On Jan. 5, 2017, I knew Devin Ramsey would have a special diving career at Seymour High School.
Before we get to this past Saturday’s state finals, let’s rewind to a snowy Thursday afternoon.
The high school was closed due to poor road conditions, so Owls head swimming and diving coach Dave Boggs gave his team an optional practice.
While a handful of swimmers filled the lanes, one sophomore worked on his craft in the diving well.
The diver hit the board, executed his skills and got right back out of the pool to do another dive.
And another dive.
And another dive.
After pulling Ramsey to the side and talking to him about the upcoming Hoosier Hills Conference meet, I spoke with diving coach Tara Sutherland.
How she described Ramsey that day holds true two years later.
“Devin is a little different in the sense that he has the drive and mentality that a diver has to have,” Sutherland said. “It’s that kind of crazy, ‘Smack, I know it hurts, but I’m going to do it again.’ You feel the adrenaline. That’s what sets him apart from divers that might have been as good as him here (at his age).
“He’s on a different level because he’s willing to put himself out there and work. He’s willing to work. It takes a lot of work. These kids put in hours. We put hours in over breaks and weekends, sometimes up to four hours at a time.”
OK, now fast-forward to Saturday’s IHSAA State Finals at the Indiana University Natatorium.
After the conclusion of eight dives, Ramsey led the pack with a score of 365.10.
He’s in a prime position and just needs to finish strong when the finals come around.
Between the semis and final three dives, there is a little more than an hour until the championships begin for both swimming and diving.
After hitting the hospitality room to grab some lunch, I returned to the stands to burn some clock and go over my notes.
Guess who was in the diving well?
Yeah, it was that same kid from that chilly Thursday two years earlier.
For more than 45 minutes, Ramsey was the only diver in the building working on his passion.
Ramsey hit the board, executed his skills and got right back out of the pool to do another dive.
And another dive.
And another dive.
Even when he’s the top seed, on the biggest stage, Ramsey is working on his art.
While he didn’t win the state title, finishing with 522.85 points to Oak Hill senior Caiden Lake’s 525.85, Ramsey has a champion’s mentality.
Whatever road he takes in his diving career, now that he has graduated from the program, Ramsey will still be that same kid giving his best effort before all of the accolades.
That kid who maximizes his time when given the opportunity to improve himself.
To me, that attitude will carry him further in life than any medal.
In that same article from ‘17, which published Jan. 6, Ramsey told me a couple of his goals.
“My goal is to do a front 3½ by my senior year and to beat the school’s record in six dives and 11,” Ramsey said. “I want to be a top diver in the state.”
Not only has Ramsey achieved all of those benchmarks, he leaves the SHS program better than when he first stepped foot on the boards.