The Diving Pod

In this episode, we recap the DII NCAA Championships and women’s DI results, focusing on the biggest takeaways from both meets.

At DII, highlighting the NCAA Champions and amazing stories that came from the week!  The standout divers were the ones who stayed composed and delivered in the middle rounds.

On the women’s DI side, the level was extremely high. The top finishers showed control, handled pressure well, and didn’t let one mistake affect the rest of their list. Small details made a big difference in placement.

Overall, both meets showed the same thing—success in March comes from consistency, control, and trusting your training.

In this episode of The Diving Pod, we sit down with Mizzou diver Derek Colbert to talk about his journey through the sport and what it takes to compete at the Division I level. Derek shares how he first got involved in diving, the coaches and mentors who helped shape his development, and the challenges that come with balancing the demands of high-level athletics and college life.

He dives into his experience competing in the SEC, what training looks like behind the scenes at Missouri, and how he continues to push himself to develop new dives and refine the details that separate good performances from great ones. Derek also reflects on the lessons the sport has taught him—handling pressure, staying resilient through setbacks, and continuing to chase improvement every day.

In this episode, we sit down with former collegiate diver Skip Donald, who opens up about the winding path of his college career and the lessons that came with it.

Skip began his journey at the Auburn University, one of the premier programs in college diving. He talks about the expectations and intensity of competing in the SEC, what he learned early in his career, and how those experiences shaped him as an athlete. After his time at Auburn, Skip made the difficult decision to transfer to the University of Florida to finish out his career.

During the transition, Skip found himself battling injuries that forced him to confront the reality many athletes eventually face—how to keep pushing forward when the body doesn’t cooperate the way it used to. He shares what those setbacks were like mentally and physically, and how the adversity changed his perspective on the sport and on himself.

Recently, Skip took those experiences and turned them into something powerful, writing a book that dives into the real ups and downs of being a college athlete. In the conversation, he talks about why he felt compelled to tell that story, the moments that shaped the book, and what he hopes current athletes can take away from it.

In this episode, we sit down with Sofia Knight, standout diver for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who shares her incredible journey from Australia to competing in the ACC.

Growing up in Australia, Sofia talks about how she first found diving, what the training culture was like back home, and how her early experiences shaped her fearless style on the boards. She reflects on the differences between the Australian club system and the NCAA model, and what it took to make the leap—both athletically and culturally—to the United States.

Sofia opens up about adjusting to life at UNC: balancing academics and athletics, embracing the team environment, and competing in one of the toughest conferences in the country. She shares the challenges of being far from family, how she’s built a second home in Chapel Hill, and what representing UNC means to her.

In this episode, we sit down with Ray Preas, standout diver for University of Louisville, to unpack the progression of an athlete who has steadily built himself into a consistent NCAA contributor.

Ray walks through how he first connected with diving, the early technical adjustments that accelerated his development, and the moment he realized college diving could become a serious path. From a coaching lens, what stands out in his story is the patience in his progression

In this powerful episode, Augustana University All-American diver Avery Lommel shares a journey defined by resilience, courage, and an unwavering love for the sport. Avery opens up about how she first found diving, the joy and identity it quickly gave her, and the unimaginable challenge that followed when she lost vision in one eye.

Facing depth perception changes, spatial awareness challenges, and the mental hurdles that come with a life-altering injury, Avery made the decision to stay in the sport she loved. She walks through the rebuilding process — relearning skills, adjusting technique, and trusting herself again on the board — all while navigating the doubts of whether elite diving was still possible.

What followed was nothing short of remarkable. Avery not only returned to competition, she rose to the top — capturing a state championship and ultimately becoming an NCAA All-American at Augustana. Her story is a testament to adaptability, perseverance, and the power of belief from the athlete-coach support system around her.

This conversation dives into identity beyond adversity, redefining limits, and what it truly means to pursue excellence when the path changes. Avery’s journey will resonate with athletes, coaches, and anyone facing obstacles that seem impossible to overcome.

This episode features Tobie Stiles, senior diver at Northern Michigan, as he walks through the full arc of his diving journey—from the early days of learning to compete to becoming a leader at the collegiate level.

Tobie reflects on the moments that shaped him most as a diver: the grind of daily training, the setbacks that forced him to grow, and the small breakthroughs that added up over time. He talks candidly about what it’s like developing in a program where consistency, accountability, and trust in the process matter more than shortcuts. As a senior, Tobie shares how his perspective has shifted from just chasing scores to understanding preparation, discipline, and the responsibility of setting the tone for younger teammates.

In this episode of The Diving Pod, we sit down with Ryan Campbell, senior diver at Colorado Mesa, to talk about a path a lot of athletes can relate to—but don’t always hear enough about. Ryan walks through his time at junior college, the lessons he learned there, and how that experience shaped him both as a student and a diver before making the jump to a four-year program.

Ryan opens up about the transfer process, what he was looking for in a school, and how important it was for him to find a degree he could genuinely be passionate about—not just something that fit around diving. He shares how getting clarity academically helped him buy in even more fully to his training and growth in the sport.

From a diving standpoint, Ryan talks about continuing to push himself later in his career, taking on harder dives, and embracing the challenge of raising his degree of difficulty. He breaks down the mindset required to keep improving as a senior, the patience needed when progress isn’t linear, and what it takes to stay hungry in the pool.

This episode is a great listen for junior college divers, transfers, and anyone trying to balance long-term athletic development with finding the right academic fit—proof that there’s more than one way to build a successful college diving career.

In this episode of The Diving Pod, we sit down with Wisconsin diver Jan Lanser for a real, honest conversation about commitment, growth, and resilience. Jan opens up about his decision to stay home and be part of building Wisconsin diving into the program he knows it can be—choosing development, loyalty, and long-term vision over easier paths.

He also dives deep into his mindset as an athlete: a constant desire to improve, to learn, and to be coached. That perspective becomes even more powerful in light of the severe injury he recently suffered off 10-meter. Jan shares how that moment has reshaped his outlook, tested his patience, and reinforced his love for the sport and the process.

This episode is a must-listen for young divers navigating adversity, recruits thinking about fit and culture, and anyone who values growth through the hard moments. Jan’s story is a reminder that progress isn’t always linear—but the best athletes keep showing up, even when it’s tough.

In this episode of The Diving Pod, we sit down with Olivia Nelson, senior diver at West Florida, to talk about her experience being part of an all-women’s swimming and diving program and what that environment has meant for her growth as both a diver and a person.

Olivia shares how the culture at UWF pushed her to take ownership of her development, build confidence, and lead alongside a tight-knit group of women who support each other daily. We also dive into her decision to graduate early.

This episode is a great listen for athletes who want to understand what it looks like to fully commit, grow within a strong team culture, and set themselves up for success after college.