Three Stories Up and the View’s Just Great

It’s been a big year for 15-year-old competitive diver Estee Pryor. In the last four months, she’s tried out for the Olympics, scored three first-place finishes at Nationals and placed eighth in the synchronized 3-meter event at the FINA World Junior Diving Championships in Adelaide, Australia.

Of the 18 U.S. divers competing in Australia, three were from the Ohio State Diving Club (OSDC): Estee; her synchro partner, Samantha Bromberg, 17, of Bexley; and David Dinsmore, 15, of New Albany, who won bronze for his platform event. All are coached by Justin Sochor, whose primary goal during competition, he says, is to remind them how prepared they are. “He’ll tell us to relax, just do what we do,” says Estee. “(He's) such a chill guy.”

At the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in June, Estee, then 14, was there, she says, just for the experience. But the New Albany High School sophomore matched her skills against college girls and divers twice her age, and made it all the way to the finals. She and her OSDC teammate and synchro partner, Rachel Rubadue, 15, of Worthington, placed seventh in the synchronized 3-meter springboard.

“It’s great to know the hard work’s paying off,” says Estee, now 15, her brown eyes sparkling as she flashes a broad smile. She admits that it’s a balancing act. Between the competition and the travel, the intense training and schoolwork, Estee tries to carve out time for a social life.

“It can be frustrating,” she says. “Like this summer, I’d be at regional meets when my friends were having parties. But to qualify for Australia? It’s all worth it.”

Her parents, Susan and George, while supportive, are careful not to push. “We’ve let Estee make the choices,” says Susan.

That included deciding in fourth grade which of her three sports – travel soccer, gymnastics or diving – she would pursue. “My dream as a little girl was to be a U.S. gymnast,” Estee admits. “But diving is such a positive environment. Still, my dad insisted I be the one to tell my gymnastics coach I was quitting the sport – my parents are teaching me to handle things myself.”

Confidence and professionalism count, Estee says, when dealing with college coaches, recruiters and the press. “Although,” she adds, “when the camera guys were following me at Olympic Trials, I’d just start laughing.”

On a typical weekday, Estee leaves school at 1:45 p.m. and heads to the Jesse Owens gym on The Ohio State University campus for an hour of dry land practice. “We’ll work on the trampoline or the dry board with belts and harnesses,” she explains, “and watch slow motion videos to make changes.”

After a break and a snack – Power Bars, bananas, anything with peanut butter –it’s on to OSU’s McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion for two hours at the diving well.

On a recent afternoon, Coach Sochor is working with Bromberg, Dinsmore and Estee in preparation for Australia.

Three stories up, Estee gives her red swim cap a final tug, walks to the edge of the platform and stops. Raising her arms into a V, she bends forward and, with meticulous control, straightens her 5-foot frame into an armstand, extending one leg up, toe perfectly pointed, then the other leg. Holding for a full three seconds, she flips off the 10-meter platform into a half-somersault dive. A rip entry, with the tiniest of splash, ends the three-second ride through space. She surfaces, hoists herself from the pool, climbs the platform stairs and does it again. And again.

She conquered the towering platform early. “Estee’s been on the 10-meter since age 10. There’s no fear (then), as opposed to starting at 15,” says Susan.

Top Left: In this composite, Pryor and Bromberg execute a 3-meter springboard dive. The pair placed eighth at the Junior World Championships in October.

Below: Ohio State Diving Club Coach Justin Sochor gives Pryor feedback following a dive.

Right: Pryor warms up with a few jumps on the springboard.

“Well, the first time, I was scared out of my mind,” says Estee, laughing at her mom’s recollection. “It’s terrifying, but you get used to it. Plus, there’s a lot to think about – the physics of diving –arms, the tuck, your kick at the bottom.”

“And you don’t want to smack,” Estee adds.

Even with good entries into the water, there’s potential for injury. “She hits the water at speeds of over 35 miles per hour,” her father, George, explains. “It can take a toll on the back, shoulders, wrists.” A thumb injury, sustained months ago, still requires taping and occasional cortisone shots to manage the pain. “It did affect her diving at the Olympic Trials,” Susan says with a certain level of sadness.

Staying healthy – avoiding injury, maintaining a steady diet of nutritious foods (nothing fried) and restorative sleep – is imperative. Estee scores high in all categories. She sleeps a full eight or nine hours per night. She sits down most evenings for home-cooked meals with her parents and occasionally her older brother, Tripp. “My mom’s a great cook,” she says. “I love things like chicken over pasta.”

In competition, Estee carefully strategizes her food intake. “Oatmeal and a banana before our warm-ups at the pool. Back at the hotel, eggs, granola, protein drinks or Gatorade.” Hydration is crucial. “I can definitely feel a difference when I don’t eat right or drink enough water,” Estee says. “I drag a little.”

During the school day, Estee focuses on her best subject – history – and struggles a tad with Spanish. And she thinks hard about the next four years and Rio.

“I’ll be 18 then, a freshman in college,” says Estee. “For others, Rio will be their last chance.”

“Estee has all the tools to make Rio happen,” says Sochor, who has coached her since 2008. “She’s very strong, fast and aggressive, does dives that deliberately attack the results of a contest. As soon as the leader leaves a door open, even just a little, she capitalizes.”

“You have to play harder and smarter than the rest,” Sochor continues. There are great athletes across the globe, he says, “But Estee is something special. She will challenge the rest of the world.”

Central Ohio, mark your calendars for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Rhonda Koulermos is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at laurand@ cityscenemediagroup.com.