Ivy Houser will only spend one year at Hamilton Heights, but it will be a memorable year for her.
Hamilton Heights’ Ivy Houser won the Hamilton Southeastern diving regional Tuesday evening. Houser scored 505.15 points, including a 60-point final dive.
The Huskies senior won the Hamilton Southeastern girls diving regional Tuesday night, running away with the competition. Houser scored a total of 505.15 points, this after winning the sectional by a large margin. Next up is the state meet, which takes place Saturday at the IUPUI Natatorium.
Houser had been going to online school as she trained and competed in diving meets. But she’s at Heights for her senior year, and competed for the Huskies’ swim and dive team this season with diving coach Steve Hoeferle.
“It feels like I deserved it and I earned it and it’s great to win with Steve,” said Houser. He’s just a good person, and makes it feel even better when I come up out of the water and see his smiling face.”
Houser led by a comfortable margin throughout the 11-dive meet. She finished strongly, scoring an even 60 points on her 11th and final dive of the competition.
“I think I dove pretty decent,” said Houser. “I could’ve done better, but every meet is just a qualifier until you get to state.”
Houser is an obvious contender for a state championship, but she also has enjoyed getting to spend a year at a regular high school. After competing with USA Diving for her entire life, she got to experience what was it like on a high school athletic team.
“They’re just so supportive and so much fun, and it’s more interactive, and it’s more of a team sport, so I love it,” said Houser.
The same goes for the social aspect of high school as well.
“It’s been wonderful,” said Houser. “Everyone’s nice to me. I have normal friends, I’ve done normal high school things, and everyone’s just been very welcoming and very accommodating to me.”
Houser was one of five Hamilton County divers to secure a top eight spot at the regional, thus qualifying for state. Fishers’ Maddie Folta finished third at the regional, scoring 431.70 points.
“This is my senior year, so I was really hoping to make it to state and it’s just great to have that dream come true, and I’m really excited for Saturday,” said Folta.
Noblesville’s Dayana Popa will be making a return to state after placing fifth at the regional with a score of 405.50 points.
“It feels really good, because last year I was hurt,” said Popa. The senior will be making her third appearance at state, placing 24th as a freshman, then making the medal stand as a sophomore by taking fifth.
Hamilton Southeastern will have two divers at state. Sophomore Halli Siwik placed sixth with 404.65 points, and freshman Sarah Ballard finished eighth with 396.65.
“It’s a great feeling, and to bring someone
along with me, that’s even better,” said Siwik.
“I’m personally really excited, because being a freshman, it’s just so exciting, and I get to go with my best friend,” said Ballard.
Southeastern senior Hannah Van Tassel placed 11th at the regional with 354.40 points, making it a very successful first year for new HSE diving coach Dylan Marin.
“I’m incredibly happy with their performance tonight,” said Marin. “They kept it one time at a dive, just really focused. I’m very happy with how they did.
Carmel junior Emma Toomey also competed at the regional, finishing 12th with 347.50 points.
HOUSER: It feels pretty good. It feels like I deserved it and I earned it and it’s great to win with Steve. He’s just a good person, and makes it feel even better when I come up out of the water and see his smiling face.
I think I dove pretty decent. I could’ve done better, but every meet is just a qualifier until you get to state. That’s the only big one. I think I had a pretty good meet, and hopefully it’s better, trying to break the record.
It has been a lot of fun for me. I’ve been on a regular USA Diving team for my whole life, but high school’s a lot different. There is a lot more stuff to do, and people are talking like they’re normal, which I’m not used to. They’re just so supportive and so much fun, and it’s more interactive, and it’s more of a team sport, so I love it.
This is my first year in regular high school, because I do online school.
It’s been wonderful. Everyone’s nice to me. I have normal friends, I’ve done normal high school things, and everyone’s just been very welcoming and very accommodating to me.