Flip, Twist, and Dive

Flip, Twist, and Dive

One outstanding individual many people don’t know about at ONW is Maddie Fentiman.

Maddie is involved with the ONW Cheerleading team and a new member to the ONW Diving team.

A new beginning

This being Maddie’s first year doing diving, she has had some difficulties transitioning from cheerleading to diving.

“It was definitely easy doing flips, however my main struggle was learning the approach,” Fentiman said.

Even though these challenges have created set backs, she has found her favorite dives to preform.

“My favorite dives would have to be front one and a half pike and reverse dives,” Fentiman said.

State

Even though Fentiman is just a freshman, through her hard work and dedication she has managed to qualify for state.

“Honestly I didn't think I would qualify for state. Sure, it was always a goal of mine, I just didn't want to get my hopes up,” Fentiman said.

On top of qualifying to state she also placed 8^th at the league championships last Saturday.

Having league behind her she has her hopes and her fears for the rest of the season.

“League wasn't my best meet I'd have to say. T have high hopes of getting to the top 16 at state. I'm pushing myself to learn one more difficult dive, so that is very nerve wrecking,” Fentiman said.

Future

Because Fentiman preformed so well her first year she’s planning on continuing this by rejoining the team next season for her sophomore year.

“I am so excited for next year because I'll keep pushing myself and get better and better,” Fentiman said.

With all of this positivity, she looks forward to another fantastic season with the returning girls.

"I am very pumped to compete with most of the same girls next season. We will all definitely kick some butt!" Fentiman said.

For more about amazing individuals at Olathe Northwest High school go to People of ONW blog at blogspot.

For more info about more ONW Sports go to the Olathe Northwest Athletic Website.

Just keep swimming

Kaitlin Polasik a senior here at ONW, has been swimming the Olathe Northwest Swimming team since she was a freshman.

This year she is headed to state as an alternate but she is hoping to get qualified for state in the next three meets (JV League, Varsity League, and Last chance).

"I really hope to get consideration time for state in the 100 backstroke," Polasik said.

Remember

Even if she doesn't qualify for state she remembers her favorite moment over the past four years.

"I really love my teammates and my coaches there all really, really supportive and we all cheer for each other at meets and its a really family like environment,"said Polasik.

On top of her teammates and coaches being her support system she also has her most embarrassing moments with her coaches and teammates during morning practice.

"My most embarrassing moment was this year at morning practice. I found one of the life preservers on the deck and I wanted to see if I could fit into it still, so I put it on and then I got stuck in it for about 20 minutes and I had to have about three girls help me get it off," Polasik said.

Teammates and Coaches

Throughout her time on the swim team Polasik had one person really push her and support her every step of the way.

"Coach Krusen is just so supportive and he's really pushed me to try to do my best and get that state cut and he just pushes me to do what ever I can and I'm really grateful to have someone who will do that for me, " said Polasik

Because her time is coming to an end, Kaitlin has one thing she wishes to say to her teammates during the rest of their time here at ONW.

"Stick with it and just try your hardest because its just so important, the friendships you make will last throughout all four years and probably longer and the work ethic you learn from our coaches is just so important for your future goals," Polasik said.

For more on the ONW swimming team go to Olathe Northwest's Website or for more about one of a kind people here at ONW go to People of ONW's blog.

Behind the Scenes

Many students here at ONW you know because of the sports they play or the clubs they are apart of but you never really get to know what they do outside of the classroom.

Carly Stroup is involved in ONW’s Yearbook, the ONW Gymnastics team, and ONW’s Diving team, but many don’t know her pure devotion to her Youth Group and her other church activities.

“…..” Carly Stroup said.

Church

Stroup goes to Westside Church and every Wednesday night she attends youth group for an hour and a half talking about mission trips and other activities to help out the community.

"A attend youth group which is every wednesday night where we make plans about our upcomingStroup said.
mission trip this summer to Ecuador,"

These mission trips can occur any time throughout the year but this circle of friends enjoys going during the summer to experience more time than they would during the school year.

“We go to Ecuador because its a third world country that doesn't receive as much relief that other third world countries might get and it gives me and the other people that go to church with me pride and a feeling of accomplishment,” said Stoup.

On top of these mission trips she also is involved in (Insert other things she likes to do during church.

"In church we don't just go on mission trips, we also have ” Stroup said.

Being involved in all of these activities makes her relationship with her life leader like a mother daughter friendship.

"My life leader and I are very close, she's come to many of my diving and gymnastics meets, and she's also a big part of my life not just religiously,” said Stroup.

Church has inspired her in many ways and also helped her balance her schoolwork and her extracurricular activities.

"Its very hard to balance school, gymnastics, diving, and church at the same time, but church is something thats very important to me so I some who always make time for it,” Stroup said.

Gymnastics and Diving

Stroup is a major part of the Gymnastics and Diving team here at Olathe Northwest. She was apart of the gymnastics team who placed 2^nd at state and is very close to qualifying for state in diving as well. 

She has been apart of the gymnastics team for three years and the diving team for two.

Having to balance all of these activities can seem hard but Stroup has gotten it down to an art.

“School always comes first. Then church, then sports; Thats how it should be” said Stroup.

In the Future

Overall, Stroup is a diverse individual involved in many different things and will carry on her legacy throughout her senior year.

“I'm excited to finish out my senior year at Olathe Northwest and finish all four years in gymnastics, but also complete diving for the years I've competed,” Stroup said.

For more about inspiring and compelling individuals follow our blog at pplonw.blogspot.com or for more about Olathe Northwest go to ONW's Website.

Spring Sports Intro

This is the new 2015 Spring Sports intro for ONW NOW. This video will be edited through out the season and integrate more clips from more competitions.

Fourth and Final Season

Forth Season

Olathe Northwest Diver Mikelle Read has been on the Olathe Northwest swim and dive team for the past 3 years and is now a senior taking on her leadership role on the team for her forth and final year.

"I'm excited to be a senior this season and have a leadership role because I'm really close to a lot of the girls and look forward to getting closer with the new divers," said Mikelle Read.

The team this season consists of three returning individuals (Mikelle Read, Lana Herman, and Carly Stroup), and three newcomers (Jessie Payne, Amy Anderson, and Madison Fentimen)

Many individuals have different reasons to get involved with diving but Read had some help by her classmates.

"My best friend Allison Thomas tried to recruit me into diving when I was little, and I never really took it seriously and in high school I was like "why not?" and joined diving," said Read.

So far this season

So far this season, they've only participated in one competition, the Olathe Invitational.

During the Olathe Invitational (March 25th-26th) the girls put the Olathe Northwest Swimming team in first place after the diving portion of the competition.

All of the girls who competed 11 dives placed in the top eight. Jessie Payne (4th), Carly Stroup (5th), Mikelle Read (6th), Lana Herman (7th), and Maddie Fentimen (8th).

"I think the team [this season] is better than other seasons. We have a lot of good divers and all of the personalities are good as well,"  said Read.

Even though this is just the first meet of the season, the girls have high hopes and dreams for the rest of the season.

"My goal for this season is to do well at league, I'm not sure if I will make it to state this season, but the ultimate goal is to just have fun," said Read.

Coming up

The next competition is next Wednesday April 1st. The meet is located at Blue Valley North, at 4:00.

This competition is both swimming and diving, so the diving portion of the meet will happen in the middle between swimming events.

 All results will be posted in the 2015 results tab on the ONW Swimming and Diving Website.

For more information on everything Swimming and diving, go to the ONW Swimming and diving Website, or if you have any questions about diving please contact Coach Robert Ayers