Nothing is worse for an athlete than having to sit out most of the season due to an injury.
For sophomore diver D’Arcy Schmidt, that’s exactly how it was last year. At the Big 12 Relays in Lawrence, Kan., Schmidt fractured her hand when she hit the diving board.
“I just got really nervous at the meet,” Schmidt said. “It was a big meet, and I didn’t get off the board right.”
She felt like she had a great jump off the board, and then the accident happened.
After that, Schmidt couldn’t participate in diving throughout the middle of the season.
Although she wasn’t able to dive, Schmidt still kept herself in diving shape by working out at practice.
“When I was sitting out, I did a lot of abs and would do weights to keep my strength,” Schmidt said.
A lot of times, injuries can affect an athlete permanently, and they won’t compete the same. But Schmidt feels it hasn’t affected her, and she is more determined than ever to do better and push herself at every practice.
“It was hard, especially watching everyone practice and knowing that I would be behind,” she said.
Schmidt was able to compete in the final five matches of last season and had four third-place finishes in the final three meets. At last year’s Big 12 Championships, she finished 16th on the three-meter board and was the only Husker to go to the NCAA Zone Diving meet in Columbia, Mo.
“I definitely want to try to make a final at conference and make it back to the zone diving,” Schmidt said.
This year, Schmidt took first in the three-meter and second in the one-meter against the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
Diving coach Natasha Chikina knows how difficult it has been for Schmidt.
“It was tough for her, since she was a freshman, she was ready to go out there and dive,” Chikina said. “Then the season got started, and she couldn’t, so she was going through a tough time.”
Now, with Schmidt as the only returner from last year’s team, Chikina will look to her to lead the team.
“I know I can talk to D’Arcy because she has some experience and has been here before,” Chikina said. “So I do see her as a leader.”
With five freshmen and one sophomore, Chikina isn’t sure about expectations for the season, but feels the team is always improving.
“I can’t set high hopes because we have a young team, and I don’t know what they can do,” Chikina said. “But some of the players will surprise me.”
chrisdorwart@dailynebraskan.com
Be the first to comment on this article!