What is Silver Fins Diving?
The Westside Silver Fins Dive Team was organized by Bill Hunter and 1976 Olympian Barbara (Barb) Nejman. Our competition program is sponsored through both United States Diving, AAU, and Y-USA.
This program is a competitive dive team with a legacy of national divers who have graduated into Division 1 Collegiate programs. We train athletes (9 through 18 years of age) who have learned the fundamental skills thru participation in the YMCA Mighty Mahi summer league or similar learn to dive program. Silver Fins Diving provides an opportunity to learn advanced techniques to be competitive within Novice and Junior Olympic age groups at local, national and international levels, as well as to participate in High School and College programs.
We coach both springboard at the YMCA and Platform at ASU.
Currently, we have several Dive Coaches on Staff. Our current Head Dive Coach is Bill Hunter who also coaches the Agua Fria High School district divers.
Coaching Staff:
Bill has been the recipient of both the Arizona AAU Coach of the Year award and the AIA Coach of the year award. In addition to coaching the YWSF team, Bill is the Agua Fria Union High School District (AFUHSD) Coach which encompasses Agua Fria, Millennium, Canyon View, Desert Edge and Verrado High Schools. Bill is also a coch with Ottawa University in Surprise, Arizona. Bill has coached American athletes abroad with the AAU National team, as well as individual athletes with dual citizenship. Bill is retired from Lockeheed Martin.
Barb Nejman, 1976 Olympian, continues her support of our program as a visiting coach with the YMCA, providing elite level coaching, as well as directing dive clinics and special events. Barb has coached all levels of diving through the Olympic level. Barb is a member of the Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame.
Daniel Fecteau is our Platform coach. Daniel was a diver at Louisville, where he received his bachelor's degree in Sport Administration in 2019. He left his mark on the Cardinals after setting the program's platform record (350.70 points) and was a four-time NCAA Zones qualifier. Prior to his current position as head Dive Coach for Grand Canyon University, Fecteau coached with Princeton university. Daniel also supports clinics and senior dive practices at the YMCA to prepare our divers for national and international competition.
Alex Burton is our Novice coach. Alex is our 2022/2023 team captain, leading the YWSF boy's team to national team silver award in 2023. He is a club and High School diver, soon to join the Grand Canyon University dive team. Alex teaches our young divers the basic mechanics necesarry to have a succesful career in the support.
msc4/19/2023
