and share their experiences.”
