INDIANAPOLIS
Diving is a sport where every moment is analyzed from start to finish, and the most minuscule actions can determine fractions of a point.
It’s a sport that requires both physical and mental strength, from the time the feet touch the board to when the diver emerges from the depths.
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The athletes aren’t only judged by roars of the crowd, but by a group of officials on the pool deck.
Over the years, Seymour High School senior Devin Ramsey has proven he is one of the best at his craft.
While he didn’t finish atop the podium at the Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis on Saturday in the 2019 IHSAA State Finals, Ramsey could leave the competition with his head held high.
Scoring 522.85 points, Ramsey finished as the state runner-up over the weekend. Oak Hill senior Caiden Lake edged Ramsey for top honors with a score of 525.85.
“It feels good, but I think I got my hopes up a little too much,” Ramsey said. “It’s a little sad, but I had a good run this year. I loved all my years of diving.”
Hamilton Southeastern’s Nathan Barr was third with 488.40 points, Delta’s Samuel Bennett took fourth (487.05) and Cascade’s Brendan Trent was fifth (462.25).
Ramsey led the 32-diver field with 223.10 points after five dives.
On the fourth dive, however, he avoided a total disaster. On a forward 2½ somersault pike, Ramsey had a bad takeoff but was able to salvage some points by completing the dive. The attempt scored 26 points — his lowest on the afternoon.
Ramsey bounced back on his fifth dive, scoring 62.40 on a forward 1½ somersault with two twists.
“(Ramsey) has the ability to forget the bad and move on,” Seymour head swimming and diving coach Dave Boggs said. “He can use the bad in a positive way. He has shown that time and time again.”
In the semifinals, after three more dives, Ramsey held onto first place with a score of 365.10.
Once the finals came around, Ramsey and Lake battled back and forth for first place.
At the conclusion of nine dives, Ramsey led Lake 415.70-410.3.
On dive No. 10, Ramsey scored 40.50 on a forward 3½ somersault tuck, while Lake scored 63 on a reverse 2½ somersault tuck.
Going into the final dive, Lake held a 473.35-456.20 advantage.
After Ramsey scored a strong 66.65 on his inward 2½ somersault tuck on his final dive, Lake achieved a score of 52.50 on the 3½ somersault tuck to get the edge.
“I’m super-proud,” Seymour diving coach Tara Sutherland said. “We came to prove a point and do our best. We probably thought we would walk away with the big win, but dive four, for whatever reason, he didn’t pull it off. He told me he had a bad takeoff, and I saw it. I’m surprised he even pulled off the dive and didn’t fail it. I knew from that point on, it would be tough to pull it off. That would have given some cushion to win.
“It really then came down to the 3½. (Lake) had a great kickout. I have the most respect for him and his coach. He did it better. That gives Devin a place to improve on. A lot of it was the approach today.”
Ramsey leaves Seymour with records for both 11 (557.25) and six (375.85) dives.
“(Ramsey) has broken so many records at our school and so many records at other pools,” Sutherland said. “He sets a great example for other people. I can’t tell you how many people here today said, ‘Here comes this kid. He’s the dark horse.’ He’s this kid that doesn’t club dive. He’s just a high school diver. We were able to hold our own against every single club diver out there.
“I feel like it’s a tough loss, but I couldn’t imagine losing to anyone else. (Lake) is good. He has a good coach. Both coaches were rooting for each other, which is special. One just outkicked the other.”
Each year, Ramsey has steadily improved.
“He has come a long way in his four years,” Boggs said. “From qualifying for regional his freshman year to finishing 13th his sophomore year to fourth last year and second this year, he has grown a lot. His list has gotten harder, and he has improved on his details. The final outcome today just wasn’t quite what we were expecting.”
Ramsey said the Seymour swimming and diving program has left a positive impact on his life, especially the relationships he has made with coaches.
“The (coaches) mean the whole world to me,” Ramsey said. “(Sutherland) has only been around me for three years, but we have built such a connection. I’m going to miss her in college. Coach Boggs, I’ve known him for four years, and it’s the same for him. I’m just going to miss the whole team.”
While he hasn’t made a college decision yet, Boggs believes Ramsey has big things ahead of him
“(Ramsey’s future coach) will get a very hard-working guy that’s dedicated to diving,” Boggs said. “I still believe the sky is the limit for him. It was a minor little setback today, but he will use that in a positive way. He will put a big twist on it, no pun intended. Months ago, we talked about our short-term and long-term goals. He would like to qualify for the (Olympic) trials in 2020 and make a run at the (USA National) team in 2024.”
Boggs said Ramsey has made the program stronger.
“It’s going to be hard to follow in his footsteps,” he said. “I really think he elevated our program. He has left (the program) better than when he found it. I think there are even better things down the road for our diving program because of him.”
Ramsey’s runner-up finish is the highest ever for a diver from SHS.