Doors open to NEW Ohio State Diving Club
Ohio State Diving Club coaches and staff will develop competitive divers for local, national, and international competition. The age group divers within the Ohio State Diving Club will be comprised of elementary through high school students from the greater Columbus area. The diving club will compete within USA Diving and the AAU, which has determined that a local demand exists for competitive age group diving programs of this kind. As the Ohio State Diving Club continues to grow and succeed, other competitive aquatic activities may be incorporated.
Ohio State Rec Sports recently hired Justin Sochor as the head coach of the Ohio State Diving Club.
“I am excited to team up with The Ohio State University in the development of a safe, fun and successful diving club.” says Sochor. “Parents and children can expect a top quality competitive program with nationally recognized staff, at the state-of-the-art McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion. It’s our goal to take children’s competitive diving to the next level, and families can look no further than Recreational Sports at The Ohio State University for such a program. We are so fortunate to be a part of a first class experience within this first-rate Recreational Sports department. ”
Sochor joins the department with 16 years of coaching experience. Sochor served seven years as a professional high diver at Sea World before developing one of the largest age group diving clubs in the country. In July of 2010, Sochor led his team to win the USA Junior National Team Title.
Outside of Sochor’s successful age group diving programs, he is also the assistant coach for The Ohio State University Varsity Diving Team. Working with head coach Vince Panzano and the Ohio State Divers, Sochor provided endless opportunities, new challenges and ability to grow in the highest levels of the sport. Sochor is also part of the USA Diving Olympic Medal Program (OMP) as well as the USA Diving Junior Diving High Performance Team.
“One main goal for this new program is to create an aquatic based learning environment here in Columbus that becomes the national, recreational and competitive epicenter for diving. There is no community I can think of that works harder to put their best programs forward on a national level than the Buckeyes of The Ohio State University,” said Sochor.
“We are thrilled to have Justin as a part of the Recreational Sports staff,” stated Kurt Carmen, interim director of Recreational Sports at Ohio State. “An educational program is only as good as the quality of its instruction, and we believe Justin is an integral part of the Ohio State Diving Club’s impending success. We see growth in our aquatic programs to support an eager community patron base, which will lead to new opportunities for the community – including hosting national aquatic competitions, and bringing more exposure to our great university. ”
