Olympic diver helps at practice

By Marvin Pave  |  January 25, 2004

Brandeis University earlier this month got a special guest: two-time Olympian and silver medalist Scott Donie.

During his stay, Donie assisted members of Boston Area Diving, a competitive springboard diving team that trains at Brandeis and whose membership includes young divers from Weston, Natick, Needham, and Dover. Donie currently coaches at New York University, which is in the same conference (University Athletic Association) as Brandeis.

The Waltham facilities include specialized equipment to assist divers in safely learning dives before trying them at the pool. NYU does not have that equipment, so Donie made the trip with his squad, and that led to his coaching the Boston Area Diving team.

Several of the Boston Area Diving team members, including Dover-Sherborn Regional High's Tess Waresmith, have competed against national and international competition. Waresmith, a Globe All-Scholastic last year and the MIAA state champion, was fourth on the 3-meter board in December at a premier international meet in Montreal.

''Tess's accomplishments at that meet were remarkable," said Boston Area Diving coach Joe Chirico. ''She competed against national team divers from several countries, including Russia, Sweden, England, and Brazil."

Boston Area Diving (www.gobad.com) offers springboard diving lessons and team training at Brandeis and at the Atkinson Pool in Sudbury for boys and girls ages 6 through high school.