DRIVE TO DIVE: Wasilla senior has potential to break state diving record

WASILLA — Compared to many of the athletes who will hit the water at the Dimond Park Aquatic Center in Juneau this weekend, Brayden Schachle is still somewhat of a newcomer to swimming and diving.

But it didn’t take long for the Wasilla senior to make a splash in his new sport. Schachle enjoyed immediate success, winning a state championship as a sophomore in his first season as a diver in the Wasilla High swimming and diving program. He repeated last season as a junior. This weekend, Schachle will not only have the chance to become the third diver to win three straight boys’ state championships in state history, but also has the potential to re-write the record books during the ASAA/First National Bank Swim and Dive State Championships.

Last week during the Region III Championships in Kodiak, Schachle crushed the region record in his event, winning his third straight conference title with 587.15 points. His score was about 70 points higher than the Alaska boys’ diving record, a total of 517.25 total points posted by Alvin Spencer of Chugiak in 1982. The region tournament actually marked the third time this season Schachle bested Spencer’s state record. He did the same at the Valley Invitational and Chugiak-Bartlett Invite.

Wendy DiGerlando, who coaches divers in both the Wasilla and Colony swim programs, is simply amazed by Schachle’s achievements. DiGerlando listed a number of reasons why Schachle has enjoyed this level of success, but specifically noted Schachle’s drive to dive.

“Anything he puts his mind to, he does exceptionally well,” DiGerlando said earlier this week.

DiGerlando said Schachle — who has also enjoyed past success in sports such as hockey and gymnastics — has all of the physical attributes and athleticism, but it’s the mindset and drive that really stands out.

“Diving is 90 percent mental,” DiGerlando said. “If you don’t have the mindset to get through practice and training, you won’t go very far. That’s what sets him apart.”

Despite a shorter career than some of his peers, DiGerlando said his determination, combined with his ability, has separated Schachle from the pack.

“He is unlike any athlete I’ve ever met,” DiGerlando said. “He talks about the mental part of it. He likes to review his dives on a nightly basis. He watches them diligently and comes the next day willing to do it all over again.”

DiGerlando said Schachle is also not afraid to challenge himself. The dives selected for competition have a great degree of difficulty. Two of his dives are rated at 3.0 and a third is rated at 3.1. DiGerlando said that’s unheard of in Alaska right now.

At regions, Schachle did so well, he actually broke the meet record with his 10th dive, and one dive left to go. The prior meet mark was 516.25.

Last season, Schachle won his second straight state title with a score of 491.35 points. It’s currently the fourth highest total in state history.

Schachle is one of five Region III individual champions who will compete in a state meet that starts Friday morning in Juneau. Colony’s Eileen Cyr won the girls’ diving at the region meet, to complete the Valley sweep. Colony’s Camille Dayton won a pair of events. Dayton broke a region record in the 100-yard butterfly en route to her first-place finish. She also won a title in the 200 individual medley. Colony’s Madeline Vig (girls’ 100 breaststroke) and Jake Simmons (boys’ 200 IM) also won region records.

About 30 Valley swimmers will compete in the state meet.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Valley qualifiers

Colony

Boys — Jake Simmons 200 IM, 100 butterfly; Ryan Chastain, 50 freestyle, 100 butterfly; Tanner Belliston, diving; Girls — Camille Dayton, 200 IM, 100 butterfly; Samantha Belliston, 200 IM; Sarah Crosley, 50 freestyle; Eileen Cyr, diving; Erika Farring, 100 butterfly; Kendyl Laughlin, 100 freestyle; Alexis Mattson, 500 freestyle, 100 breaststroke; Madeline Vig, 100 breaststroke; Relay — Girls 400 freestyle (Samantha Belliston, Sarah Crosley, Alexis Mattson, Camille Dayton, Kendyl Laughlin, Madeline Vig, Josi Zugg, Katie Laasch-Gray).

Palmer:

Boys — Dakota Olson, 200 freestyle; Max Snelders, 50 freestyle, 100 backstroke; Reed Godden, diving; Girls — Gretchen Snelders, 50 freestyle, 500 freestyle; Chloe Hartman, diving; Rachel Hanson, diving; Kameela Fletcher, 100 butterfly; Relay — Girls 200 freestyle (Rachel Hanson, Ashtyn Petersen, Kameela Fletcher, Savannah Geffken, Gretchen Snelders, Julia Beck, Lindsay Musgrave).

Wasilla

Boys — Brayden Schachle, diving; Elijah Chan, diving; Theodore Fussell, diving; Koya Barrette, 100 backstroke.