New Cape Central diver finds validation for her work

Cape Central freshman Tommy-Anne Marriott poses after recently taking fourth and second in the 1- and 3-meter springboard competitions, respectively, at the 2020 Junior Olympic Diving Championships in Noblesville, Indiana.

Submitted photo

The days pass by and young diver Tommy-Anne Marriott practices under the sweltering sun of the Mid-South summer at Central Municipal Pool in Cape Girardeau.

She does so in the winter under the encompassing “bubble,” as well.

Year after year has passed – four to be exact – with the Kelly teen continually working on her craft.

Now, if only she could find out whether her diligence has paid off.

“There is nowhere for her to dive (in competitions),” her father and coach, Delbert Marriott, explained.

The Marriotts recently made a 10-hour (round-trip) to find competition, and as it turns out, Tommy-Anne is pretty damn good.

The soon-to-be high school freshman recently placed fourth in the 1-meter springboard competition at the 2020 Junior Olympic Diving Championships in Noblesville, Indiana, and took second in the 3-meter competition.

“It’s hard to train for four years,” Delbert said. “This was only her fourth meet in four years.”

In the beginning

Four years ago, neither of the Marriotts knew much about the sport of diving. However, Delbert got Tommy-Anne up on a board and she showed ability.

To help his daughter pursue a goal, he began to study the sport so that he could work with her. Fast-forward to today and Delbert not only coaches his 15-year-old daughter but other divers throughout the area. He oversees the Zero Gravity club team, as well as coaches diving for Jackson High School.

“I’m still learning as a coach,” Delbert said. “But I think that I’ve gotten better as a coach. My old style was more football mentality. But in diving, you can’t do that, especially with the girls. You have to be aware of their feelings.”

That was a learning process that both Tommy-Anne and Delbert endured together.

Cape Central freshman Tommy-Anne Marriott competes in the 3-meter springboard competition recently at the 2020 Junior Olympic Diving Championships in Noblesville, Indiana. She finished second in the event.
Submitted photo

Sticking to it

After her first year of diving, Tommy-Anne decided that she had had enough of working under her father and she wanted to quit the sport.

“What we decided was,” Delbert explained, “once we got in the car (after a practice), we don’t talk diving.”

COVID-19 was a good thing?

The arduousness of training constantly – without the incentive of competition – began to wear on Tommy-Anne last winter.

She reached the point mentally that she was once again going to quit the sport and just focus on softball. However, when the coronavirus pandemic came and she was told that she couldn’t train – even if she wanted to – it began to fuel her fire for the sport again.

Validation

Tommy-Anne finally got back on the board this summer and prepared for the Junior Olympics, which drew over 200 divers from around the country.

She competed with eight dives in both competitions and her inward 2 ½ somersaults in the 3-meter competition carried the highest degree of difficulty (which helps boost a score) in the meet.

She “nailed her final two dives,” according to Delbert, which were a back 1 ½ somersault with 1 ½ twists and a forward 2 ½ somersault pike, to seal the runner-up finish.

“Most of her dives are absolutely gorgeous,” Delbert said. “As a coach, I just can’t say ‘That is a gorgeous dive.’ My job is to nit-pick it until I think that it is a 10. The whole point is to seek perfection. That has been her main focus this year is literally trying to perfect every single dive.”

A new start

Kelly High School doesn’t have a swimming and diving facility, so Tommy-Anne elected to enroll at Cape Central this fall and she couldn’t be more excited for a bunch of different reasons.

“There are a lot more opportunities in (a high school season),” Tommy-Anne said. “I get to compete this year.”

Imagine that. Actually getting rewarded for her hard work.

“This was a big deal,” Delbert said of the Junior Olympics. “It validated all of those hours and hours of practice.”

Tommy-Anne has already been training with other divers from Cape Central, and she said that relationship played a big part in her decision.

“There are a lot more ranges of classes (at Cape versus Kelly),” Tommy-Anne said, “and a lot more people that I can make friends with. I’m so excited because I never get to compete.”

Dayna plays a role

Tommy-Anne has gotten to know veteran Tiger swim coach Dayna Powell through the recent years and she said Powell “is amazing.”

Tommy-Anne also liked how Powell runs her program from a team perspective, though many think of swimming and diving as individual sports.

“I loved the fact that the (Cape Central) team got along,” Tommy-Anne said. “It was a team sport and it wasn’t swimming and diving separately. That was my favorite thing about it.”

She packs potential

Tommy-Anne showed her ability at the Junior Olympics, and Powell said there is more of that to come.

“We are, of course, thrilled with Tommy-Anne’s decision to come to Cape,” Powell said. “We have watched her dive for years. We feel like we have a really strong girl’s team this year and adding her is terribly exciting.”

Margo O’Meara is the inarguably the greatest diver in the history of the MSHSAA. The Westminster Christian senior is a 3-time Class 1 state champion and won this year’s meet with a state-record score of 636.50, which was over 200 points better than any other diver in the competition.

“She is, people believe, the best diver ever competing in Missouri, boy’s or girl’s,” Powell said. “If it wasn’t for Margo, I’d say Tommy-Anne would be the favorite for a state title.

“I think that it is still possible, but Margo is pretty tough and she has several years of experience on Tommy-Anne. But I do think the potential for Tommy-Anne is unlimited.”