Diver qualifies for NCAA Zone Meet for one meter

During November's meet against La Salle, junior Janis Scanlon climbed up the ladder of the three-meter diving board, took a deep breath and attempted the reverse two-and-a-half dive, the same dive that Greg Louganis was doing when he hit his head in the 1988 Olympics.

"It happened on my very first dive at the meet," Scanlon said. "With the gainer two-and-a-half, you're supposed to jump forward and flip backwards. I went over and I smacked my legs really hard. It stung."

Scanlon completed the rest of her three-meter dives and fought her way back to earn third place overall with 228.6 points. After collecting herself, Scanlon prepared for her competition at one meter.

"I just sucked it up, collected myself and finished the meet. It was right before Thanksgiving -- all I wanted to do was to go home.

"I was not thinking about scores, which in retrospect was really good. It's especially taxing for me, to think I have to get 'x', 'y' and 'z' on every dive. It just screws with my head."

While she wasn't thinking about scores, Scanlon made Penn history at one-meter by scoring 278.78 points. It was enough to qualify for the NCAA Northeast Zone Meet, Penn's only female diver to do so in the past 13 years.

"I wasn't even expecting it," Scanlon said. "It was one of the best meets of the season so far. Making NCAA Zones definitely was one of those unattainable goals I had freshman and sophomore years. Now it's a whole new ballpark."

Qualifying for the NCAA Zone Meet early in the season has boosted Scanlon's performance and confidence levels.

Head diving coach Julie Van Deusen also believes that Scanlon's mental strategy and confidence are key to her success, since her physical skills are strong.

"She trains hard in the weight room, and it really shows," Van Deusen said. "She's got it all there physically. It's just the mind. It's just about the confidence. She just needs to go with it."

Much of Scanlon's success can be attributed to her strong relationship with Van Deusen, who became Penn's head diving coach last year.

"As soon as Julie stepped in, I knew that I would have to step up my diving," Scanlon said. "Julie works really well with the team and the coach-athlete relationship is very strong."

Head swimming coach Mike Schnur knows that the new coach has helped the diving program, saying "It's obvious that the divers are being coached effectively."

After training together over winter break at Georgia Tech at the 1996 Olympic Pool, Penn's divers have become especially close, and they feed off of each other's energy.

"Janis has a great relationship with each of the divers," fellow junior Kate McArdle said. "She trains hard, and that inspires each of us to do the same. She has been a great role model not only for this year's freshmen but also for the rest of us.

"She encourages us to do dives we're scared of or nervous about."

In meets this year, Scanlon has been very competitive with past Ivy League diving champions and other top finishers.

"At the Harvard meet, I beat the one-meter champion my freshman year," Scanlon said. "It's really hard to believe."

With her physical skills fine-tuned, Scanlon just needs to focus on confidence and mental strategy to do well at the Ivy League finals and the NCAA Zone Meet.

"Janis has done a great job all year," Schnur said. "She's definitely improved as an athlete since last season. Janis has a chance to win in every meet, which is a testament to her hard work."

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.