Senior Jocelyn Schechter broke the six dive one-meter record with a score of 280.85 Monday, Nov. 2, against Natick.
During her four years at North, Schechter cultivated a passion for diving. Highly respected by those around her, Schechter always aspired to earn her place on North’s athletic record board. At last, she surpassed the six dive one-meter record in the last meet of her high school career. The previous record of 278 was set over 18 years ago.
Schechter said that the feat boosted her self-esteem. She said, “I doubted myself for a little bit and this accomplishment gave me the confidence that I needed.”
“The whole thing was an emotional rollercoaster for me,” said Schechter. “It felt so good accomplishing this ultimate goal that I had desired for so long.”
Senior Daisy Proskauer, a captain with seniors Alex Filipova, Katherine Kett, and Karen Tong, said that the team felt a sense of uncertainty before the judges revealed Schechter’s score. “It was really stressful because Jocelyn messed up one of her previous dives so we thought she wasn’t going to make it,” said Proskauer.
According to Proskauer, the anxiety shifted to excitement the moment the team received the positive outcome. She described the experience as “an unforgettable moment.”
“There was a lot of screaming, a lot of hugging, and a lot of crying,” said Proskauer. “We were so proud of her, and you could tell how happy she was in those moments.”
Diving coach Kylie Calzone said that she gained immense confidence in Schechter’s diving ability by watching her develop through the years. “Jocelyn had a lot of potential––I knew she was fully capable of breaking the record,” said Calzone. “Her dives had greatly improved from other years.”
Schechter qualified for states all four years of high school, even finishing top five as a junior. According to Calzone, in a meeting at the beginning of the season, they both decided that Schechter should make it her goal to break the record.
Calzone said that Schechter’s independence set her apart from others. “I’m just there to support her and to teach her diving technique,” said Calzone. “There is nothing I really tell or stress to her on a daily basis. She is a really motivated young woman on her own.”
Calzone added that Schechter’s diligence and tenacity also shaped her success. “Jocelyn’s work ethic really drove her far, and she was never scared to try new things regardless of her ability,” said Calzone. “Right from the start, you could tell she wanted it.”
As her career progressed and her skill became eminent, Schechter served as a role model for those around her. “She has always been our strongest diver and the rest of us always look up to her,” said Proskauer.
Although Schechter’s high school diving experience has come to an end, her career is far from over. She plans to continue diving in college and beyond.
According to Schechter, breaking the record would not have been possible without the support of her coaches and teammates. “Kylie introduced me to diving when I was new to it and helped me get to where I am now,” said Schechter. “My teammates have been great moral support. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t even have stayed on the team. They made everything so much more fun.”
