Bulldog divers find success at Mid-Penn’s

Mid Penn Divers, Alicia Canaday and Xavier Vantessel went to districts on Feb. 21. Canaday started diving because one of her friends was going to do diving, but now she’s been diving for 8 seasons now. Canaday said that all the divers compete in different swim events in a meet. She competes in the freestyle and diving part of the meets. Canaday said that she likes diving and was excited that she went to districts. She got fourth place, but she thinks she didn’t do well because she doesn’t get to go to states. She said she will continue diving here and over the summer, so she can continue on and someday get to states. She said, “every dive, every day.”

The new BSHS’ Diving Coach is Lauren Livingston. She started diving at the age of 8 in Birmington, Alabama where she became a High School Champion. Later she attended Furman University on scholarship and became a NCAA-All American Diver followed by four years in the US Army. Livingston has coached divers from the age of four through college aged for 12 years. “I love adventure,” said Livingston. “On my way to visit a friend in the Carlisle area, I googled diving coach openings in the Carlisle area and discovered openings at Big Spring and Carlisle, so now I coach at both schools.” Livingston has the divers practice everyday after school and sometimes on Saturday.

Livingston said, “I am incredibly excited and proud of Xavier and Alicia!” At the District Mid-Penn Diving Competition Canady and Van Tassell will be completing 11 different dives, which vary in position and degree of difficulty. Canady enters the competition seated 2nd, and Van Tassell is seated 3rd.