This season marks a turning point for the Foxes diving program as six seniors – Ainsley Anderson, Ellie Dering, Noelle Dick, Gina Fitzsimmons, Devon McDonald, and two-time state medalist Jackson Hagler – prepare to take their final dives.
The divers, who all have been with the team since they were freshmen, have lofty goals before the close-knit group heads off to start the next chapter in their lives. Some of the athletes hope to dive in college, but all will take with them cherished memories.
Three WPIAL Qualifiers So Far for Boys
Jackson, a Bucknell University commit, ranks among Pennsylvania’s top three male divers in Class 3A. With consistently high scores in the low-300s, Jackson is a strong contender for gold at both the WPIAL and PIAA championships. Jackson has qualified for WPIALs and states all four years. Last season, he won the silver medal at WPIALs and the bronze medal at states. He is the program’s most elite diver since two-time WPIAL champion and 2021 PIAA champion David Manelis, now a senior diver for the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Judging by his early performances this year, Jackson’s artistry, technique, power, and soaring heights point toward another medal-producing year, but he is more interested in improving, one meet at a time.
“In all honesty, I am just trying to do my best at every meet,” shares Jackson. “I believe my diving has become better as a whole since last season. I have been working on improving my form, and I hope the hard work will pay off. I’m super focused on learning new dives. I have expanded my diving repertoire through the addition of a pike position into my dive list. I am excited to compete with these new dives.”
Throughout the years, Jackson says his leadership skills have evolved, making him very dedicated to helping his underclass teammates. His guidance has been critical in the development of exceptionally talented sophomores Finn Kress and Gosha Pistsov. Both have qualified for their first WPIAL championship.
Strong Leadership, Energy for Girls
Ainsley qualified for WPIALs at the first meet of this season and is eager to make her third championship appearance. She finished seventh at last season’s WPIALs.
Ainsley, who typically scores between 250 and 260 points at each meet, is only 15 points shy of breaking the Foxes’ girls scoring record held by graduate Miranda Simon. Ainsley’s highest marks typically come from her forward double somersault in pike position and her inward 1.5 somersault in tuck position.
“There are a lot of strong girls in AAA diving again this year, so I just want to do my best and have fun,” Ainsley says.
“Ainsley is much stronger this season,” says coach Vernon Yenick. “There are a lot of circumstances that go into diving at a big championship – logistics, mechanics, and technique – and there are really good divers in WPIAL AAA that have those skills. Some of them are the best in the state. But Ainsley has really improved, is attempting more difficult dives, and could do well if she performs to her potential.”
Noelle, making her second trip to WPIALs, is described by her coach as, “a very fluid and graceful diver who is very precise entering the water. She has a great attitude about learning the more difficult dives and has two dives in particular that bring her consistently high scores – the double somersault in pike position and the back dive in pike position.”
Ellie, a captain, is expected to qualify for WPIALs before the regular season concludes.
“Ellie is really good at ripping her entries, meaning she creates little to no splash,” coach Yenick says. “Ellie is just an awesome leader and incredible person.”
Like many divers, Ellie is a former gymnast who says her initial goals as a freshman were simply to try a new sport and learn some fun dives. Over time, those goals evolved. While she still wants to look back on her diving experience as a fun part of her high school days, she is continuously working to master more difficult dives to improve her standings for WPIALs.
“Diving has taught me to have confidence in my ability to try new things,” she says. “As someone whose first reflex is to say, ‘I can’t do it,’ diving has helped me to say, ‘I can.’ Just this change of mindset has resulted in progress in my diving career.”
Ellie likes to stress the importance of team morale and positivity.
“When team morale is up, we are capable of accomplishing goals we could only have dreamed of,” she says. “Through diving I have learned the importance of encouraging your teammates.”
Fellow seniors Gina and Devon have also played roles in the team’s success through their strong leadership and the energy they create on deck.
Continuing the Legacy
Coach Yenick, now in his 17th season, commends his seniors for their self-awareness, positivity, and support for their teammates.
“The maturity level that all of these kids possess is the highest that I have had on any team I have coached,” he says. “They are aware that of what needs to be done at any given moment and do it without me having to say anything. Success is inevitable with this attitude.”
He’s also proud of their academic accomplishments.
“All of the seniors also are National Honor Society members and basically straight-A students,” the coach says. “It is important to plan a career outside of diving, and these kids are all doing that before they are even at a university.”
As the seniors prepare for their final competitions, the underclassmen – sophomores Finn and Gosha, along with freshmen Henry Harrison and Felicity Anderson, Ainsley’s younger sister – are stepping up, preparing to continue the program’s legacy without them.
“The upperclassmen all have been so helpful to the freshmen by encouraging them to feel comfortable for an intense sport like diving,” says coach Yenick. The camaraderie makes them want to come to practices, which makes it less stressful. There is so much to learn as a beginning diver.”
The coach is optimistic about attracting new divers to the program.
“A great thing about our program is that every year seems to bring in interested freshmen,” the coach says. “It’s the only program I’ve worked for within the WPIAL that has been able to consistently recruit freshmen who are able to stick it out at the difficult beginning stages of learning to dive.”
In the meantime, the divers’ regular season will conclude February 13 at an away meet versus Baldwin High School. Then, the Foxes head to the WPIAL Class 3A diving championships February 22, at North Allegheny High School. The PIAA diving championships are set for Friday, March 14 at Bucknell University’s Kinney Natatorium.