On the up and up

Jen Botsch is winning every diving competition she enters.

By BOB PUTNAM
Published September 26, 2007

Jen Botsch is upside down, 15 feet in the air, arms extended, toes pointing straight up at the sky. The crowd below was awaiting another breathtaking performance from the Tarpon Springs senior, who is considered the best diver in the county.

Moments later, Botsch delivered.

Twisting and turning, flipping and falling, she hit the chlorinated water like a bullet.

Botsch performed that dive during the Pinellas County Athletic Conference meet two weeks ago. She scored 400 points, more than enough to win and qualify for an All-America score.

 Botsch moved here from Michigan and is in her first season with the Spongers. She has won every competition this season.

Times staff writer Bob Putnam sat down with Botsch to talk about how nerve-racking diving is and what it is like to have a father who is general manager of a mall.

How long have you been diving?

I'd say it's about seven years now.

How scary is it to stand on the edge of a springboard before a dive?

It took awhile to get over that fear. It's very intimidating to go off a 3-meter board. You just have to trust yourself to complete the dive.

What's the most difficult dive you've learned?

The biggest thing is getting myself off the board. I'd say the toughest are reverse twisters.

What prompted the move from Michigan to Tarpon Springs?

My dad Jay Botsch is in charge of malls. We've bounced around from place to place. I've lived in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Colorado and Michigan.

He became general manager of one here (Westshore Plaza).

How much fun is it to have a dad who is in charge of a mall?

Well, I'm not really into shopping anymore. I'm kind of sick of it by now.

Was there any big adjustment moving here?

Not really. It's always exiting to go to a new place and learn new things about people. Everybody has been real and I've already got a good group of friends.

What are your future plans?

Right now I'm looking at colleges. I went on a visit to the University of Buffalo a few weeks ago, and I plan on taking a trip to the University of Illinois.

What are your goals this season?

I really want to keep improving my score and learn new dives. Of course, I'd like to win a state title, but I think if I just keep trying to improve, everything else will take of itself.

Any plans to try platform diving?

I've attempted the 5-meter. It's really scary to add the 2 meters. But all you have to do is get the fist dive out of the way. That's the hardest one.

Bob Putnam can be reached at putnam@sptimes.com or (727) 445-4169.

[Last modified September 25, 2007, 22:40:02]