Local Diver to Compete in Pan American Festival

A member of the Ohio State Diving Club has been selected to compete in the upcoming Pan American Olympic Festival in Mexico City. Diver Rachel Rubadue of Worthington qualified for a position on the USA Diving National Team while competing at the recent AT&T USA Diving National Championship in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Rachel is a 17 year old senior at Worthington Kilbourne High School. She will compete in both the individual platform and synchronized platform events at the Olympic Festival beginning on September 24.

“I’m really looking forward to representing the U.S. at the Ohio State Diving Club in Mexico for my first senior Pan American festival,” said Rachel. “It should be a great experience.”

The Pan American Olympic Festival features 4,500 athletes and officials and competitions in 20 individual sports. The festival is structured to mirror the format of the next Olympic Games.

“Rachel having the opportunity to attend the Pan Am Festival is amazing,” said Ohio State Diving Club Head Coach John Appleman. “This will be her first senior international competition competing against some of the best divers in the world. All of the hard work she has put in throughout her career has given her the ability to achieve great things. I'm truly looking forward to seeing her accomplishments not only at this meet but at future national and international level competitions. She will certainly represent the club well.”

The Ohio State Diving Club is a USA Diving, year round competitive team and part of the Buckeye Aquatic Academy in the Office of Student Life’s Department of Recreational Sports at Ohio State. The club trains at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion at Student Life’s Recreation and Physical Activity Center (RPAC) at Ohio State. For more information, visit http://divingclub.osu.edu.