In the first three swim meets of the season, Virginia freshman diver Jackie Apple has only lost one of the six events in which she has competed.
Apple's one loss occurred fairly early in last week's meet against Virginia Tech when Hokie Laura Lunn won the women's three-meter board competition. Later that same day, however, Apple avenged her loss with a win over Lunn in the women's one-meter competition.
Virginia diving coach Dave Fafara said he is impressed with Apple's performance so far this season.
"She has a great chance of making it into the top 5 at the ACCs this year," Fafara said. "And she has a strong chance of making the NCAAs."
Apple's first passion was gymnastics. It was not until her freshman year of high school that she began diving seriously.
"I was a gymnast for 11 years, but then I had a really bad injury," Apple said. "It was my country club swim coach who suggested I take up diving."
For four years in New Albany, Ohio, Apple dove for both New Albany High School as well as the U.S. Elite Diving Academy, a club team. Her decision to come to Virginia, while influenced by several factors, was not a hard one to make.
"I really liked Dave [Fafara], and I wanted to go to an ACC school, considering I am originally from North Carolina," she said. "Also, my high school, New Albany High School, was modeled after U.Va. So at my school, this is where everyone really wants to go."
Given her success, it seems that Apple's transition to collegiate diving has been relatively easy. Nevertheless, she admits that diving for Virginia is quite different from her high school experience.
"Well for one, in high school you don't do the three-meter in meets," Apple said. "Also, the meets I think are a lot more fun here. They are a lot bigger, and you have all the fans coming in, which is really exciting. It's definitely different, but I probably like college diving better."
To ease the transition, Apple has looked to the older divers for advice and support. Senior Patty Parks has been her main mentor.
"[She] has been such a help," Apple said. "She is awesome, and all the other swimmers have been really supportive too. I love the team."
Part of Apple's success stems from her ability to remain calm during meets. While she said it is unsettling to learn new dives in practice, once she has mastered them and is competing, she does not think about being scared.
Fafara said he loves the enthusiastic attitude Apple brings to practice. He also said he appreciates her willingness to try new dives even though she likes back dives the best.
On the whole, Apple's coach has high hopes for his young diver.
"I think she is going to have a stellar career at U.Va.," Fafara said.
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