Lake Forest Diver is 'Driven' to Sectional Title Success

This weekend’s state swim meet at least will give Andrew Marsh a break from driving to the city.

The  diver usually spends Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays commuting to the University of Illinois-Chicago campus to train with Windy City Diving. It used to be so easy when the facility was located at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire.

“It’s a good 45 minutes to an hour,” Marsh said. “Right after school, I hit the road.”

But there are some rewards for the trek.

“We start out with 30 minutes on the trampoline,” he said. “I love going through that.”

From 44th To 10th

Apparently, his driving regimen is paying dividends. 

Marsh rang up the state’s 10th best point total as he approaches the state meet, which starts with prelims tonight at New Trier High School, and continues with the finals Saturday.

“Last year, he was ranked 44th,” said Lake Forest diving coach Pam Uhrik. “Now, he’s ranked 10th. That has taken a lot of hard work. He’s worked on his degree of difficulty.”

Starting with the inward 2.5 tuck dive, Marsh has pushed his diving career to new heights.

“Not everyone can do it,” Uhrik noted. “He can spin so fast.”

Marsh said his best subjects in school are English and social studies, but in diving, he pays attention to physics.

“I’m facing the wall backwards,” Marsh said. “I’m jumping forward toward the board. It’s gravity and the law of physics that pushes me back. The first time I tried it, it was a little scary. I’ve bruised my ankles before.”

New Dives Create Opportunity

The payback is more chances for points in competitions, and a sense of progress.

“I have improved immensely over last year,” he said. “I’ve seen the videos of my dives. It looks like a different person.”

Uhrik recalled how Marsh came over to the diving program from his world of skiing.

“He got the bug for diving,” she said. “Now he’s devoted to it and committed to it. He’s a fun kid to be around, and he’s a great listener.”

That bug is driving his career plans. Marsh wants to take diving with him to college.

“It takes a lot of time commitment,” he said. “But I’m going to do what it takes. The last few months, I’ve put my name out there. I want to know what it takes to be a college diver.”

In the meantime, this year’s trip to state will bring a little less case of the nerves.

“I was more nervous than excited last year,” he said. “I was one of six sophomores last year and it was a little intimidating.”

Scouts Will Be There in Numbers

Marsh will not be alone. The Scouts have qualified two relays and several individuals in the swim events and are shooting for a top-10 team finish.

“There is a ton of camaraderie on this team,” he said. “The majority of my friends are swimmers. There are a lot of bonds on this team. And I’ve made friends with some other seniors, which makes me more comfortable.”

Uhrik expects her top diver to reach the top 12 this weekend.

“Easily the top 12,” she said.

Of course, now that he’s a topnotch diver, will the Lake Forest program curtail Marsh’s favorite hobby?

“My coach would rather I not ski,” Marsh said. “But it’s too amazing to give up. I’m a big skier. I love to hike and sail in the summer.”

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